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The Hungry Empire

How Britain's Quest for Food Shaped the Modern World

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The Hungry Empire

By: Lizzie Collingham
Narrated by: Jilly Bond
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About this listen

In 20 meals The Hungry Empire tells the story of how the British created a global network of trade in foodstuffs that moved people and plants from one continent to another, reshaping landscapes and culinary tastes.

To be British was to eat the world. The empire allowed Britain to harness the globe’s edible resources from salt beef to sugar. By the 20th century the wheat to make the working man’s loaf of bread was supplied by Canada, and his Sunday leg of lamb had been fattened on New Zealand’s grasslands.

Lizzie Collingham takes us on a wide-ranging culinary journey, revealing how virtually every meal we eat still contains a taste of empire.

©2017 Lizzie Collingham (P)2018 Isis Publishing Ltd
Great Britain Politics & Government World England Imperialism
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What listeners say about The Hungry Empire

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Very enjoyable

Excellent. it gallops along at a good pace but with focus and nice detailed examples throughout.

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spectacular book. A must read.

this wonderful book taught me so much about about the way food drove the empire and the way the empire drove the world. with just a short flick of information at the end it indicates how we're in the position we are in now.

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An unbiased and calm veiw of empire.

A very nice speaking voice to listen to and very releived to find no woke agenda crowbarred in, this book neither glorifies or condemn the British empire or tries the modern bogus agenda of attempting to judge history by modern standards. Is full of well researched interesting historical facts which will increase your general knowledge, the author leaves the judgement of these events to the reader, which is how a historian should present their work.

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Dense and disturbing story

So much information to take in , I did find it overwhelming at times. And it also left me with that guilty feeling about Britain’s role in distorting and destroying native cultures and food habits. I hope we can change that approach in any future dealings.
But fascinating nonetheless.

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Most enjoyable

Somethings I was aware of already but a great romp through the food and the British empire. Suffice to say, we owe the former colonies such a lot.

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    3 out of 5 stars

Sorry, but I couldn’t stand the narrators voice.

Love the work by this author, her research is incredible.
I read her book about the history of the biscuit which I loved but this book falls short…possibly only because the narrators voice so absolutely awful.

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