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The Language of Food
- Narrated by: Esther Wane, Heather Long
- Length: 10 hrs and 20 mins
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The Language of Food
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Summary
Eliza Acton, despite having never before boiled an egg, became one of the world’s most successful cookery writers, revolutionising cooking and cookbooks around the world. Her story is fascinating, uplifting and truly inspiring.
Told in alternate voices by the award-winning author of The Joyce Girl, and with recipes that leap to life, The Language of Food by Annabel Abbs is the most thought-provoking historical novel you’ll listen to this year, exploring the enduring struggle for female freedom, the power of female friendship, the creativity and quiet joy of cooking and the poetry of food, all while bringing Eliza Acton out of the archives and back into the public eye.
Critic reviews
"A sumptuous banquet of a book that nourished me and satisfied me just as Eliza Acton’s meals would have.... I adored it." (Polly Crosby)
"A story of courage, unlikely friendship and an exceptional character, told in vibrant and immersive prose." (Caroline Scott)
"Richly imagined and emotionally tender." (Pen Vogler)
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What listeners say about The Language of Food
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Alexandra Carey
- 27-07-23
Very engaging historical fiction read
A good Audible listen. I loved the two main characters Eliza and Ann and also enjoyed thoroughly disliking some of the other characters. Abbs writes beautifully and really gets into her characters’ heads.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mango
- 22-03-23
Absolutely Delicious!
If you're a fan of historical fiction you'll love this. I found it hard to tear myself away from the chapters & couldn't wait for my next dose. Totally absorbing, excellent & fitting narration. You won't be disappointed.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- catherine amelia brown
- 20-03-23
Excellent
Very enjoyable - very interesting story and beautifully narrated. Subtext on Ann’s story was thought provoking.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 23-02-22
Utterly beautiful
This was a beautiful portrayal of lives entwined in the 1800s and made me smile and cry with joy and sadness in equal measure. The two voices of the stories are well balanced by the actors who read and the story unfolds at a good pace. I’ve not read the book so I can’t comment on the abridgement but it didn’t feel lacking in detail or shortened in any way.
The story tells of the trials and tribulations of life at a time that was particularly difficult for a woman in good middle class society, particularly where she eschews the life that is expected of her.
An excellent listen, I couldn’t put it down and went to bed early on a number of occasions to be able to listen in peace!
Highly recommended!
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Rooty tooty
- 23-03-22
Superb story telling
I have read a factual book about Eliza Acton and have one of her receipt books. This account; story; history - takes some known truths and wordsmiths them, embellishing them, no doubt, but very skilfully weaves a story through the silent gaps that cover Eliza’s life.
This will be a novel I return to again and again. The actresses performed it brilliantly.
Thank you!!
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- T. D. Johnston
- 16-06-22
Classist Drivel
This book wallows and celebrates all that is the worst of British classism. The story has such wonderful potential, but is bogged down by the desire to create blindly stupid characters.
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