Cooking up an inspiring story

The Language of Food By Annabel Abbs, Simon & Schuster, $37.99

.. .. .. ..

.. .. .. This is brilliant. Based on Eliza Action, a poet and the writer of one of the world's most successful cookbooks, this story takes readers back to the kitchens of the early 1800s. While most of the characters are based on real people and some of the events on known facts, it is an amazing work of fiction which I thoroughly enjoyed. Author Annabel Abbs' description of the wide gap between the wealthy, and the poor was rather heartbreaking.

The main characters are Eliza and Ann. Eliza is forced to consider marriage proposals, even though she would far rather be in the kitchen cooking and writing down her recipes.

Ann is torn. She must make some money but who will look after her mother and father.

When Ann and Eliza meet they form an unusual friendship and together they produce a cookbook to rival all others. A beautiful, inspiring story full of delicious fresh food. — Linda Hall