Miss Eliza's English Kitchen
A Novel of Victorian Cookery and Friendship
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Miss Eliza's English Kitchen
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Narrated by:
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Ell Potter
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Bianca Amato
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By:
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Annabel Abbs
About this listen
Chosen as one of the season's best historical fiction novels by the New York Times!
Good Housekeeping Book Club Pick for November!
A Country Living Best Book of Fall!
A Washington Post Best Feel-Good Book of the Year!
In a novel perfect for fans of Hazel Gaynor’s A Memory of Violets and upstairs-downstairs stories, Annabel Abbs, the award-winning author of The Joyce Girl, returns with the brilliant real-life story of Eliza Acton and her assistant as they revolutionized British cooking and cookbooks around the world.
Before Mrs. Beeton and well before Julia Child, there was Eliza Acton, who changed the course of cookery writing forever.
England, 1835. London is awash with thrilling new ingredients, from rare spices to exotic fruits. But no one knows how to use them. When Eliza Acton is told by her publisher to write a cookery book instead of the poetry she loves, she refuses - until her bankrupt father is forced to flee the country. As a woman, Eliza has few options. Although she’s never set foot in a kitchen, she begins collecting recipes and teaching herself to cook. Much to her surprise, she discovers a talent - and a passion - for the culinary arts.
Eliza hires young, destitute Ann Kirby to assist her. As they cook together, Ann learns about poetry, love, and ambition. The two develop a radical friendship, breaking the boundaries of class while creating new ways of writing recipes. But when Ann discovers a secret in Eliza’s past and finds a voice of her own, their friendship starts to fray.
Based on the true story of the first modern cookery writer, Miss Eliza’s English Kitchen is a spellbinding novel about female friendship, the struggle for independence, and the transcendent pleasures and solace of food.
©2021 Annabel Abbs (P)2021 HarperCollins PublishersWhat listeners say about Miss Eliza's English Kitchen
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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
- Becky
- 02-17-22
Poetic and savory
You will be delighted by the poetic and culinary goodness to be found in this book. Partly a novel of friendship, partly a book of the delicious nature of creating foods designed to entice the palate. A wonderful read!
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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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- noreen d.
- 10-15-24
One of the best books I’ve read in a long time
The performances were perfect. The voices were magic. I’ve read this book 3 times and enjoy it more each time.
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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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- Amazon Customer
- 08-25-22
A joyful read!
Wonderfully narrated and beautifully written. One of those books you can’t wait to read/listen to but don’t want to end. Have shared with countless friends especially those who enjoy the art of cooking.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- ZR.
- 08-25-22
What an incredible gem this book is
It took a bit to get going. I was not sure about it for the first chapter or so but then it started to come together into a beautiful story. The writing, the characters, all so good. Glad I stuck with it.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Lyric G. Eads
- 09-07-22
Very lyrical and different
I’m not sure how to describe this book. Rather slow paced, and often heartbreaking. Full stories are not openly told, but revealed in subtle snippets that keep you wondering what is motivating the characters or making them act the way they do. Some things were not explained to my satisfaction, and some things made me wonder, ‘why did this need to be kept such a secret from the reader until the very end? Why is this person really acting this way?’ Maybe I just couldn’t relate to the personalities of the two main female characters, or maybe the story just isn’t my dish of pudding.
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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
- Lois Stevens
- 03-18-23
Rich view of the human experience
The lead characters fortunately found their sense of identity surprisingly in culinary creativity. The discovery of this passion and their unlikely relationship is a wonderful story. They were horribly challenged in establishing individual self-esteem and identity. The setting is England in the 19th century but finding oneself and comprehending our life is universal. At times our personal decisions, such as these characters made, can lead us to despair, and this was painful in the novel. It rings true to life. i was glad for the good resolution for Ann in the Epilogue which overshadowed the depth of the suffering of her life . I really like that this novel stems from historical facts. I am happy to know about the part these two ladies played in our culinary history
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Karen J. Miller
- 03-31-23
Great Read
Wonderful story showing how women from that time period were able to push the boundaries and follow their passions.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Angie
- 06-14-23
This Would Have Been A Much Better Book If ---
It had a better ending. It just, sort of, ended. There were details left out that would have made the ending better. I wish, wish, wish it had a better ending. I'm a huge Bianca Amato fan so I really enjoyed the book. I'm not a fan of Ell Potter as well, but this book --- SHEESH!! I know I sounds like a recording, but I wish it had a better ending.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- jeanne p smith
- 07-16-23
Delicious
Oh how I loved this delightful book !! It was elegantly written and narrated. I am sad it had to end…
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- L. Tax
- 10-26-23
Best download so far! fantastic!
I was sorry to see this book end! It was entertaining and masterfully narrated! Noticed the mister and kids lingering to listen too!
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