A story of two unlikely friends. Very strong women, who met due to unfortunate circumstances. Both with secrets, both with hopes for their futures.

I was a tiny bit surprised by the ending. I had expected something different, but(!) it was a good ending to the story.

Very good writing. Lots of details, recipes, poetic descriptions.

I was not sure if I likethis book but them about 4 chapters in I good hook after a slow start but it was good very well written ready to read it just did not grip me I sorry to say good story plot was good a ok book fore

My thanks to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for a review copy of this book.

The Language of Food is a beautiful story of food and of recipes, and also of poetry, but more than that of two women who want to dream of and do things that weren’t approved of in the time they wanted to do them or seemed far out of their reach—and who each in their own way lived somewhat beyond convention.

The story is based on two real life figures—Eliza Acton, a writer who revolutionised in a sense, the way cookbooks were written, making them not only of the kind we are familiar with today, with elements of precision and clarity, but also weaving into them poetry and a sense of appreciation for food—so far described in only mechanical terms—and her maid, Ann Kirby—who had abilities (and indeed ambitions) that one from her background would not have been expected to have in those days, and worked alongside Eliza for ten years developing and testing the over 500 recipes in the book.

As the book opens, we find Ann Kirby, at 17 looking after a mother who is fast deteriorating due to mental illness and requires more and more care and a father who has lost a leg in the war, is an alcoholic and is unable to find or hold on to work. Then the local Reverend Thorpe offers to find her Mam a place in an asylum where she will be looked after while Ann can take a place as maid with a new family who is unaware of the ‘taint’ on her family. Alongside we have the Eliza a spinster at 36 who has published one volume of poetry and dreams of publishing another. But a promising meeting with the publishers, Longmans, turns out quite the opposite when Eliza is told quite categorically that poetry isn’t ‘women’s’ business and she should consider writing a gothic novel, or even better, a cookbook. Shocked, her dreams shattered, and feeling understandably insulted, Eliza leaves. But when her father becomes bankrupt, circumstances change, and she and Mrs Acton must run a boarding house. Now, the prospect of a cookbook seems a way out of their predicament. Having looked at some existing cookbooks, Eliza not only finds how poorly written and unhelpful they are—lacking clarity, and in most cases, also measurements of ingredients—but memories are stirred up of how she had enjoyed food when she travelled to France in the past. Needless to say, Ann is the new maid in the boarding house. Eliza finds Ann’s ability to read and write and interest in food just what she needs to help her, and the unconventional Eliza who treats Ann more as a friend and partner in work rather than a maid captures Ann’s interest as the two work together to create the recipe book. The book is narrated in first person, with alternative chapters in the voices of Ann and Eliza. Alongside the putting together of the recipe book, we also follow the two women’s lives as they deal with opportunities that arise and the problems that face them.

This was a beautifully written and very engaging read for me right from the start. I enjoyed following the two women’s lives and both narratives. They two kind of run in continuum with each other since they are for the most part working together on the book, but there are segments where we also follow each of them individually as certain subplots unfold.

This is a book about food, so if course there is plenty of it—I loved the process of Eliza working on recipes, testing them out—sometimes on their own, while at others for guests at the boarding house—and how she works at writing them as well. Ann might start out as a maid but soon proves that she can be more in terms of giving her inputs on flavours and even adding her own little touches—something Eliza appreciates. It was interesting to see how Eliza brought about such a revolution in the way cookbooks were written, and was able to, through her poetic writing, take them to a different level. In fact, that poetic approach to and appreciation of different ingredients and tastes comes through in this book as well. For those interested, the author has included a few of the recipes at the end.

But more than the food, poetry and family dynamics and relationships (there are also broader social reflections like the attitude to mental illness, the harassment and downright abuse that maids were subjected to by guests, etc.) what I liked best was that both the central characters—Eliza and Ann—are strong women who dare to dream and dare to live beyond convention (They also have more in common than thy realise, both families having secrets which if revealed can have consequences). Eliza for instance is a spinster who wants only to write and publish poetry—and wants to be identified with it—not use pseudonyms or disguises—something much disapproved of by her mother since she thinks Eliza’s poems reveal too much of her emotion. When she picks up the cookbook project, she has no qualms about turning cook in the boarding house, nor does she treat Ann as a conventional maid. She sees this not as simply a cookbook, but something that will change the way things are being done in the country—perhaps bring more women back into the kitchen. In fact, only as the story progresses, we come to appreciate this much more, and Eliza for the choices she has made. Ann too, is somewhat unconventional, having been taught to read and write by her mother. She dreams of being a cook (like her brother Jack who is apprenticed to a chef in London), even though this is not possible at her age (at 17 she is too ‘old’ to climb too far), but she is lucky that with Eliza she has a chance to realise these ambitions. But luck apart, she is also someone who speaks up for herself and questions what she finds unfair. (The author’s note mentions that little is known about Ann so her story is mostly fictionalized while Eliza’s is more based on fact, though her in her case too, information was limited).

All-in-all this made for an engrossing read, with strong main characters, which I enjoyed very much.

I would be remiss in this review if I don’t mention the lovely cover of the book (which reminds me very much of Delft pottery). While I reviewed an e-arc, the physical copy which I have seen pictures of is absolutely gorgeous, including the lovely painted book edges.

4.5 stars

God, I think, blasphemously, is in a sip of coffee.

You know how we all take for granted that the recipe will list the ingredients at the start and will give you an estimated cooking time. Apparently that wasn’t an actual thing for the longest time. The practice was started by Eliza Acton, the British food writer and poet, after she produced one of the first cookery books aimed at the average, middle class reader who wanted to make something at home.

It is believed, that when Eliza Atcon was told to stop writing poetry and produce a recipe book she actually went ahead and spent ten years doing it. That book was Modern Cookery for Private Families, and not only did it make it the norm to list the ingredients and cooking time at the start of the recipe, but it also named recipes that no one had thought to do so before; everyone made them, they just never said it.

This is the story of how Eliza ended up writing that book, with the help of her maid Ann, who by some miracle, in that day and age, was able to read. She and Ann worked on the recipes together and became, friends and allies, in a world that was unceasingly unfair to the poor.

This book covers several really interesting themes. As a brown girl one can really relate to what Eliza goes through at home; you aren’t married, can’t exactly live independently, and so you’re always subject to someone else’s rules and opinions. It doesn’t matter Eliza’s father is the one who had to file for bankruptcy, it’s her who needs to marry so that they can get out of it.

How strange this world is – that no woman must admit to the pleasures of the table. She must prepare the table, of course. But without feeling. And she must eat of it – if only to live – but without expressing any pleasure in the process. For us of the fairer sex, food must be merely functional.


There is also the element of control over female appetite; notably, the only women who really appear to want food or hanker after it are the nurses, who seem sinister from our very first interaction with them. Eliza and Ann both love food, so does Eliza’s mother; but no one can appear to want it or enjoy the flavour. The room that Eliza wants to be the kingdom of women, the kitchen and the dining room, is ruled by men; the french cooks and waiters and butlers and owners, who put their hands on you the second they get the chance. The same man who can inspire Eliza, is the same man who makes Ann feel sick; the differences in their status make them interact with almost different personalities.

Also, love how everyone was like the British are disappointing; how did you colonise so many places and not figure out how to flavour your food better??!?!?!!!

I will say this that while the book was glorious in so many ways, I wasn’t able to give it stars because i couldn’t fully invest in both of the two women. It’s only with the introduction of Susannah and the relationship between the priest and Ann explained that I was really invested, and thats the last 20%. I would have liked it if the author had drawn that out more. I was also very sure that Ann and Eliza would be into each other, and while Eliza says that she feel like Ann’s a daughter or a friend, certain lines make me feel like the author changed her mind midway through things:

Her very presence makes my heart leap like a spring salmon. I will bear anything to stay beside her.
— Ann

And it seems to me that her looks and gestures show meaning in the smallest and commonest of things. I cannot explain it but I feel it beneath my skin – and suppose it to be a wave of misplaced affection that must be kept hidden from Mother’s prying eyes.
— Eliza

Why should the culinary arts not include poetry? Why should a recipe book not be a thing of beauty?

As a culinary professional, I love any story revolving food. There’s not many that stick with you, but this definitely is one of them! If you don’t buy it for the gorgeous cover, buy it for the wonderfully written stories. There’s so much growth in the stories of Eliza and Ann, and while I had no idea who Eliza Acton was before reading, I like the image I have of her now.

Loved the story around this book and the food descriptions made me so hungry! It’s a tender novel written with care, attention and respect, showing the limited choices open to women and the passion and dedication that lived on despite this.

Great characters and delicious recipes that leave you feeling full and satisfied at the end - loved it!

This is a brilliant historical fiction book which imagines the life of Eliza Acton, who reinvented the way cookery books are written and her influence is still seen in recipe books today.

Set in 1835 we follow Eliza on her journey to create and test recipes for inclusion in her cook book. A poet at heart, Eliza is particularly interested in the creativity and art of food and her two passions weave together as she spends a majority of her time in the kitchen in her family home. Eliza enlists the help of a young woman named Ann who comes from a poor background and is dealing with the stigma of mental health in her family history. A friendship forms between the two women as they learn of each other's pasts and share in their love of food.

This book is clearly very well researched by the author and there are some great historical notes at the back of the book which detail what is known about Eliza and Ann in records and how the author used this information to create her story which blends the facts with fiction. I loved the depiction of female friendship in this book and enjoyed both Eliza and Ann's perspectives. The descriptions of food were good too and remained the central focus of the story despite there being a few side plots to keep things interesting.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC.

This book was such a delight to read. It celebrates the beauty of cookery by recounting a fictional imagining of the life of Eliza Acton, regarded by many to be the first modern cookery writer. Eliza was also a poet and sought to create recipes that were poetic as well as precise and clear to follow, for modern English housekeepers of the time. She was an innovator and also an advocate for nutritious food. The result of this fictional take on Eliza’s life is one brimming with ideas of flavours and scents, a constant poetic enjoyment of the culinary art. I also really enjoyed reading the character of Eliza’s kitchen maid and assistant, Ann Kirby, who is young and enthusiastic about cooking, but also naive and impressionable and very much disadvantaged until she is taken under Eliza’s wing. Eliza herself is portrayed as a strong-willed woman for the era, and when most of society have other expectations of her, determined to make her own mark and to follow her dreams.

My thanks to #NetGalley and Simon and Schuster UK for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love cooking and cookery books and this book was a perfect read for me with a touch of truth and lots of lovely recipes and ideas. Great characters, especially Eliza and Ann. Very good notes at the end too. An excellent read for lovers of recipes and biographical fiction. Well researched too. With thank to NetGalley, the author and the publishers for an e-ARC of this title to read and review.

This was a sweet, simple yet meticulously researched book based on Eliza Acton, the woman who modernised cookery books.

I liked the characters and the pacing. The plot was fine too, but mind you, there's nothing exceptional about it. The story is more about Eliza and her struggles to establish herself as a 30 something-year-old spinster who is trying to fight to pave an unconventional path for herself. I liked reading about that, and I also enjoyed Ann's story. Even though I wish it provided the reader with somewhat of a better closure. I also enjoyed all the sampling of recipes and the descriptions of food, which were incorporated into the narrative in an organic way and did not seem to be given in degailed dumps on the reader.

I generally enjoy books that feature food, and if that's what you're looking for, along with a healthy dose of drama, empowerment, a little scandal and mystery, then this is the book for you.

Based on real people, this is a fascinating account of Eliza Acton 's life during the first half of the nineteenth century. Although embellished by fiction, this is still a well researched account of Eliza's quest to research, test and produce a cookery book with tested recipes and a list of ingredients.
Eliza is not a well known lady, Mrs Beeton holds that banner, but many of Eliza's recipes were included, without agreement, into Mrs Beeton's famous book of Household Management.
Ann Kirby helped Eliza with the recipes, but little is known about her. The fictionalised account of her tlife of poverty was a powerful account of the conditions of the day..
A lovely read

The ‘true’ story of Eliza Acton as told through the characters of Eliza herself, and her maid Ann. Driven by bankruptcy and later by a sense of social justice, Eliza determines to write a frugal and specific cookbook to discourage consumption of ‘fast food’ and to enable people to eat well. This is an interesting and well written social commentary of womens lives, the fear of scandal and impropriety, and the importance of family throughout.

Later Eliza’s recipes would be stolen by Mrs. Beeton, and passed off as her own. Disappointingly, there are only a handful of Eliza’s recipes in this book, so I was compelled to download her cookery book from Amazon to see the style of writing, and the recipes of which I had read.

Thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book ahead of publication in exchange for an honest review

To be honest, I was completely bored while reading this book. I went in not really knowing what to expect from the plot - the basics of food and women looking for freedom were my general guidelines - but I felt it became very same-y very quickly. I had no interest in following the plot - and the descriptions about the novel being 'mouth-watering' were...unlived-up-to. Not for me, but will certainly appeal to food lovers/historical fiction fanatics.

Despite their very different social backgrounds, Eliza Acton and Ann Kirby become friends and their shared love of food, and recipes, is what drives this wonderfully descriptive story and which lifts it from the mundane into something quite special.

The Language of Food speaks on any level both as a social commentary about the injustices of the mid-nineteenth century in terms of poverty and hardship, and also about the expectation placed upon women of any social class. What's so interesting about The Language of Food is the way both Eliza and Ann took themselves, by sheer hard work and determination, out of the place in which society had placed them. The alternate chapters of the story allow both Eliza and Ann their voice, just as their partnership in producing a cook book was, despite their differences, very much a joint venture.

Beautifully written and impeccably researched The Language of Food is a love affair to the glory of food is all stages of its preparation, and also testament to the tenacity of two women who were determined to succeed in a world, and culture, where women were seen as nothing more than an easily manipulated drudge, or a pleasing appendage on a gentleman's arm.

Thank you to Anne Cater for my invitation to the Random Things Tours Blog Tour and for my copy of the proof in return for a fair and honest review.

Eliza Acton lives with her mother and it a very forward thinking woman, she has had a book of poetry printed but when she takes another manuscript to her the publisher but it is refused. She is told to write a cookbook instead. She has no experience of cooking but decides after reading other cook books of the time that she could do much better.

Eliza’s family are in debt so they have to leave their home and move to a boarding house. However, her mother is horrified that Eliza wishes to write and cook and thinks that she should just find a husband.

Ann Kirby is only seventeen but she has had a tough life, her father is an alcoholic and her mother has dementia and can no longer be left alone. The local vicar Rev Thorpe finds her a placement in service with the Acton’s but she has to make a terrible decision in order to do this.

The writing in this book is beautiful, descriptive and transportative, the chapter headings made me hungry apart from seasoned gruel! I loved Eliza’s strong will and in contrast Ann’s naivety. Ann has never experienced much of the food stuffs or the language that Eliza presents her with but she is keen to learn and very adaptable. It is a wonderful story of female friendships and fighting back in a time where women were either servants or wives, these strong women are inspirational.

A absolute triumph of a story that engrossed, enraged and endeared me and I will remember for a long time so much so that I have ordered The Real Mrs Beaton The Story of Eliza Acton by Shelia Hardy so that I can read more about Eliza.

5 Stars *****

The Language of Food may make you hungry, it may make you feel warm and cosy and it may show you something you perhaps did not know before.

This is a fictional book, but features a real person from history - Eliza Acton. She was a cookery writer who lived between 1799-1859 and got a blue plaque. I love and appreciate food and cookery, but I had never heard of her before, perhaps because, as the book says, so little was known about her, but this book weaves into her life, what was known about her. More well-known cooks of this more modern era, such as Delia Smith and others, have been influenced by her. Eliza's books were bestsellers, selling vast amounts of copies at the time.

Each chapter is nicely designed in the way they are written and titled - using food related terms or actual food. The book also goes between Ann and Eliza to tell their life stories. It begins with Ann and Mr Whitmarsh, who has given her a present. Immediately, Mr Whitmarsh brings energy that runs through the opening chapter, but also one of intrigue at a certain reaction to the more well-known - Mrs Beaton...

The book then goes to Eliza, on her way to a publisher, hoping to publish some more poetry. The publisher then sees an opportunity for a cookery book. The book shows how things were at a certain time in people's views and at the same time, therefore also shows how things have moved on as time has passed and views have differed and what is realised about women's talents, that were overlooked and not taken seriously before, as she argues the point of how poetry was good enough for great male stalwarts of this type of writing, but perhaps not women. There is also a level of perspective within Ann's world, where she isn't pleased at this finding, but Mr Whitmarsh soon shows a bit of reality within his cooking world.

The book has a sense of movement in time and is, in some respects, the writing is poetic, something perhaps Eliza Acton may have appreciated.... perhaps... It also shows her determination, ambition and almost fearlessness to do things how she wants to, which then drove a change in the way cookery books were and are written.

It isn't as simple as that. Eliza has to think about food in a more focussed way to give her publishers a cookery book, but with one tiny problem... she has never even boiled an egg before, which makes you wonder how on earth she can write a cookery book and the sort that her publishers would want to show the world and sell. So, she learns and gets inspired by food and what Jack has told her. Eliza, against the odds, begins to add unexpected ingredients for Britain at that time.

The food and how it was cooked, all blended into the story, unfolds in a way that educates in how food was prepared and also feeds the senses terribly well and absorbs into the mind, wanting to soak up and consume every word. Given that there, as readers are informed at the beginning, that there is little known about Eliza Acton, I can't help but think that this book is respectfully done. There's a certain sense, especially as it captures the times and then hones in on the food and brings a believability to it and shows how cuisine was then and how Eliza started to change it, and also learnt from other cooks. The book demonstrates a whole foody web of connections and sparks of inspiration gained from others, even if not always in-person, but in their cookery books.

As well as all the food that leaps from the page, there, intertwined is also other parts of her life, because people have more than one interest and more than one thing going on in their lives. There are the friendships forged, even when some may seem unlikely, but showing that sometimes, they can be great friendships. There are also health challenges and how they were seen at the time.

There is also great insight into the characters lives, and the places featured, lots that are real, including a mental health asylum. Those that feature a lot in the book have a very interesting note at the end of the book, which gives even greater context and interest and attention to detail.

As a book as a whole, it's a good introduction to Eliza Acton, who will, I am sure be a bit better known than she perhaps used to be, and is interesting as well as being humorous with lots of food within it and snippets of her and Ann's lives throughout, creating a believable story, that then picques interest to do a small amount of looking around for Eliza Acton, something I often find myself doing after a biopic or a fictional story based on a real person's life, if it interests me enough.

To begin with I wish to comment on how great a format it was to alternate between the two voices of Eliza Acton and Ann Kirby. These are two strong formidable women. They have goals for their lives. They both tell a few little white lies. They also form an unlikely friendship.

Historical fiction is one of my absolute favourite genres and I read this book very quickly as I really wanted to know how the plot was going to unfold. Would Ann tell Eliza the truth about her mother? Will Eliza get married or remain a spinster?

The book concludes with a historical note as well as some of Eliza Acton’s recipes.

I enjoyed this book so much. Devouring it essentially.

With thanks to NetGallery for eARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars. It’s very readable; although Ann is mostly fictionalised, a lot of Eliza Acton is based on fact. I’m one of those people who has a few Elizabeth David books quite literally to sit and read, because recipes can be far more interesting in the way they are written, and Elizabeth David rated Eliza Acton and so on… Dementia comes into this story and being an unmarried woman not in a position to seek a husband, and sexual harassment comes up too as well as class. Which is probably why I feel that The Language of Food glosses over some elements of the period especially several power dynamics (love is mentioned rather a lot, mostly in the familial sense as if to excuse some behaviour), but you can’t have everything and the descriptions of where the novel takes place are of the period.

This is the story of how a cookbook with exact measurements was written by two women, one of whom was a poet and playwright. Both women are hiding things from each other and otherwise getting on with the job, both first person POVs work and the chapters are just the right length - occasionally even switching during a scene which works very well. Both are arguably strong characters in their own right.

A fantastically written book that really captures life as a Victorian woman and the hardships. The characters were strong and endearing and I found myself easily falling inside the pages. Not my usual type of book but I very much enjoyed this!

Everyone has heard of Mrs Beeton, right? For those of us of a particular age, there might even have been a copy of 'Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management' lying around at home or at the home of parents, grandparents, whoever... That huge Victorian tome, updated and reprinted regularly, was a Bible to all housekeepers of a certain vintage...and yet the women at the centre of 'The Language of Food' - Eliza Acton - inspired Mrs Beeton and yet is herself mostly unknown.

With its Victorian setting and story about a woman who has been forgotten by history, this book could have been written for me!

At the novel's heart is an unlikely friendship between Eliza Acton and the seventeen year-old maid, Ann Kirby, who she hires to help her write the cookbook demanded by her publisher. Eliza is a poet living in genteel poverty who is determined to bring poetry to recipe books which - to this point - have been pretty dry and basic. Ann is a poor maid with a family who need supporting - and she brings the culinary skills to the partnership that Eliza lacks. Between the two, they create something which kickstarts the cookbook genre in a format we would recognise today (and which Mrs Beeton heavily relied upon for her own writing).

The majority of the book is set in the very early days of Queen Victoria's reign and is told (in alternate chapters) by Eliza and Ann. Both voices are compelling and the reader is soon caught up in the problems that they are facing - Eliza wants to write while her overbearing mother tries to marry her off to secure some wealth for the family while Ann is seeking to escape from the extreme poverty of her background while also helping her family. Ann's story is particularly heartbreaking, especially when the reader can start to piece together her tragedy in a way that her naivety doesn't allow her to realise.

Although the focus is the two women, there is so much more to enjoy in this book. In particular, the weird and wonderful Victorian recipes are pretty fascinating. For me, a fussy eater at the best of times, the prospect of Seasoned Gruel, Buttered Celery on Toast or Smoked Haunch of Badger was intriguing! Each chapter has a different dish as its title - often what Eliza and Ann are cooking, discussing or writing about. I loved the fact that Abbs describes the original recipes and cooking techniques which adds to the authenticity of the setting - I'm not a foodie at all, but this was interesting reading.

Another lovely touch was the use of real people and places - as part of Eliza's richly-imagined world, we meet interesting historical figures such as Lady Judith Montefiore and Alexis Soyer. While not household names now, for a Victorian geek like me they were great additions that added to the vibrancy of Eliza's setting and furthered my picture of early-Victorian life. There was a lot here that had me frantically Googling to split the fact from the fiction - the mark of a great historical novel in my book!

Abbs' writing is beautiful and nuanced - this is the story of a frustrated poet who explores the possibilities of language as much as cookery and it is a pleasure to read.

Overall, I would say this is a joy for fans of historical fiction - especially those who like light shed on forgotten people and stories. This is a book that needs savouring as there is so much to take in, from the glorious descriptions of food to the beauty of the growing relationship between the two women. It isn't fast paced, but it is thoroughly engaging and delightfully written.