Book Review – Repast by Jenny Linford

The global story of food through the collections of the British Museum Repast by Jenny Linford

Repast by Jenny Linford is written in collaboration with experts at the British Museum and is due to release on 24th April.

The book focuses on artefacts in the Museum’s collection  bringing them together into 13 thematic and illustrated chapters, starting with explorations of hunting and gathering and ending with the history of eating out.  Along the way, Jenny looks at  agriculture, alcohol and cooking – from ancient clay cooking vessels to exquisite gold cups – spanning multiple continents and dating from prehistory to the modern day.

As well as essays about each topic, what I found interesting was the variety of objects in the British Museum collection.  From plates to carvings to clothes and paintings, all depicting our collective food story.

This is a deliciously fascinating book filled with gems such as did you know that:

tea is the world’s most consumed drink after water?

pork is the world’s most widely consumed meat?

and wheat is the source of 20 per cent of the world’s human calorie consumption?

Repast is a delicious look at the human relationship with food through the British Museum collection.