Cheesemonger's History of the British Isles

by Ned Palmer

Overview

The Top 10 Sunday Times Bestseller. For history nerds and food lovers, the curious and the hungry, an entertaining journey stretching across the British Isles. Packed with the story of British cheese from an expert storyteller and master cheesemonger.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781788161176
Publisher:	IPS - Profile Books
Publication date:	09/28/2021
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	5.08(w) x 7.79(h) x (d)

About the Author

Ned Palmer runs the Cheese Tasting Company, whose unique events pair cheese with wines, beers, whiskies and history. After studying philosophy, theatre and experimental psychology, he worked as a jazz pianist and hospital porter, before helping out on a stall at Borough Market in South London led him into a life of cheesemongering.

Table of Contents

Introduction Fresh out of Red Leicester 7

Chapter 1 Neolithic feasting 4000 BCE-43 CE Sleightlett 11

Chapter 2 What the Romans did for our cheese 43 CE-1066 Spenwood Wigmore 39

Chapter 3 The benefit of monks 1066-1348 Milleens 73

Chapter 4 Market forces 1348-1547 Gorwydd Caerphilly 115

Chapter 5 Big cheese 1547-1688 Appleby's Cheshire 153

Chapter 6 The birth of a brand 1688-1837 Stichelton 189

Chapter 7 Ploughman's lunch 1837-1901 Westcombe Cheddar 217

Chapter 8 Farmhouse to factory 1901-74 Hawes Wensleydale 251

Chapter 9 The Great Cheese Renaissance 1974-99 Lanark Blue 283

Chapter 10 Let a thousand cheeses bloom 2000-Postmodern cheese 315

A Brief Directory Some favourite cheeses 341

Sources & Further Reading 355

Acknowledgements 358

Photo Credits 360

Index 362

Editorial Reviews

"A delightful and informative romp through centuries of British cheesemaking ... it would make a fine Christmas present, along with a wedge of Sparkenhoe red leicester" - GUARDIAN

"Palmer writes with pace and passion, and his encounters with modern-day practitioners fizz with infectious delight ... Full of flavour" - SUNDAY TIMES

"Part history, part travelogue and part tasting menu ... an utter delight, rousing, infectiously impassioned and inspiring" - THE SPECTATOR

From the Publisher