Description
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(as of Sep 20, 2024 12:41:08 UTC – Details)
‘A delightful odyssey through the history, nostalgia, fascination and British love of cake. Quirky, charming, and fun.’ PRUE LEITH
The British take cakes seriously. We hold strong opinions about how to bake a brownie with the perfect squidge, the correct proportions of icing to sponge, and whether it’s jam or cream first on our scones. Now – thanks to the success of a certain TV baking show – our flirtation with flour, fruit and frosting has become a full-blown love affair.
But how did the humble cake evolve from a simple combination of starch and fat to the show-stopping bakes of today, taking pride of place at every meaningful life celebration? Travelling the country from Dundee to the Isle of Wight, writer Andrew Baker (by name, not occupation) serves up the story of our national obsession with cake, one slice at a time.
On this greediest of quests, Andrew seeks to discover the ‘True Slice’ of each iconic cake. This enviable task sees him eat sponge sandwiched with jam and cream at Queen Victoria’s holiday home Osborne House, discover the illustrious yet scandal-filled history of the Battenberg’s saccharine squares and learn how a caterpillar enrobed in chocolate became a party-starting birthday centerpiece.
From King Alfred’s oatcakes to The River Café’s revered Chocolate Nemesis, this is the crumb-spattered, buttercream-smeared story of the cakes that have claimed a place on British tables – and in our hearts.
From the Publisher
Publisher : Mudlark (28 Sept. 2023)
Language : English
Hardcover : 320 pages
ISBN-10 : 0008556075
ISBN-13 : 978-0008556075
Dimensions : 14.12 x 3 x 22.23 cm
8 reviews for Cake: A Slice of British Life
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mrs scoter –
Amazing Book
I had this book brought to my notice in the Daily Telegraph (the author writes for them). Its very interesting to find out the history of some of Britain’s iconic cakes. It is also laugh out loud funny. I read it from cover to cover and will pass it on to friends who then can enjoy it themselves. I would say that everyone should read it. 5 stars are not enough.
red robbo –
More enjoyable even than the consumption of cake itself?
I loved this book â for many reasons and at many levels. Foremost, it is an utter joy to read, the wry humour conveyed with the effortless flow and unerring use of the mot juste (and âphraseâ juste) that readers of Wodehouse will be familiar with. It is part autobiography (of the Proustian nostalgic kind), part travelogue and part food history, where keenness of observation and erudition combine with a lightness worthy of the best Victoria sponge. It is an uplifting book that will not fail to raise the most flagging of spirits. So evocative are the descriptions of the various cakes and their consumption, it meant that, as a diabetic for whom cake eating is an indulgence of the past, I could vicariously enjoy them in much the same way that the best travel books allow you to âvisitâ remote and exotic parts of the world from the safety and comfort of your armchair. While the title may lead you (erroneously) to imagine that this is a celebration of twee middle England, the final chapter reminds us that the cosmopolitan nature of modern Britain is what has expanded and enhanced our cultural (and culinary) richness. This book follows on from an equally enjoyable account of artisanal chocolate makers in this country. One wonders what the next stop will be on this glorious odyssey of the nationâs sweet tooth. I hope it wonât be too long before we find out.
Amazon Customer –
Christmas present
Requested by my wife who says it is a great book.
C Flynn –
Engaging and beautifully written
Engaging and interesting book. Interesting topic but itâs the writing and humour – reminiscent of Bill Bryson ( a compliment ) definitely worth a read. Highly recommend
Madeleine Howell –
Highly recommended
A whimsical, witty and warm-hearted exploration of the cakes we know and love, offering a delicious new perspective on the power of cake – and an armoury of cake-related anecdotes to muse over and deploy at teatime (or during other special occasions which invariably require cake, or indeed at any juncture at which cake appears). I consumed it in one sitting, but I expect it’s just as delightful when indulged in at leisure.
BooFox –
A satisfying chomp
Baker lives up to his name with this with this light and cheerful confection. His excursions around Britain fascinate and charm. A must for fans of cake and scrumptious prose.
jacksayspurple –
A book for cake-lovers by a Baker, not just for bakers
For too long, books about cake have been entirely focused around merely baking them. But evidently it takes a Baker to liberate cakes from the bakers.Andrew’s charming prose leads readers by the hand through the history, culture, and terroir of the cakes that made our world. Even those who can’t bake for toffee will find plenty to enjoy here (although there are a smattering of recipes to be found, for those who can.) It’s a gentle ride through a quintessentially British topic, but with just enough bite to keep readers on their toes. Baker is simply a top-class writer, one of the finest working in non-fiction today, bringing to bear the full weight of his journalistic background with a singularly light touch which surprises and delights at every turn.Whether you’re a Victoria sandwich-making veteran or you’ve just watched a couple of episodes of The Great British Bake Off, you’ll find all the more excuses to enjoy a slice or two here. And you’ll probably appreciate them better too.
Stuart Sanders –
This book takes the cake
Andrew Baker takes us on a magical journey to the birth places of eponymous cakes. The journey is packed with information, written with charm and humour, and illustrated by vignettes, sometimes frankly personal, never shying away from his readersâ inclinations, guiding them into the domain of interesting and varied facts.A great read!