Miss Eliza's English Kitchen

A Novel of Victorian Cookery and Friendship

By: Annabel Abbs

Narrated by: Ell Potter, Bianca Amato

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 Publishers

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!

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.

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.

Delicious

Oh how I loved this delightful book !! It was elegantly written and narrated. I am sad it had to end…

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!

Excellent historical fiction story

Friendship, family, life in the 1800’s and a few surprises! The picture of a kitchen and cookery in this era is enlightening and delightful.

A tale of strong women

I most enjoyed the strong women and a sense of life at the time. Beautifully performed and written.

I didn’t know what to expect…

While listening to the book, I loved the clues that foreshadowed the secrets to be revealed. It was a book that had me listening non-stop.

a Recipe Reader, just like Miss Eliza wrote about.

I read recipes almost everyday, so I appreciate the allure of reading about recipes. Miss Eliza's are much more elegant and unusual, but it is exciting to see how to make ordinary food take so many shapes, forms and flavors. Good job Miss Annabell Abbs.

I did not want it end

A sweet sweet story. Well done and well read. Characters are very likeable and fully developed.