Miss Eliza's English Kitchen

A Novel of Victorian Cookery and Friendship

By: Annabel Abbs

Narrated by: Ell Potter, Bianca Amato

Length: 11 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

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

Wow! A Gem and a definite Keeper!

This is one of those collections I will re listen to over and over again. The storytelling both from the author and the narrators is beautifully written by author and read by the narrators. I felt like I was right there in the kitchen with the characters. Beautifully written and read!

Phenomenal. Did NOT want it to end!

What a beautiful story so beautifully written. I am a self-professed non-fiction junkie, who has recently entered the world of fiction, and I’m so glad that I have in large part because of this book. This story resonated with me in ways I did not expect. It’s full of heart, and narrated superbly. Did NOT want it to end! I’m looking forward to checking out Annabel’s other book The Joyce Girl.

Food for thought

Such a great story that brings the characters and the food in Eliza’s kitchen to life. Sad for it to end.

Narration wonderful, good story

I could only just manage to put this book down - it has kept me good company while I work. I enjoyed the story and it held my attention from beginning to end.

I liked the characters who are intended to be liked and detested those who are meant to be detestable.

Maybe some would say that that makes the book formulaic - all I know is that it has kept me engaged with a better-than-most story line and an outstanding performance.

Absolutely loved it

Really got to know and root for the characters. Really sad to have it end.

Loved it!

The narrators are wonderful. Draw you totally into their world! The story is verlo well written. Comfort food!

Descriptions you can taste!

I really enjoyed this story. With Dickensonian characters and mouth-watering descriptions of food, it draws you in. At times I wondered at the actions, or lack of them, taken by the main characters. Then, I remembered this was Victorian England. I would have liked a bit more expression from the reader of Ann’s character. It was a bit flat. Generally, a good story.

Amazing

I loved every minute of this book. It renewed my love of cooking and transported me to another time. I can’t recommend it enough.

Loved this story.

Narrator was excellent and delivered the characters with realistic voices. The story grabbed my attention from the very beginning. Wishing for more after it was done.

A delightful & delicious listen

An interesting, enjoyable and captivating historically sound culinary novel laced with intriguing and suspenseful innuendos.