The Bloomsbury Cookbook: Recipes for Life, Love and Art

by Jans Ondaatje Rolls

Sheds light on the vivid personalities, ideas, and achievements of the Bloomsbury Group from a unique culinary perspective Throwing aside the stifling patriarchy of late Victorian Britain, the Bloomsbury Group fostered a fresh, creative, and vital way of living that encouraged debate and communications, as often as not across the dining table. In The Bloomsbury Cookbook , Jans Ondaatje Rolls collects more than 180 recipes for dishes that take us into the very heart of their world through the meals around which they congregated, argued, debated, laughed, and loved.

Gathered at these tables were many of the great figures in art, literature, and economics as the modern world was created and tirelessly E.M. Forster, Roger Fry, J.M. Keynes, Lytton Strachey, and Virginia Woolf, among many others. Arranged chronologically from the late 19th century through the ascendency of the group between the wars, all the way to their present-day legacy, the book gathers together hundreds of photographs, letters, journals, paintings, and delicious recipes―some handwritten and never-before-published―that bring to life the group’s lingering breakfasts and “painting lunches.” Part cookbook, part social and cultural history, The Bloomsbury Cookbook will delight the modern chef searching for a certain distinctiveness, but also recreates an intimate portrait of a vastly influential intellectual and artistic community. 165 illustrations, 113 in color

Genres: Cookbooks, Food, Nonfiction, Cooking, Art, Biography

384 pages, Hardcover

First published April 22, 2014

Reviews

[Magrat · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK, most of the Bloomsbury Group couldn't boil an egg. They had servants to do the cooking, but they were foodies who took great interest in what they ate. They provided their cooks with up-to-date equipment and cookbooks, collected recipes, took an interest in ingredients (Lytton Strachey enjoyed growing vegetables and keeping chooks) and conducted their intellectual lives at table.

This fascinating book is copiously illustrated and a beautiful thing in itself - if there is a Kindle edition, don't be tempted. And there are nearly 300 recipes.

[Rob Tapper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent reading; feel really a part of the whole "Bloomsbury" thing now; the players and foibles, their talents and their (selfish) egos, and the geopolitical upheavals of their times. The "recipe"aspect of the writing is pure genius; keeps feet on the ground and adds that cultural dimension which links my past to theirs.
This book is a brilliant compendium of fact from this critical blossoming of the freedoms won of those times. The members of that "Bloomsbury" set famously now etched in history.
This must be viewed against the predominant "conscientious objector" status of significant males of the group -- their competitors in history wiped out more likely on the battle front.

[Sharon Huether · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bloomsbury Cookbook: Recipes for Life, Love and Art...by Jan Ondaatje Rolls... I Won this book through GOODREADS. It was the end of the Victorian era. Young people wanted to discuss what they read and saw. Their style of painting was different; bold brush strokes, not much detail and very colorful. The life style was bohemian, open marriages and changing partners frequently. Most of these people were writers, and artists. This all took place in England in the town of Bloomsbury and Charleston. Such notables were T.S. Eliot, Virginia Woolf, Venessa Bell and Duncan Grant. A quote from Virginia Woolf. " One cannot think well, love well sleep well, if one has not dined well." There are a lot of recipes in this book, which were mostly used in the 1890's to 1940's. There were many prints and photos in the cookbook, which is always interesting. Jan Ondaatje Rolls, who complied this book did a great job. The paper is a heavy velum, plus a ribbon bookmarker.

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

I collect cookery books so of course this has to be included. I am sure it will be criticized as its a dated recipe collection though fascinating as a domestic insight. The times were sparse and the members difficult so there are a few I will try just for fun The book itself as a Bloomsbury item is just delightful
I love it
The perfect gift for any Bloomsbury collectors.

[CHRISTINA ORGAN · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book so interesting on so many levels from the history and characters that made up the Bloomsbury group to the beautiful illustrations and to the fascinating recipes.
It makes one realise how basic cooking became during the war years and now varied ' English ' cuisine has become through foreign influences since the second world war.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of the Bloomsbury Group and its members told through food and recipes in a delightful if somewhat disjointed way. This is a beautiful volume, illustrated with paintings, photographs and extracts from letters and diaries. Something to dip into rather than read cover to cover.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated book about the Bloomsbury set seen through the food they enjoyed and also wrote about and painted. Admittedly, the amount of cooking they actually did themselves was limited, but they enjoyed their food. It's made me want to dip into some Virginia Woolf again.

[Lisa Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much more than a cookbook. A lot of interesting stories about the Bloomsbury Group

[Darla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recipes are not all that interesting but of course it is from a different lifestyle

[Deana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb!

[Natbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating, interesting and informative with historical anecdotes, cooking recipes, art and photos.

[Mousy Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic glimpse into the bohemian existence of the talented and dare I say it eccentric group that made Bloomsbury famous. It is full of information, gossip and recipes, amazing images and personal recollections from family members and friends. I'm not sure I fancy trying many of the recipes but I bought it more for the insight into this time and place anyway and so loved every moment it took to read it...

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book