Citrus: A World History

by David J. Mabberley

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Food

272 pages, Hardcover

Published November 19, 2024

Reviews

[Michael Marshall · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this with the intent of reviewing it for New Scientist but then that didn’t happen, so I used it as a jumping-off point for an article instead: https://www.newscientist.com/article/...

It’s full of interesting facts and beautifully illustrated, but rather poorly and confusingly written.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some books take a simple subject and reveal its extraordinary depth.

Citrus: A World History does exactly that. It transforms a familiar fruit into a lens through which we can explore global trade, culture, and history. The narrative is both informative and engaging, offering insights that go far beyond the surface.

What makes this book compelling is its ability to connect disciplines botany, history, and culinary culture into a single, accessible story. It invites readers to see everyday foods in a new and more meaningful way.

For readers interested in food, history, or cultural exploration, this is a thoughtful and enriching read.

[Greg Adel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating, if wandering, tale of these sweet, tart gems of the fruit world. Absolutely chock-a-block with a bounty of illustrations, pictures, scientific drawings, artwork, and citrus-focused advertisement.

[Madalene · Rating 2 out of 5]

A compendium of illustrations of citrus with a bit of very dry but not well organized text on different types of citrus, their history, impact on the economy, and geography.

[Dray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great history. No recipes. Fabulous photos and art work.

[Melissa J Dyches · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book on the history of citrus. Absolutely gorgeous historical paintings and drawings.