Oranges: A Global History

Edible

by Clarissa Hyman

Oranges traces our close historic relationship with the pre-eminent member of the citrus clan. Oranges are a fascinating fruit with a long and varied history, wide-ranging cultural resonance, large culinary presence, and a golden, glowing beauty. Once seen as a gift from the gods, oranges have been symbols of great wealth and status in art; the foundation of fortunes; an inspiration for poets and painters; and a source of natural health.
This book examines the tantalizing origins of the fruit, and surveys the wide range of varieties that now comprise the orange family. Oranges charts the arrival of bitter and sweet oranges in the Mediterranean world, the impact of their cultivation on agriculture, garden design and architecture, and records the dramatic journey of the orange to the Americas. Oranges and cartons of orange juice are a sight we take for granted on supermarket shelves and the breakfast table, but the story of how they got there is little-known.
Oranges deals with practical complexities of cultivation and production in a clear and engaging manner and details the problems and challenges facing modern producers and consumers of the orange throughout the world.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Food, Food History, Food and Drink

146 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Cee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I desperately want to eat oranges now.

[Tara Brabazon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A ripper of a book. Part of Reaktion's Edible Series, Clarissa Hyman's book captures the best of food studies. Aligning the disciplines of history, sociology, biology, fashion theory, cultural studies and media studies, Oranges is able to present both the chronological narrative of the fruit, but also its social significance.

What lifted this book from four to five stars is the attention to the often under-discussed elements of the orange: like the peel, blossom and scent.

It is difficult to imagine a better example of and from food studies than Clarissa Hyman's Oranges.

[Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

After finishing John McPhee's book of oranges, I felt I wanted more so got this. This global history of food is part of a great series that are fun to read. Not anything at the level of McPhee, and this is far more dry--but this book had some recipes and indeed there are some stories about oranges around the world that were not included in McPhee... so I recommend them as a pair.

[Katrinka]

Was kind of hoping for more in-depth information (regarding disease in particular), but realize this series is generally meant just to skim the surface.