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A Gothic Cookbook
A feast for the senses: an illustrated cookbook inspired by classic and contemporary Gothic texts.
A Gothic Cookbook is composed of thirteen chapters, each focusing on a different Gothic story and its edible motifs before bringing them to life — and to your table. Delicious yet devious, this cookbook is a culinary and literary delight.
Inspired by Alessandra Pino’s academic studies into how food manifests itself on the pages of Gothic literature, and combining her knife-sharp analysis with Ella Buchan’s experience as a food writer and recipe developer, A Gothic Cookbook pays homage to the most appetizing cuts of the genre, featuring over sixty original recipes illustrated by Lee Henry.
Dracula lulls protagonist Jonathan Harker into a false sense of security with cold cuts and a spicy, smoky, peppery stew. Frankenstein’s “monster” starts out as a benign vegetarian, while Mrs. Poole’s overindulgence in Mother’s Ruin triggers Mr. Rochester’s downfall in Jane Eyre — and a bitter tangerine signals a sharp, yet unheeded, warning against marriage and Manderley in Rebecca. Notice, too, how a ghostly presence craves sugar and burnt bread in Toni Morrison’s Beloved...
In this interplay between supper and the supernatural, you’ll learn to pick your desserts carefully: chocolate mousses foreshadow impending doom, yet the humble seed cake is a gesture of kindness.
With a foreword from acclaimed writer, editor and academic, Leone Ross, A Gothic Cookbook is the perfect culinary companion for those of you who enjoy a slice of the macabre with your dinner.
A Gothic Cookbook is composed of thirteen chapters, each focusing on a different Gothic story and its edible motifs before bringing them to life — and to your table. Delicious yet devious, this cookbook is a culinary and literary delight.
Inspired by Alessandra Pino’s academic studies into how food manifests itself on the pages of Gothic literature, and combining her knife-sharp analysis with Ella Buchan’s experience as a food writer and recipe developer, A Gothic Cookbook pays homage to the most appetizing cuts of the genre, featuring over sixty original recipes illustrated by Lee Henry.
Dracula lulls protagonist Jonathan Harker into a false sense of security with cold cuts and a spicy, smoky, peppery stew. Frankenstein’s “monster” starts out as a benign vegetarian, while Mrs. Poole’s overindulgence in Mother’s Ruin triggers Mr. Rochester’s downfall in Jane Eyre — and a bitter tangerine signals a sharp, yet unheeded, warning against marriage and Manderley in Rebecca. Notice, too, how a ghostly presence craves sugar and burnt bread in Toni Morrison’s Beloved...
In this interplay between supper and the supernatural, you’ll learn to pick your desserts carefully: chocolate mousses foreshadow impending doom, yet the humble seed cake is a gesture of kindness.
With a foreword from acclaimed writer, editor and academic, Leone Ross, A Gothic Cookbook is the perfect culinary companion for those of you who enjoy a slice of the macabre with your dinner.
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October 17, 2024
As a goth at heart and lover all things dark, I ordered this book thinking it would simply be a fun collection of spooky recipes inspired by Dracula and the like but it's so much more than that!
The authors discuss thirteen classic gothic novels, in chronological order, across the book, each accompanied by recipes for meals featured in or inspired by them. The literary commentary on how food plays a role and underscores certain themes in the stories was beautifully written in a way that reminded me of my own English literature studies, but without being dry or overly long.
I've only read a couple of the novels included but it's made me keen to explore more - The Gilda Stories is next on my TBR pile!
Even if you're not looking for a cook book, this is worth reading for the vibrant and fascinating analysis alone. The illustrations are also beautiful, drawn in a unique style that really compliments the subject matter. The perfect book for a misty October night!
The authors discuss thirteen classic gothic novels, in chronological order, across the book, each accompanied by recipes for meals featured in or inspired by them. The literary commentary on how food plays a role and underscores certain themes in the stories was beautifully written in a way that reminded me of my own English literature studies, but without being dry or overly long.
I've only read a couple of the novels included but it's made me keen to explore more - The Gilda Stories is next on my TBR pile!
Even if you're not looking for a cook book, this is worth reading for the vibrant and fascinating analysis alone. The illustrations are also beautiful, drawn in a unique style that really compliments the subject matter. The perfect book for a misty October night!
Displaying 1 of 1 review