An Appetite for Violets
A Novel
by Martine Bailey
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Pub Date Jan 13 2015 | Archive Date Mar 31 2015
St. Martin's Press | Thomas Dunne Books
Description
"That's how it is for us servants. No one pays you much heed; mostly you're invisible as furniture. Yet you overhear a conversation here, and add a little gossip there. Then you find something, something you should not have found."
Irrepressible Biddy Leigh, under-cook at forbidding Mawton Hall, only wants to marry her childhood sweetheart and set up her own tavern. But when her elderly master marries young Lady Carinna, Biddy is unwittingly swept up in a world of scheming, secrets, and lies. Forced to accompany her new mistress to Italy, she documents her adventures and culinary discoveries in an old household book of recipes, The Cook's Jewel. Biddy grows intrigued by her fellow travelers, but her secretive and unconventional mistress is the most intriguing of all.
In London, Biddy finds herself attracted to her mistress's younger brother. In France, she discovers her mistress's dark secret. At last in Italy, Biddy becomes embroiled in a murderous conspiracy, knowing the secrets she holds could be a key to a better life, or her downfall.
Inspired by eighteenth-century household books of recipes and set at the time of the invention of the first restaurants, An Appetite for Violets is a literary feast for lovers of historical fiction. Martine Bailey's novel opens a window into the fascinating lives of servants, while also delivering a suspenseful tale of obsession and betrayal.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Hardcover |
| ISBN | 9781250056917 |
| PRICE | $26.99 (USD) |
Featured Reviews
Bookseller 45580
the novel begins in 1772, when Biddy Leigh the 22 year old under cook at Mawton Manor is all set to marry her sweetheart Jem. Cooking is her passion and her ambition is to open her own place and prepare the food she wants to make. All the changes when they get word that their elderly master has married a much younger Lady Carina, who shortly descends on the manor.
What follows is an adventure, as Lady Carina takes Biddy on a mad romp to Italy. Of course things are not as straightforward as they seem, and there are plots, and betrayals a plenty to keep this story interesting. The atmosphere, awareness of time and place in very well done but it is the estimable Biddy that steals the day. She manages to stay basically unflappable in spite of some serious and nefarious doings. She is a character that brings humor, courage and affection to the most unbelievable occurrences. A fun novel, with some mystery, and an ode to the passion for food. Each chapter opens with a recipe from the time period, they ate some mightily complicated dishes.
The opening scene from this novel really drew me in quickly, it was so creepy and I couldn't help but keep reading to see what happened to cause a scene such as this. Good fun, reminded me a bit of Moll Flanders.
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