num_pages: 132
description: Gravenstein. Coes Golden Drop. Mendocino Cox. The names sound like something from the imagination of Tolkien or perhaps the ingredients in a dubious magical potion rather than what they arevarieties of apples. But as befits their enchanting names apples have transfixed and beguiled humans for thousands of years. A Global History explores the cultural and culinary importance of a fruit born in the mountains of Kazakhstan that has since traversed the globe to become a favorite almost everywhere. From the Garden of Eden and Homers Odyssey to Johnny Appleseed William Tell and even Apple Computer Erika Janik shows how apples have become a universal source of sustenance health and symbolism from ancient times to the present day. Featuring many mouthwatering illustrations this exploration of the planets most popular fruit includes a guide to selecting the best apples in addition to apple recipes from around the world including what is believed to be the first recorded apple recipe from Roman gourmand Marcus Apicius. And Janik doesnt let us forget that apples are not just good eating; their juice also makes for good drinkingas the history of cider in North America and Europe attests. Janik grew up surrounded by apple iconography in Washington the apple state so there is no better author to tell this fascinating story. Readers will eat up this surprising and entertaining tale of a fruit intricately linked to human history.
language: English
title: Apple: A Global History
publisher: Reaktion Books