Food and Identity in England, 1540-1640: Eating to Impress (Cultures of Early Modern Europe)

"Food and Identity in England, 1540-1640 considers early modern food consumption in an important new way, connecting English consumption practices between the reigns of Henry VIII and Charles I with ideas of 'self' and 'otherness' in wider contexts of society and the class system. Examining the diets of various social groups, ranging from manual labourers to the aristocracy, special foods and their preparation, as well as festive events and gift foods, this all-encompassing study reveals the extent to which individuals and communities identified themselves and others by what and how they ate between the Reformation of the church and the English Civil Wars. This text provides remarkable insights for anyone interested in knowing more about the society and culture of early modern England."--Bloomsbury Publishing. Cover......Page 1 Half-title......Page 3 Title......Page 5 Copyright......Page 6 Dedication......Page 7 Contents......Page 9 List of Figures......Page 11 List of Tables......Page 12 Preface......Page 13 Acknowledgements......Page 14 General Notes......Page 15 Part One: Approaches......Page 17 Introduction......Page 19 Literature on food history......Page 22 ‘Sorts’ of people in England, 1540–1640......Page 26 Sources and methods......Page 31 Food symbolism – luxury and necessity......Page 39 Food symbolism – sociability......Page 46 Part Two: Social Groups......Page 51 Labourers and the poor......Page 53 Household servants......Page 65 Wealthy yeomen......Page 75 Urban ‘professionals’ and artisans......Page 79 4. The Diet of the Gentry......Page 91 Staple foods......Page 92 High quality and high-priced variants of staple foods......Page 97 Exclusive foods and foods used sparingly......Page 102 Part Three: Social Relations......Page 119 5. Special Foods and Their Preparation......Page 121 Special foods......Page 122 Recipes and ready-made foods......Page 144 Fake luxuries......Page 153 Gift s and hospitality......Page 157 Special occasions......Page 168 Critiques of feasting......Page 187 Conclusion: Eating to Impress......Page 193 Notes......Page 198 Bibliography......Page 235 Index......Page 255 "Food and Identity in England, 1540-1640 considers early modern food consumption in an important new way, connecting English consumption practices between the reigns of Henry VIII and Charles I with ideas of 'self' and 'otherness' in wider contexts of society and the class system. Examining the diets of various social groups, ranging from manual labourers to the aristocracy, special foods and their preparation, as well as festive events and gift foods, this all-encompassing study reveals the extent to which individuals and communities identified themselves and others by what and how they ate between the Reformation of the church and the English Civil Wars. This text provides remarkable insights for anyone interested in knowing more about the society and culture of early modern England." --provided by publisher