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From the Back Cover
Coffeepot give us peace / coffeepot let children grow / let our wealth swell / please protect us from evils / give us rain and grass Ethiopian Prayer
Magic cup / carry me above the traffic jam. Keep me civil in the subway / And forgive my employer, as you forgive me. Amen A Western Prayer
Stewart Lee Allen makes the very convincing argument that civilisation is largely based on coffee drinking (or chewing). Until the art of coffee guzzling arrived in the great cities, the only way to quench a thirst was to drink ale, which is hardly the best method for keeping rational, and beery philosophy is rarely watertight in the sober light of day, whereas caffeinated, over analytical thought, makes serious progress.
Allen traces the development of world wide coffee consumption by travelling to all the places of historical significance, for this particular subject. Starting in Ethiopia, continuing through Northern Africa, over to Asia, becoming involved in art smuggling and illegal passport wrangling, and off to Europe. There he covers revolutions and enlightenment. And then finally to America, in search for the most soulful coffee he can find.
Repeatedly likened to a caffeing fuelled Gonzo, this story is both incredibly funny as well as thoroughly educational.
Stewart Lee Allen was born in California, and has lived in Kathmandu, Sydney, Brooklyn and Calcutta. A widely published journalist he is also the author of an acclaimed collection of stories, The Art of Rape.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I loved this book,
This review is from: The Devil's Cup: Coffee, the Driving Force in History (Paperback)
A great read, particularly in its sections on Africa (the place about which Stewart Lee Allen is most respectful and passionate) and its pivotal role in the history of coffee. Allen is entertaining, adventurous, fun-loving, and never takes himself too seriously. Although I disagree with his claim that a certain global coffee chain serves good coffee and although some sections work better than others - Allen seems to be running out of steam towards the end, as though his mission has exhausted even him - and although the editing of the text could be better at times... these are essentially small niggles in what is a five-star read. I learned a lot from this book, which made me want to drink even more coffee than I do already, and I would entirely agree with the chef and writer Anthony Bourdain that reading it is a "riveting" experience. Would make a lovely present for anyone who loves coffee.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A true addicts goldmine of caffeine-addled prose.,
By A Customer
This review is from: Devil's Cup-C (Hardcover)
Mr Lee Allen's "The Devil's Cup" is as satisfying as the brew it celebrates. At once both intoxicating with heady drama and hi-jinx in pursuit of the holy grail of the 'mugga joe' and stimulating with a fascinating account of coffee's journey from Ethiopia to Adrien, Texas. Lee Allen's crusade (and I mean this in the religious sense) is testament to coffee's significance across cultures, time zones and history. From its use as a stimulant of spiritual fervour to its role in enlightening modern thought and philosophy , Lee Allen ensures that the next espresso to infiltrate my blood-brain barrier will be infused the meaning of its significance since time god knows when.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent read for fans of good travel literature and coffee,
By
This review is from: The Devil's Cup: Coffee, the Driving Force in History (Paperback)
If you love coffee, then you will be interested in reading this funny, informative,entertaining book.Stewart Lee Allen considers coffee to have played an essential part in human civilisation and progress.He calls it "Driving force" for human history.It may seem exagerated but he doesn`t merely stays by words. He takes a world journey to show how coffee has appeared in various societies and what was its impact on people. He will take you from Ethiopia through India,Turkey,England, France and finally, back to his home in Oklahoma, US. The book is full with interesting information about coffee, its roasting and making, about rituals for drinking it, and at the same time it will amuse you with a lot of travel stories, misunderstandings and gaffs, unevitable in communication between different cultures.
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