- Hardcover: 224 pages
- Publisher: Chatham Publishing (5 Nov 2004)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 186176233X
- ISBN-13: 978-1861762337
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 15.2 x 2.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 904,164 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
| |||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Amazon.co.uk Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
More About the Author
Product Description
Synopsis
The prevailing image of food at sea in the age of sail features rotting meat and weevily biscuits, but this highly original book proves beyond doubt that this was never the norm. Building on much recent research Janet Macdonald shows how the sailor's official diet was better than he was likely to enjoy ashore, and of ample calorific value for his highly active shipboard life. When trouble flared - and food was a major grievance in the great mutinies of 1797 - the usual reason was the abuse of the system. This 'system' was an amazing achievement. At the height of the Napoleonic Wars the Royal Navy's administrators fed a fleet of more than 100,000 men, in ships that often spent months on end at sea. Despite the difficulty of preserving food before the advent of refrigeration and meat-canning, the British fleet had largely eradicated scurvy and other dietary disorders by 1800. This was the responsibility of the Victualling Board, a much-maligned but generally efficient bureaucracy that organised the preparing and packing of meat, the brewing of beer, the baking of ship's biscuit, and all the logistics of the Navy - and on an industrial scale unparalleled elsewhere.Once aboard ship food and drink was subject to stringent controls to ensure fairness, and this book takes a fresh look at the tarnished reputations of Purser and Cook, before turning to the ways both officers and men were able to supplement their official rations, including the keeping of livestock on board. A chapter compares provisions in the other major navies of the time, and the book concludes with recipes for some of the exotic sounding dishes, like lobscouse, prepared by naval cooks. While Feeding Nelson's Navy contains much of value to the historian, it is. written with a popular touch that will enthral anyone with an interest in life at sea in the age of sail
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
How square meals were dished up!,
By Grumbleguts (Aberdeen Scotland) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Feeding Nelson's Navy: The True Story of Food at Sea in the Georgian Era (Paperback)
A treasure trove of intriguing facts.
Anyone with an interest in cooking (and/or the Royal Navy) will find this book a fascinating collection of details regarding the importance of nutrition to the men on board. The manner of how the Navy was actually vittled in itself, pre-refrigeration etc, was a revelation. There are recipies and ingredients (in quantities for home use - not 800 hungry Tars!). A great addition to the library of anyone interested in this period of British Naval history.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Army marches on its stomach ... and ships sail on suet!,
This review is from: Feeding Nelson's Navy: The True Story of Food at Sea in the Georgian Era (Paperback)
This is a remarkable piece of in-depth research about a very obscure but fascinating subject. Janet MacDonald deserves our gratitude for a book packed with anecdotes and interesting asides about the various characters involved in feeding the thousands of sailors in Britain's navy. Some of the suppliers were honest and adventurous, cornering the beef market or buying up the greens in tiny little ports and harbours, often in countries at war with Britain! Many of them were crooks and rogues, pilfering or double-dealing, turning a dishonest profit or leaving the poor sailors with rotten meat, rancid cheese and mouldy biscuits. This book touches on the men, their mess bills, dining habits, cooking tips and even includes some recipes for anyone who wants to host a 'Captain Jack' dinner party!
I bought this book because it was recommended by Terry Pratchett - thanks Terry!
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well researched and easy to read.,
By Grandie Ken "grandieikichi" (Stafford, England) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Feeding Nelson's Navy: The True Story of Food at Sea in the Georgian Era (Paperback)
Full of interesting facts regarding food and the navy of Nelson's time. The ever present rat, scurvy, pursers, ovens, one armed or legged cooks and much more. An entertaining read especially if you are interested in the subject, plus some very original recipes.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews |
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Food & Drink > Reference & Gastronomy > Gastronomy
- Books > Food & Drink > Reference & Gastronomy > History of Food
- Books > History > Britain & Ireland > Ireland
- Books > History > Britain & Ireland > Peninsular War
- Books > History > Cultural History
- Books > History > Europe > Napoleonic Wars
- Books > History > Military History > Armed Forces > Naval Forces
- Books > History > Military History > Strategy, Tactics & Military Science
- Books > History > World History > 1751-1900
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
