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MacDonald cuts through a haze of grog and rum-fumed myth to establish what exactly was issued to British sailors in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Indeed, she does not shrink from telling tales of when the system badly went wrong, of mutinies and near mutinies over abysmal rations. But she also carefully builds a more rounded picture of what men ate (lobscouse, burgoo, and duff), how it was cooked, where it came from, and how it compared to the diet of Britons safe at home. While not enough to make you seek out your local press gang, the Royal Navy s rations, when shown in MacDonald s objective light, were not foul and were not skimpy. Fit for heroes? Perhaps not, but they kept heroes fit. And just for fun, some of the heartiest recipes are included. --Good Book Guide
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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 150,000 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. 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. Popular and succesful in hardback, this title is now issued in this paperback edition.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
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.
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
Format: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!
I bought this book because it was recommended by Terry Pratchett - thanks Terry!
Format: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.
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