History of British Baking

A cultural and social history of Britain’s breads, cakes, and pastries through the ages, from the author of Dining with the Victorians.

The Great British Baking Show and its spinoffs are a modern-day phenomenon, but the British, of course, have been baking for centuries—and here, for the first time, is a comprehensive account of how Britain’s relationship with this much-loved art has changed, evolved, and progressed over time.

Renowned food historian Emma Kay skillfully combines the related histories of Britain’s economy, innovation, technology, health, and cultural and social trends with the personal stories of many of the individuals involved with the whole process: the early pioneers, the recipe writers, the cooks, the entrepreneurs. From pies to puddings, medieval ovens to modern-day mass consumption, the result is a deliciously fascinating read.