PastryWiz Books : The True History of Chocolate
 

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Books : The True History of Chocolate
by: Sophie D. Coe, Michael D. Coe



Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 641.3374
EAN: 9780500282298
ISBN: 0500282293
Label: Thames & Hudson
Manufacturer: Thames & Hudson
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 280
Publication Date: 2000-10
Publisher: Thames & Hudson
Sales Rank: 162199
Studio: Thames & Hudson


Editorial Review:



Related Items:
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:  out of 5 stars

Rating: 1 out of 5 stars - Protestant Chocolate And Anglophile Myopia?
I was very disappointed at how the author managed to taint a fascinating story with his own personal biases. His relentless attacks on the Spanish, the Catholic Church and the whole of the Catholic world was offensive. When I was being educated in the 50's and 60's, this sort of anglocentrism was standard. Today, it is inexcusable. No matter what excesses the Spanish or other Catholics committed in the Americas, the English (along with their American apologists) and Protestants in general have no higher ground to stand on. In Latin America, there still exist large and vibrant native populations. In North America (where I live), Native Americans are few in number an relegated to tiny patches of land. How did the englightened Protestants allow this to happen?

Back to Mr Coe's writing, he was relentless (not to mention tiresome) in assigning negative adjective to all things and persons Spanish or Catholic. Instead of celebrating the Spanish adoption of chocolate, it was treated as theft. Rather than giving credit to Catholics for introducing it to Europe, they are demonized as a corrupt elite. When Protestant Europe happens upon chocolate, the author is effusive in his praise. When chocolate becomes part of the English Industrial Revolution, Mr Coe ignores all of England's crimes against humanity and heaps compliments upon its chocolate-making and merchandising.

Had the book provided the history of chocolate outside the context of religion, it might have been wonderful. Regrettably, it is bogged down by unnecessary prejudices and facile evaluations of persons, peoples and societies. I would not recommend this book to anyone, Protestant or Catholic.



Rating: 4 out of 5 stars - Delicious Chocolate
Good book, well researched, but not much different to other books written on this subject. However, as a chocolate addict anything written about the best food on earth gets me in and for the research content and general easy to read writing style I give it a 4 star rating.



Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - A delicious read about a delicious treat
Okay I must first confess I only read the first edition of this book, not the fancy schmancy second edition, but since I feel the two editions are mostly alike I shall proceed to review anyway, or I will just add the proviso that this review is intended for the first edition of this book. Anyway, back to the actual review. This book was sweet and I mean sweet like ground cacao beans mixed with sugar. Not only will this book tell you a ton about chocolate and the cacao tree from which it sprang(which info is sure to dazzle all your friends, if you can remember it), but it also gives info about the civilizations and people which produced and used chocolate from its origins with the Olmec, to the modern age of mass produced chocolate bars. The role of chocolate in history and the impact it has made in the lives of millions across time and space is truly quite fascinating. So if you like chocolate, or history, or both(like me) then I would highly recommend this book.



Rating: 4 out of 5 stars - A Delectable Treat.
The history of chocolate has never been so wonderful woven like it is in this book. This uncomplicated book traces the cacao story back to its origin with the Olmec, Maya, and Aztecs, and from there it migrates to Europe and taking the noble courts by storm. The book goes beyond just the basic history, it lists in details how chocolate is manufactured, prepared and consumed since the beginning of time to the modern age. There isn't a part of chocolate the Coes don't cover. Unfortunately, this book focuses too much on the ancient history of chocolate with special attention to the three ancient Mesoamerican civilizations and then European consumption in the 16-19th century. The last chapter speaks briefly, too briefly, on the modern history of chocolate in the 20th century. The authors do not cover the modern chocolate trade, its environmental impact, what it means for million of people, or what are the modern significances of chocolate. The story basically stops at Hershey and his factory in Pennsylvania. The epilogue asks the readers to be conscious in buying fair-trade chocolate, but other than that, there isn't a modern history of chocolate in this book. Overall, however, this is a well written and heavily researched book that dispels many misconceptions and provides a clearer understanding about this dark mistress of our taste bud.

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The True History of Chocolate

 

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