This is a wide-ranging anthology which goes beyond the traditional limits of food writing: it not only celebrates wonderful meals in novels, diaries and biographies, but addresses some of the more controversial and political aspects of food as well. The chapter headings include "Famine" - anorexia, hunger strikers; "Plenty" - from Lucullus to Mrs Beeton; "Punishment" - force-feeding; "Ostentation" - politically extravagant meals; "Sex" - food before, during and after sex; "Dislikes" - school food, foreign food; and "Passions" - wonderful food.