In Forgotten Fruits, Christopher Stocks tells the fascinating - often rather bizarre - stories behind Britain's rich heritage of fruit and vegetables. Take Newton Wonder apples, for instance, first discovered around 1870 allegedly growing in the thatch of a Derbyshire pub. Or the humble gooseberry which, among other things, helped Charles Darwin to arrive at his theory of evolution. Not to mention the ubiquitous tomato, introduced to Britain from South America in the sixteenth century but regarded as highly poisonous for hearly 200 years.
This is a wonderful piece of social and natural history that will appeal to every gardener and food aficionado.
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Scholarly and fascinating ... conjures a lost world from the humble gooseberry, leek and apple - The Times
Attractive anecdotal book - Financial Times
Delightful celebration of Britain's forgotten fruit and veg ... an intriguing hybrid of narrative history and encyclopaedia - Guardian
[A] captivating book ... written with a wonderfully light and assured touch - Gardens Illustrated
Christopher Stocks's passion for, and research of, his subject makes Forgotten Fruits a fascinating read - and not just for experts - Garden Media Guild - runner up for Inspirational Book Award
Fruit and veg have never been more exciting ... fresh insight into Britain's natural and social history, with inspiration for gardeners in spadefuls - National Trust Magazine
5 Stars ... superbly written ... do your bit to keep Britain's varied heritage going - BBC Countryfile magazine
This book has arrived at just the right time ... part social history book, part gardening book and part allotment grower's wish list ... if you love the tit-bits and tales behind the varieties, you're in for a treat - Garden News
Handsome and readable ... will be enjoyed by people interested in the diversity of British fruit and vegetables and the stories behind their development - The Garden
Fascinating ... a delicious trawl through the grocery box of Britain's traditional fruit and vegetables - Dorset Echo
About the Author
Christopher Stocks is a writer and journalist who has worked for, among others, Harpers & Queen, ES Magazine, Arena and Wallpaper, reporting on everything from Uruguayan beach resorts to an underground submarine base off the coast of Sweden. More recently he wrote a weekly gardening column for the Independent On Sunday, and he is a regular contributor to Gardens Illustrated. He collects unusual perfumes and old Shell Guides, won a 2007 Bridport Prize for his poetry, and shares a birthday with Donny Osmond and Hermione Gingold. Forgotten Fruits is his first book.
