The Language of Food - Annabel Abbs

England, 1835. When Eliza Acton is told by her publisher to write a cookery book instead of the poetry she loves, she refuses. But after her father is forced to flee the country, Eliza must earn a living. Despite never having cooked before, she is determined to learn. Eliza hires young destitute Ann Kirby to help in the kitchen - and together they discover a mutual talent and passion for cooking and for recipe writing. But as Ann finds a voice of her own, their radical friendship starts to fray. 

Based on the true story of Britain's first domestic goddess, The Language of Food tells the story of how Eliza Acton broke the mould of traditional cookbooks and changed the course of cookery writing forever.