Mrs Beeton and Mrs Marshall: A Tale of Two Victorian Cooks is a nonfiction history monograph/biography of Victorian/Edwardian cookery and two of its iconic giants, by historian Emma Kay. Due out 29th Feb 2024 from Pen & Sword, it's 216 pages and will be available in hardcover format.
This is an interesting deep-dive into the history of both titular persons and the ancillary figures in their lives. Although Mrs. Beeton is still a (relative) household name, Mrs. Marshall, at her time was equally well known, and the author does a very good job of rendering the minutiae both accessible and interesting.
The book's layout is straightforward. The first half covers the life and work of Agnes Marshall, the second half Isabella Beeton. They were very different people and from different backgrounds but lived and worked in the same general areas, separated by some decades.
The book is written in a layman accessible style and non-historians will find it easy to understand. The author has included copious notes and references throughout. It's also enhanced by the inclusion of numerous archival photos of antique kitchenalia and salient places to the story.
Five stars. It would be a superlative choice for public or school library acquisition, gift giving to fans of domestic history, kitchenalia, foodies, and biography lovers. Admittedly a niche book, but a very well written and readable one.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
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