(Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash )
HI ENTHUSIASTIC READERS !
WELCOME TO ‘LITERATURE IS FUN’ SECTION ! ! We have come across plenty of anecdotes and incidents in novels and dramas where tempting cuisines were visually drawn before us wih the art of word creation . Today we shall be studying some such mouth -watering passages or extracts . So be ready for some relishing starters , savoury delicacies and delicious food !! 🙂
The renowned Victorian novelists, Charles Dickens , one of my favourite authors .His novels are such a sweet and savoury blend of childhood innocence mixed with harsh realities of its times. His novels, stories and drama also present the vaiety of Victorian christian food which is so pleasing and exciting to the senses. Let’s read some extracts from Dicken’s famous drama “A Christmas Carol” .
“Heaped up on the floor, to form a kind of throne, were turkeys, geese, game, poultry, brawn, great joints of meat, sucking-pigs, long wreaths of sausages, mince-pies, plum-puddings, barrels of oysters, red-hot chestnuts, cherry-cheeked apples, juicy oranges, luscious pears, immense twelfth-cakes, and seething bowls of punch, that made the chamber dim with their delicious steam.” (A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens)
“Mrs. Cratchit made the gravy (ready beforehand in a little saucepan) hissing hot; Master Peter mashed the potatoes with incredible vigour; Miss Belinda sweetened up the apple-sauce; Martha dusted the hot plates; Bob took Tiny Tim beside him in a tiny corner at the table; the two young Cratchits set chairs for everybody, not forgetting themselves, and mounting guard upon their posts, crammed spoons into their mouths, lest they should shriek for goose before their turn came to be helped. At last the dishes were set on, and grace was said.” ( Christmas treat scene in ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens)
Shakespeare's dramas also show the scenes of feasting , dining and merry- making. “Do you think because you are virtuous, that there shall be no more cakes and ale?” (TWELFTH NIGHT by Shakespeare) "Eight wild boars roasted whole at breakfast, and but twelve person’s there; is this true? (ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA) "Yet be cheerful knight: thou shalt eat a posset to-night at my house." (MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR) "Neighbours and friends, thou bride and bridegroom wants For to supply the places at the table, You know there wants no junket at the feast." (THE TAMING OF THE SHREW) " I must have saffron to colour the warden pies." (THE WINTER'S TALE)
It is said that Virginia woolf (The famous Victorian novelist) and her friends of Bloomsbury group would gather a lot for food and dining to discuss over literary debates . Following is an extract from Virginia Woolf’s novel “To The Lighthouse”.
“The beef, the bayleaf, and the wine –all must be done to a turn. To keep it waiting was out of the question.”
(TO THE LIGHTHOUSE by Virginia Woolf)
Salman Rushdie . the modern age author, has written MIDNIGHT CHILDREN that tells the tale of India and its people just after having gained Independence . In this extract, he presents chutnification of history through his memories and recollections of past. Food has been used as symbols and imageries in his novels.
“While in the kitchen, Mary Pereira took the time to prepare, for the benefit of their visitors, some of the finest and most delicate mango pickles, lime chutneys and cucumber kasaundies in the world. And now, restored to the status of daughter in her own home, Amina began to feel the emotions of other people’s food seeping into her—because Reverand Mother doled out the curries and meatballs of intransigence, dishes imbued with the personality of their creator; Amina ate the fish salans of stubborness and the birianis of determination (MIDNIGHT’S CHILDREN by Salman Rushdie)
“Aunt Petunia’s masterpiece of a pudding, the mountain of cream and sugared violets, was floating up near the ceiling.” (HARRY POTTER by J.K.Rowling)
(All pics courtesy: Unsplash.com )
Feel blessed to have such a sister
THANKS DEAR BROTHER ! 🙂 🙂