John Saturnalls Feast

A beautiful, rich and sensuous historical novel, John Saturnall's Feast tells the story of a young orphan who becomes a kitchen boy at a manor house, and rises through the ranks to become the greatest Cook of his generation. It is a story of food, star-crossed lovers, ancient myths and one boys rise from outcast to hero.

It is the early 17th century, and John Saturnall is a young boy growing up in the village of Buckland. He is bullied by other children, who claim that his mother is a witch. When many of the children in the village are struck down with a sickness, Johns mother is blamed, and he and she are chased out of the village. They go and live a hermit-like life in a nearby wood, where it is said a witch called Buccla once grew a legendary garden. Giving what little they find to eat to her son, Johns mother dies of starvation, but sees to it that John be taken in at the Buckland Manor house, where he begins working in the kitchens.

At the Manor, John quickly rises from kitchen-boy to Cook, and is known for his uniquely keen palate and natural cooking ability. However, he quickly gets on the wrong side of Lady Lucretia, the aristocratic daughter of the Lord of the Manor. In order to inherit the estate, Lucretia must wed, but her fiancé is an arrogant buffoon whose face Lucretia thinks resembles a water-parsnip. When Lucretia takes on a vow of hunger until her father calls off her engagement to her insipid husband-to-be, it falls to John to try to cook her delicious foods that might tempt her to break her fast. As John serves meals to Lucretia, the pair forget their differences and become close, but fate is conspiring against them. Lucretias betrothement cannot be undone, and soon the household is thrown into chaos as Cromwells Roundheads go to war with the loyalist Cavaliers.

Reminiscent of Wolf Hall, Gould's Book of Fish and The Debt to Pleasure, John Saturnall's Feast is a brilliant work from a writer at the top of his powers, and a delight for all the senses.

"[A] sweeping tale of love and legend. Beautiful imagery and captivating details bring the story to life, while descriptions of culinary treats make ones mouth water. [A] unique and sensuous blending of history and myth." Booklist (starred review)

"Sumptuous recipes and food descriptions intensify the seductive love story...a literary feast." Library Journal

A beautiful, rich and sensuous historical novel, John Saturnalls Feast tells the story of a young orphan who becomes a kitchen boy at a manor house, and rises through the ranks to become the greatest Cook of his generation. It is a story of food, star-crossed lovers, ancient myths and one boys rise from outcast to hero.

Orphaned when his mother dies of starvation, having been cast out of her village as a witch, John is taken in at the kitchens at Buckland Manor, where he quickly rises from kitchen-boy to Cook, and is known for his uniquely keen palate and natural cooking ability. However, he quickly gets on the wrong side of Lady Lucretia, the aristocratic daughter of the Lord of the Manor. In order to inherit the estate, Lucretia must wed, but her fiancé is an arrogant buffoon. When Lucretia takes on a vow of hunger until her father calls off her engagement to her insipid husband-to-be, it falls to John to try to cook her delicious foods that might tempt her to break her fast.

Reminiscent of Wolf Hall and Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, John Saturnalls Feast is a brilliant work and a delight for all the senses.

Lawrence Norfolk is the author of the critically acclaimed novels Lemprières Dictionary, The Pope's Rhinoceros, and In the Shape of a Boar. He lives in London.