Excellent4.8 out of 5On Trustpilot
  1. Spiritual Growth/
  2. The Spiritual Disciplines

A Hermit's Cookbook

Monks, Food and Fasting in the Middle Ages

by Dr Andrew Jotischky

  • Hardback
  • 208 pages
  • Publisher: Continuum
  • 14.2 x 21.5 x 2.1 cm

£54.84

Free UK Delivery

Available - Usually dispatched within 4 days

Buying for a school or church? Upgrade to a FREE Eden Advance Account

Free delivery on orders over £10

How did medieval hermits survive on their self-denying diet? What did they eat, and how did unethical monks get around the rules? The Egyptian hermit Onuphrios was said to have lived entirely on dates, and perhaps the most famous of all hermits, John the Baptist, on locusts and wild honey. Was it really possible to sustain life on so little food? The history of monasticism is defined by the fierce and passionate abandonment of the ordinary comforts of life, the most striking being food and drink. "A Hermit's Cookbook" opens with stories and penportraits of the Desert Fathers of early Christianity and their followers who were ascetic solitaries, hermits and pillar-dwellers. It proceeds to explore how the ideals of the desert fathers were revived in both the Byzantine and western traditions, looking at the cultivation of food in monasteries, eating and cooking, and why hunting animals was rejected by any self-respecting hermit. Full of rich anecdotes, and including recipes for basic monk's stew and bread soup - and many others - this is a fascinating story of hermits, monks, food and fasting in the Middle Ages.
A Hermit's Cookbook and The Perfection of Solitude
The Perfection of SolitudeA Hermit's Cookbook

  • Author

    Dr Andrew Jotischky

  • Book Format

    Hardback

  • Publisher

    Continuum

  • Published

    August 2011

  • Weight

    409g

  • Page Count

    208

  • Dimensions

    14.2 x 21.5 x 2.1 cm

  • ISBN

    9780826423931

  • ISBN-10

    0826423930

  • Eden Code

    3772820

Over 14,000 churches and schools have upgraded to an Advance Account and we‘d love to welcome you into this free program. We know that church volunteers and school teachers often use their own money, then have claim it back on on an expense form. We can take all of that hassle away by invoicing your church or school directly and delivering your order straight away.

Opening an account is quick and easy, with most accounts being approved and setup within a few hours of filling in the form below (on weekdays, not weekends). As soon as we‘ve approved the application we‘ll send you an email to let you know that its done.

Upgrade to a FREE Eden Advance Account
  • TGBS

    The Good Book Stall

    Average rating of0.0

    The author calls this ‘a whimsical history of monasticism’, and the cover and misleading title may combine to put the reader off. This would be a pity because with its skilful survey of early monastic history as a preface to the main themes of the book, the author deals with serious issues. There is no doubt that food, its regulation, preparation and distribution are of great importance and interest in monastic history. By supplementing his material from monastic sources with contemporary secular ones, and by discussing the virtues and culinary properties of plants still used today, the author opens up a world of monastic cuisine to explore and enjoy.

  • TGBS

    The Good Book Stall

    Average rating of0.0

    The author calls this ‘a whimsical history of monasticism’, and the cover and misleading title may combine to put the reader off. This would be a pity because with its skilful survey of early monastic history as a preface to the main themes of the book, the author deals with serious issues. There is no doubt that food, its regulation, preparation and distribution are of great importance and interest in monastic history. By supplementing his material from monastic sources with contemporary secular ones, and by discussing the virtues and culinary properties of plants still used today, the author opens up a world of monastic cuisine to explore and enjoy.

  • TGBS

    The Good Book Stall

    Average rating of0.0

    The author calls this ‘a whimsical history of monasticism’, and the cover and misleading title may combine to put the reader off. This would be a pity because with its skilful survey of early monastic history as a preface to the main themes of the book, the author deals with serious issues. There is no doubt that food, its regulation, preparation and distribution are of great importance and interest in monastic history. By supplementing his material from monastic sources with contemporary secular ones, and by discussing the virtues and culinary properties of plants still used today, the author opens up a world of monastic cuisine to explore and enjoy.

    Ask a question
    Open Doors Ad