Wild, Tamed, Lost, Revived: The Surprising Story of Apples in the South

Name: Wild, Tamed, Lost, Revived: The Surprising Story of Apples in the South
Price: 35.00 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781469676944

✍️ Flynt, Diane

Reader Score

4.4

(1 review)

$35.00

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📜

Food Writing & History

📚 EDITORIAL REVIEW

“This book belongs on the shelf of food history enthusiasts, gardeners, and ambitious bakers who love heirloom produce. If you are looking for quick weeknight dinner recipes or standard dessert guides, this title will leave you wishing for a traditional cookbook.

— Editorial Team

Author

Flynt, Diane

📚 all books by this author →

🏛 University of North Carolina Press 📅 2023 📔 Hardcover ISBN: 9781469676944

📝 Description: Wild, Tamed, Lost, Revived: The Surprising Story of Apples in the South

"Showing how southerners cultivated over 2,000 apple varieties from Virginia to Mississippi, Flynt shares surprising stories of a fruit that was central to the region for over 200 years. Colorful characters abound in this history, including aristocratic Belgian immigrants, South Carolina plantation owners, and multiple presidents, each group changing the course of southern orchards. She shows how southern apples, ranging from northern varieties that found fame on southern soil to hyper-local apples grown by a single family, have a history beyond the region, from Queen Victoria's court to the Oregon Trail. Flynt also tells us the darker side of the story, detailing how apples were entwined with slavery and the theft of Indigenous land"--

💎 Expert review

“

🍳

Eatbook Family editorial team

Cookbook desk

Flynt’s work is a significant contribution to Southern food history, offering a rich tapestry of anecdotes that illuminate the region’s complex past. However, readers seeking practical cooking advice or simple recipes will likely be disappointed by its academic and historical focus. The text demands attention to sociopolitical contexts rather than culinary application. It is best suited for those with an interest in non-fiction history and agricultural studies. While the scope is impressive, the lack of immediate utility may alienate casual cooks. The tone is informative but serious, reflecting the weighty subjects of land theft and slavery that are integral to the narrative.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Eatbook Family —

⭐ eatbookfamily.com editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5

★★★★★

This book belongs on the shelf of food history enthusiasts, gardeners, and ambitious bakers who love heirloom produce. If you are looking for quick weeknight dinner recipes or standard dessert guides, this title will leave you wishing for a traditional cookbook.

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 1 reviews

Eatbook Family editorial team

Flynt’s work is a significant contribution to Southern food history, offering a rich tapestry of anecdotes that illuminate the region’s complex past. However, readers seeking practical cooking advice or simple recipes will likely be disappointed by its academic and historical focus. The text demands attention to sociopolitical contexts rather than culinary application. It is best suited for those with an interest in non-fiction history and agricultural studies. While the scope is impressive, the lack of immediate utility may alienate casual cooks. The tone is informative but serious, reflecting the weighty subjects of land theft and slavery that are integral to the narrative.

❓ Frequently asked questions

This volume focuses primarily on historical narrative and storytelling rather than visual instructional photography or a conventional recipe layout.

While it dives deep into the rich cultural history and agricultural background of southern apples, it functions more as a historical chronicle than a standard kitchen guide.

📖 Who should read this

📜 Historical context

Deeply rooted in the American South, this work explores how communities from Virginia to Mississippi cultivated over two thousand distinct apple varieties across two centuries. The narrative traces the complex heritage of these orchards, highlighting the diverse individuals and forces that shaped southern agriculture and culinary traditions.