Where can you read about a monstrous cheese big enough to hold a girl of 13 inside? Or that the invention of the bicycle directly, and poorly, impacted sales of cheddar? Or that some of the first cheese makers hid gold coins inside their wheels of dairy as a sales tool? This book is a charming timeless love letter to British cheeses written in a sweet, narrative style by 11 different writers from all over the UK, including Oscar Wilde's son, Vyvyan Holland, and accompanied by charming, quirky illustrations by Ernest H. Shepard, better known for his timeless Winnie the Pooh illustrations. Collected by Sir John Squire, editor of the London Mercury, each contributor visited each district, learning in old farms and homesteads the secrets of quality cheese making, and through their explorations, the English landscape unfolds before the reader. The book is a celebration of the differences and delights of English cheeses, plundering literature and local lore and more. Covering Stilton, Cheddar, Cheshire, Double Gloucester, Leicester, Wensleydale, Caerphilly, Dunlop, Irish and Blue Vinny, each cheese has its own chapter. The proponent puts forward their 'best cheese' argument while exploring the history and culture behind the taste, describing how to make it, recommending what to eat and drink with it or exploring the literary references and anecdotes associated with it. The perfect gift for all the cheese lovers in your life!
