The Midsummer Garden
Kirsty Manning
Reviewed by Helen
What a gastronomical delight this book was, I never imagined the herbs and spices and the combinations that two woman five hundred years apart could create and meeting Artemisia and Pip was just wonderful, can they find love? Come along to a Chateau in France in 1487 and Tasmania 2014 and discover their journey.
In 2014 Pip Arnet is working on her marine biology PHD she has just become engaged to the love of her life Jack and things are deem to be good, but the pressure is on, Jack seems to want something different to Pip and she is finding it hard at the moment. They have been gifted a set of old copper pots for an engagement present and while putting them away Pip finds an rolled up parchment and on looking closer she finds that it is some sort of list of foods and written in French, Pip is determined to find out where they come from
1487 Artemisia is the cook at Chateau de Boschaud, she is young to hold this position but nobody cooks like Artemisia her recipes are the best she grows her own herbs and vegetables in the best walled garden, she is just finishing the final touches on the wedding feast for Lord de Boschaud, but she is also planning for her future this day with the spicier Andreas, will Artemisia find her happiness?
This is a beautifully written story, two woman, two eras, two continents five hundred years apart, both strong and such fabulous cooks and creators of fabulous meals, but we also have beautiful love stories there were smiles and tears, it is filled with heartwarming and heart wrenching emotions. I loved getting to know both of these heroines and the heroes who loved them, a must read story one that I would highly recommend.
In 2014 Pip Arnet is working on her marine biology PHD she has just become engaged to the love of her life Jack and things are deem to be good, but the pressure is on, Jack seems to want something different to Pip and she is finding it hard at the moment. They have been gifted a set of old copper pots for an engagement present and while putting them away Pip finds an rolled up parchment and on looking closer she finds that it is some sort of list of foods and written in French, Pip is determined to find out where they come from
1487 Artemisia is the cook at Chateau de Boschaud, she is young to hold this position but nobody cooks like Artemisia her recipes are the best she grows her own herbs and vegetables in the best walled garden, she is just finishing the final touches on the wedding feast for Lord de Boschaud, but she is also planning for her future this day with the spicier Andreas, will Artemisia find her happiness?
This is a beautifully written story, two woman, two eras, two continents five hundred years apart, both strong and such fabulous cooks and creators of fabulous meals, but we also have beautiful love stories there were smiles and tears, it is filled with heartwarming and heart wrenching emotions. I loved getting to know both of these heroines and the heroes who loved them, a must read story one that I would highly recommend.
4 stars
Published April 1st 2017 by Allen & Unwin
