Apologies for the late feedback. I thoroughly enjoyed this run through Chinese history from a gastronomic perspective - I learned a lot and laughed a bit too thanks to the accessible, somewhat irreverent style. I would have hoped Clements would lean more into the gimmick ('a history of China in twelve meals' - I was expecting each chapter to have a central 'meal') but it did not detract from my enjoyment.

This is a fascinating book, taking the idea of the history of the Chinese nation and telling it through a history of food and drink. China itself is vast and the cuisine incredibly varies but the author shows how the eating habits of the nation were formed by geography, culture and successive ruling dynasties. The research is superb and the narration entertaining.

I was so excited to read The Emperor's Feast because I'm interested in China and reading about food is always fun! But, I couldn't enjoy this book as much as I like to cause I found the authors style a bit tiring. Still, it was a joy to read all the information and his love of the country.

A glorious fusion of food, language, culture and history, this book takes you on a culinary journey through China from its earliest history to the present day. Arranged in chronological order, each chapter focuses on a different dynasty or period in history.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It brings together many aspects to make a harmonious whole, rather like Chinese cookery, in fact. Food is the main focus, of course, but closely interwoven with that is language, which can enlighten us on the origin of a certain foodstuff, give clues as to its history, or obscure things entirely. Rather than just giving English translations, the author provides the Pinyin (the Romanization of the Chinese characters based on their pronunciation) for most foods and dishes. This was really helpful in understanding the connection between dishes, and also a great insight into the language itself.

We also learn how food had far reaching consequences, both culturally and historically. For example, chapter 6 relates how a banquet sparked off a chain of events that led to years of oppression and persecution of Muslims in China. Conversely, politics and religion had a huge impact on what was eaten, both inside and outside of China: for instance, much Western understanding of Chinese cuisine can be traced back to events in 1757, while certain dishes, such as Chop Suey, may be Chinese only in the sense that they were invented by Chinese immigrants to America. Things also take a grim turn in the final chapters with the Great Famine of 1959-1961 and food scandals of the present day.

I highly recommend this to anyone who is interested in food, China, language or history, or who just enjoys a good work of nonfiction. The style is lively, engaging, and very amusing. The author writes with affection and understanding, and his love for all things Chinese really shines through. Although very comprehensive and carefully researched, it's never dry in tone and I love that the author includes many anecdotes about his own experiences in China and Chinese restaurants. I’d like to say a huge thank you to the publishers (Hodder & Stoughton) and Netgalley for providing me with this advance review copy. All opinions are my own.