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Secrets of Saffron: The Vagabond Life of the World's Most Seductive Spice
Pat Willard's enticing exploration of the exotic spice saffron describes its journey from the ancient Sumerian kingdoms, Persia, and the island of Crete to the Pennsylvania Dutch in America. Through a beautiful blend of personal stories, myths, history, quotations, ancient remedies, and modern recipes, Willard takes us from Cleopatra's bath to the medieval court of France and beyond. A practical guide to buying, using, and even growing saffron as well as a cookbook containing recipes ranging from Paella Valenica to Saffron Consommé, this magical account is perfect for anyone who has ever been teased by this seductive spice.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 6, 2015
I have to be honest, I read very little of this book. I was interested in saffron: how it came to be so valued in history and in the present, how and where it is grown, uses for it and anything else interesting. I was looking for something solid.
The first two pages are a retelling of Ovid's poem, the Greek myth, of Crocus as a story,
"A handsome youth named Crocus was passing through the Athenian forest on his way to his parents' house when he spied" the big bad wolf, no, don't be silly, "the nymph Smilax dancing in a clearing with her friends. As is the way with nymphs, they called a coy welcome to him, and he returned their greeting, though surely he must have hesitated a bit, hampered by an awkward reserve before such abundant beauty."
Ok, you're off the hook, no more of this, it only gets worse anyway.
If I'd read that before I bought the book, the hardback, I would have put it back on the shelf.
But by the end of page two we're done with the poesy and on to some history about the spice told in the same overblown manner. There is a paragraph or two about soil and climate requirements including phrases like, "it arrived in the pockets of conquering armies or the leather pouches of thieves and traders," and "A cry lets out, the bells ring, and the workers rush into the fields". Poesy turned to doggerel.
Bottom of page four starts off slightly hopefully, "I do not know who first stirred saffron into a cup of water to use as a paint or dye, or rouge" oh dear, "a pouting mouth or burnish a broth...". Then it deteriorates totally into a story of where the author was house-sitting and a description of three rooms and the view. This goes on for a couple of pages and we meet Michael whom she knew from university and then we have dialogue because he is concerned she is sick and eventually by the end of the first chapter on page 9 he has made her some broth and they having sex. Well actually she doesn't say that, she gets all coy about it. She talks of heat in the room and says that when they are uhhh, hugging, she "let him go on a little bit further even though she is in love with another man. Spare me.
The second chapter begins with a retelling of a Sumerian proverb as a story that goes on for pages, but I gave up, do you blame me?
I thought that from what I had read of the book that it lacked any content editing at all which is unusual for a hardback book, so I looked up the publishing details page,
Beacon Press books (www.beacon.org)
are published under the auspices of
the Unitarian Universal Association of Congregation
Does that explain it? Was there no editor? Do you just have to be a member in good standing of the Unitarian Church? Did Beacon.org hope to make any money out of the book? One of the editorial reviews on Amazon, absolutely glowing is by her agent. The other reviews, equally glowing are by Amazon Hall of Famers and Vine badge holders. Amazon has this to say about badges, "You can earn Top Reviewer badges by writing good reviews." A bookseller isn't going to reward someone for writing bad reviews, are they?
If the words of her agent in Publisher's Weekly, "With an unerring ear for satisfying storytelling, Willard delivers another inventive, almost magical read" attract you to the book far more than this rather scathing review, then you can buy it *new* from Alibris for only $3.49. Be well and enjoy it!
The first two pages are a retelling of Ovid's poem, the Greek myth, of Crocus as a story,
"A handsome youth named Crocus was passing through the Athenian forest on his way to his parents' house when he spied" the big bad wolf, no, don't be silly, "the nymph Smilax dancing in a clearing with her friends. As is the way with nymphs, they called a coy welcome to him, and he returned their greeting, though surely he must have hesitated a bit, hampered by an awkward reserve before such abundant beauty."
Ok, you're off the hook, no more of this, it only gets worse anyway.
If I'd read that before I bought the book, the hardback, I would have put it back on the shelf.
But by the end of page two we're done with the poesy and on to some history about the spice told in the same overblown manner. There is a paragraph or two about soil and climate requirements including phrases like, "it arrived in the pockets of conquering armies or the leather pouches of thieves and traders," and "A cry lets out, the bells ring, and the workers rush into the fields". Poesy turned to doggerel.
Bottom of page four starts off slightly hopefully, "I do not know who first stirred saffron into a cup of water to use as a paint or dye, or rouge" oh dear, "a pouting mouth or burnish a broth...". Then it deteriorates totally into a story of where the author was house-sitting and a description of three rooms and the view. This goes on for a couple of pages and we meet Michael whom she knew from university and then we have dialogue because he is concerned she is sick and eventually by the end of the first chapter on page 9 he has made her some broth and they having sex. Well actually she doesn't say that, she gets all coy about it. She talks of heat in the room and says that when they are uhhh, hugging, she "let him go on a little bit further even though she is in love with another man. Spare me.
The second chapter begins with a retelling of a Sumerian proverb as a story that goes on for pages, but I gave up, do you blame me?
I thought that from what I had read of the book that it lacked any content editing at all which is unusual for a hardback book, so I looked up the publishing details page,
Beacon Press books (www.beacon.org)
are published under the auspices of
the Unitarian Universal Association of Congregation
Does that explain it? Was there no editor? Do you just have to be a member in good standing of the Unitarian Church? Did Beacon.org hope to make any money out of the book? One of the editorial reviews on Amazon, absolutely glowing is by her agent. The other reviews, equally glowing are by Amazon Hall of Famers and Vine badge holders. Amazon has this to say about badges, "You can earn Top Reviewer badges by writing good reviews." A bookseller isn't going to reward someone for writing bad reviews, are they?
If the words of her agent in Publisher's Weekly, "With an unerring ear for satisfying storytelling, Willard delivers another inventive, almost magical read" attract you to the book far more than this rather scathing review, then you can buy it *new* from Alibris for only $3.49. Be well and enjoy it!
January 17, 2020
Eccentric tour through the history of the Mediterranean Basin and the writer's own encounters within and outside her own mind as she searches out the historical travels, uses, and geographic adaptations of saffron. Also has forays into the American side with the Pennsylvania Dutch and a seamstress with the Society for Creative Anachronism among many other side trips. Meandering and selectively historical creative nonfiction, rather than a microhistory of the spice. A handful of recipes included. An oddity - not quite one thng or the other - yet I read it.
November 15, 2012
I liked the approach - history told through story instead of a wrote recitation of facts (which I also enjoy at times). But what killed it for me was the chapter of her experience in Spain, which was apparently had while she was researching for this book. She wrote this book about writing this book! That circular thought kept popping into my head and making me laugh. I couldn't get over it.
January 23, 2008
This was sooooo dippy. All opinion and what the author surmised. The only thing interesting were the recipes and even then she was a bit stingy with them. The resources for attaining, cultivating and using saffron were good.
December 3, 2012
While the authors tone annoyed me at times, the story of this spice is wonderful, and I am a bit obsessed with saffron at the moment.
April 10, 2024
Picked this up after browsing the culinary shelf at the library. I spent a few years in Spain, where I was introduced to saffron as an ingredient. However, I had a terrible time trying to get into this book. I wanted this to be a historical telling (maybe a “Guns, Germs, and Steel” of saffron?) The mythology and conjecture is just too, too much. I ended up skipping to the saffron buying/using guide. I then discovered the index, and directed myself to the chapter of the author’s account of a saffron festival held in Consuegra, Spain. That chapter was fine.
February 23, 2023
It is beautifully written, but this book is more about the author's personal story with hints of saffron. If you're looking for info on cooking or growing saffron, I would look elsewhere, since only the last 10 pages give concrete advice.
December 20, 2017
Deludente: poca storia, molto romanzo mal scritto. E' indigesto mischiare la storia al romanzo, quando non se ne hanno le capacità.
July 28, 2019
Part nonfiction about saffron, part nonfiction essay about learning and writing about saffron, with recipes. This book was a delightful surprise.
July 9, 2021
Lots of action.
September 10, 2022
A great history of saffron, recipes included!
February 15, 2017
La fascinante historia del azafrán acompañada de suculentas recetas, desde los sumerios hasta la actualidad.
July 28, 2010
224pp bk (w/ index), could have been about a 60 page essay if she had included only actual history/facts about saffron. Includes recipes. No notes, acknowledgements, bibliography, or other sources given. I guess she just knew it all.
In the end I did find the book charming, and it is so filled w/ odd facts it would be a great read for anyone wanting to be a contestant on Jeopardy. But the longest chapter is about her going to a small town in Spain for an annual saffron fest - even though only one person in the town still grows it. Yes, it is mostly all about her.
If you're looking for a concise book about saffron, look elsewhere. If you're looking for a book which tells history like a story book and gives you loads of personal history (Oh God, when will the Age of the Too Personal Memoir be over????!!!!) and adds a few decent recipes - this is it. Charming and reads fast - I don't regret having read it, but if I had known that in the beginning I am not sure I would have bought it, let alone read it.
In the end I did find the book charming, and it is so filled w/ odd facts it would be a great read for anyone wanting to be a contestant on Jeopardy. But the longest chapter is about her going to a small town in Spain for an annual saffron fest - even though only one person in the town still grows it. Yes, it is mostly all about her.
If you're looking for a concise book about saffron, look elsewhere. If you're looking for a book which tells history like a story book and gives you loads of personal history (Oh God, when will the Age of the Too Personal Memoir be over????!!!!) and adds a few decent recipes - this is it. Charming and reads fast - I don't regret having read it, but if I had known that in the beginning I am not sure I would have bought it, let alone read it.
September 13, 2013
I enjoyed reading this book, as long as I didn't think too much about it (which is exactly what happens when I write a book review). I thought I'd be reading a microhistory, but it's also a memoir, and it felt to me as if the author couldn't decide which she'd rather be writing. Some chapters were all history, some were all memoir, some were a combination, and there was no real pattern as to which was which. Luckily, saffron's history is fascinating enough by itself to keep me reading along.
By the way, there are recipes scattered through the book. I will say that almost all of them looked tempting, although most of them also looked too large and complicated for me to deal with. But if you were looking for ways to use saffron, the author does her best to help you.
By the way, there are recipes scattered through the book. I will say that almost all of them looked tempting, although most of them also looked too large and complicated for me to deal with. But if you were looking for ways to use saffron, the author does her best to help you.
February 6, 2008
Made me hungry. Though since I am often hungry, I'm not sure I can blame it on the book.
December 31, 2014
The chapter on The Plague was the highlight of the book, featuring delicious language: "the gleeful effects of all this desolation."
June 1, 2016
Love, love, love. It is now on my bucket list to grow and harvest saffron, as well as master a few choice recipes.
February 28, 2009
An absolute must read for any gastonome! Beautiful stories, very informative.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews