The Food of a Younger Land: A portrait of American food from the lost WPA files

The Food of a Younger Land: A portrait of American food from the lost WPA files

Recommended by Chef José Andrés on The Drew Barrymore Show! A portrait of American food--before the national highway system, before chain restaurants, and before frozen food, when the nation's food was seasonal, regional, and traditional--from the lost WPA files From the New York Times bestselling author who "powerfully demonstrates the defining role food plays in history and culture" ( Atlanta Journal-Constitution ). In the throes of the Great Depression, a make-work initiative for authors-called "America Eats"-was created by the WPA to chronicle the eating habits, traditions, and struggles of local Americans. Mark Kurlansky, author of Salt and Cod , unearths this forgotten literary treasure, chronicling a bygone era when Americans had never heard of fast food or grocery superstores. Kurlansky brings together the WPA contributions-featuring New York automats and Georgia Coca-Cola parties, Maine lobsters and Montana beaver tails-and brilliantly showcases them with authentic recipes, anecdotes, and photographs. Mark Kurlansky is the New York Times bestselling author of many books, including Cheesecake , The Food of a Younger Land , Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World ; Salt: A World History ; 1968: The Year That Rocked the World ; and The Big Oyster: History on the Half Shell . He has received the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, Bon Appetit’s Food Writer of the Year Award, the James Beard Award, and the Glenfiddich Award. He lives in New York City.