Feature: British Cookery

'WHEN I was a small boy at school a lecturer used to come once a term and deliver excellent lectures on famous battles of the past, such as Blenheim, Austerlitz, etc. He was fond of quoting Napoleon’s maxim ‘An army marches on its stomach’, and at the end of his lecture he would suddenly turn to us and demand, ‘What’s the most important thing in the world?’ We were expected to shout ‘Food!’ and if we did not do so he was disappointed.'

George Orwell, The Road to Wigan Pier

In 1946, the British Council commissioned a piece by Orwell on the subject of British Cookery, which he duly wrote. However, given the post-war shortages, both decided not to publish it. The Council was very happy with the piece - despite a serious disagreement over Orwell's marmalade recipe!

You can read the manuscript of the essay, and Orwell's own recipes, in full. You can also read Orwell's essay on how to make 'A Nice Cup of Tea', his defence of English cooking, and see what he had to say on food in The Road to Wigan Pier.

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To read Orwell's article on British Cookery, click the link above.

ESSAY: The Road to Wigan Pier (extract)

An extract on food, from Orwell's famous piece of extended journalism and polemic.

ESSAY: In Defence of English Cooking

Orwell defends English cooking - primarily from the English themselves.

ESSAY: A Nice Cup of Tea

One of Britain's favourite authors considers the best way of making one of Britain's favourite drinks.