In a novel perfect for fans of Hazel Gaynor’s A Memory of Violets and upstairs-downstairs stories,Annabel Abbsthe award-winning author of The Joyce Girlreturns with the brilliant real-life story of Eliza Acton and her assistant as they revolutionized British cooking and cookbooks around the world. Before Mrs. Beeton and well before Julia Childthere was Eliza Actonwho changed the course of cookery writing forever. England1835. London is awash with thrilling new ingredientsfrom rare spices to exotic fruits. But no one knows how to use them. When Eliza Acton is told by her publisher to write a cookery book instead of the poetry she lovesshe refuses–until her bankrupt father is forced to flee the country. As a womanEliza has few options. Although she’s never set foot in a kitchenshe begins collecting recipes and teaching herself to cook. Much to her surprise she discovers a talent – and a passion – for the culinary arts. Eliza hires youngdestitute Ann Kirby to assist her. As they cook togetherAnn learns about poetrylove and ambition. The two develop a radical friendshipbreaking the boundaries of class while creating new ways of writing recipes. But when Ann discovers a secret in Eliza’s pastand finds a voice of her owntheir friendship starts to fray. Based on the true story of the first modern cookery writerMiss Eliza’s English Kitchen is a spellbinding novel about female friendshipthe struggle for independenceand the transcendent pleasures and solace of food.