Dinner with Dickens celebrates the food of Victorian England by recreating dishes the author wrote about with such gusto, and enjoyed in real life. Food in the novels of Charles Dickens not only creates character and comedy, but is also a means of highlighting social issues. A grand wedding breakfast skewers ostentation in a wealthy household. A bread-and-butter tea conjures honesty and companionship. The gruel to hungry children exposes a cruel and unjust regime.

The characters who throng Dickens's novels are forever offering one another punch or seed biscuits; arranging a nice little supper of pickled salmon, salad, and teal showing concern with a roast fowl, or sisterly love with a painstakingly made beefsteak pudding. And of course, there is the great feast of Christmas, celebrated in glorious style even by the impoverished Cratchits. At home, Dickens's wife Catherine helped him entertain, and published (under a pseudonym) her own book, What Shall We Have for Dinner?, with pages of menus or "bills of fare" for different sizes of party and the changing seasons.

In Dinner with Dickens, Pen Vogler has fully updated recipes from contemporary Victorian cookbooks, including Catherine's own book. Clear instructions enable you to recreate mutton stuffed with oysters, Betsey Prig's Twopenny Salad, Dickens's own recipe for punch, and Dickens family's Twelfth Cake. In addition there are features on topics such as Dickens abroad, shopping for food, and eating out, with fascinating insight into housekeeping, entertaining, and social history.

Hardback, cloth bound, 176 pages

Delivery

We aim to process and pack orders within 1 working day. Charges are calculated depending on weight, size and destination at the checkout.

Estimated DHL Express (track & sign service) cost and delivery times:

UK - from £9, 2-5 working days

Rest of the world - from £19, 3-7 working days

Estimated Royal Mail (2nd class/international standard) cost and delivery times:

UK: from £3.95, 5-10 working days

Europe: from £6, 5-10 working days

North America: from £9, 10-28 working days

Rest of the World: from £15, 10-28 working days

Collect at the Museum

This is a free next day service. Orders will be available for collection from our Museum Shop from Tuesday to Sunday 11am – 4pm.

Orders placed before 5pm will be ready for collection from 11am. Orders placed after 5pm will be ready after 2pm.

When collecting your purchase, please bring your valid photo ID with a copy of your order, either as a hard copy, or displayed on your phone or tablet.

If you are unable to collect your goods within 30 days of purchase, we will return the product to inventory and refund the order.

Returns

If you’re not completely satisfied with your order you can return it to us within 30 days of receipt.

Exceptions apply.

More information on Delivery & Returns here

Curiosity Shop

Categories

Oliver Twist

Dickens's Dream

A Christmas Carol

The Museum Collection

Books

Children and Family

Food and Drink

Your Order