How Carrots Won the Trojan War Curious (but True) Stories of Common Vegetables

by Rupp, Rebecca

• ISBN13: 9781603429689
• ISBN10: 1603429689
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-10-07
• Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC

Summary

Vegetables are more than just food for humans: they'¬"ve been characters, companions, and even protagonists throughout history. How Carrots Won the Trojan War is a delightful collection of little-known stories about the origins, legends, and historical signifi cance of 23 of the world'¬"s most popular vegetables. Curious cooks, devoted gardeners, and casual readers alike will be fascinated by the far-fetched tales of their favorite foods'¬" pasts. Readers will discover why Roman gladiators were massaged with onion juice before battle, how celery contributed to Casanova'¬"s conquests, how peas almost poisoned General Washington, why some seventeenth-century turnips were considered degenerate, and, of course, how carrots helped the Greeks win the Trojan War (hint: carrots enabled the soldiers to stay inside the Trojan horse without a break). In addition, Rupp offers gardening tips and sheds light on (and shreds myths about) vegetable nutrition. For example, carrots are healthier cooked than raw, and the most nutritious part of a tomato is the jelly around the seeds. The author of numerous books spanning the topics of science, nature, fantasy, and home schooling, Rupp brings her well-crafted, witty storytelling to the world of vegetables. How Carrots Won the Trojan War is the perfect book for vegetable gardeners, foodies, and anyone else interested in the secret stories behind a salad.  

Author Biography

Rebecca Rupp has written more than a dozen books for children and adults, including Weather! and How Carrots Won the Trojan War. She holds a PhD in cell biology and biochemistry and has written hundreds of articles for magazines, including Country Journal, Early American Life, Mother Earth News, Natural History, and Utne Reader. She lives in Vermont.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Vegetables In and Out of the Garden
One: In Which Asparagus Seduces the King of France
Two: In Which Beans Beat Back the Dark Ages
Three: In Which Beets Make Victorian Belles Blush
Four: In Which Cabbage Confounds Diogenes
Five: In Which Carrots Win the Trojan War
Six: In Which Celery Contributes to Casanova's Conquests
Seven: In Which Corn Creates Vampires
Eight: In Which Cucumbers Imitate Pigeons
Nine: In Which An Eggplant Causes a Holy Man to Faint
Ten: In Which Lettuce Puts Insomniacs to Sleep
Eleven: In Which Melons Undermine Mark Twain's Morals
Twelve: In Which Onions Offend Don Quixote
Thirteen: In Which Peas Almost Poison General Washington
Fourteen: In Which Peppers Win the Nobel Prize
Fifteen: In Which Potatoes Baffle the Conquistadors
Sixteen: In Which Pumpkins Attend the World's Fair
Seventeen: In Which Radishes Identify Witches
Eighteen: In Which Spinach Deceives a Generation of Children
Nineteen: In Which Tomatoes Fail to Kill Colonel Johnson
Twenty: In Which Turnips Make a Viscount Famous