Simply written it reads like a middle school textbook. It deserves more stars because it must have taken a lot of research to arrive at this simple and informative book. I hate history so this dampened it for me and the recipes are modified or imagined to be compatible with modern taste and ingredients, half of the things eaten then are totally obscure or even extinct grains and whatnot. Sadly nothing was remotely appetising so I haven't tried any recipe. interesting read for history/ food lovers.