Research Catalog

Title

Drinking history : fifteen turning points in the making of American beverages / Andrew F. Smith.

Author

Smith, Andrew F., 1946-

Publication

New York : Columbia University Press, c2013.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

x, 319 p. : ill.; 24 cm.

Summary

A companion to the author's previous book, Eating History: Thirty Turning Points in the Making of American Cuisine, this volume recounts the individuals, ingredients, corporations, controversies, and myriad events responsible for America's diverse and complex beverage scene. The author revisits the country's major historical moments including colonization, the American Revolution, the Whiskey Rebellion, the temperance movement, Prohibition, and its repeal, and he tracks the growth of the American beverage industry throughout the world. The result is an encounter with an aspect of American culture and global influence. Americans have invented, adopted, modified, and commercialized tens of thousands of beverages, whether alcoholic or nonalcoholic, carbonated or caffeinated, warm or frozen, watery or thick, spicy or sweet. These include uncommon cocktails, varieties of coffee and milk, and such iconic creations as Welch's Grape Juice, Coca-Cola, root beer, and Kool-Aid. Involved in their creation and promotion were entrepreneurs and environmentalists, bartenders and bottlers, politicians and lobbyists, organized and unorganized criminals, teetotalers and drunks, German and Italian immigrants, savvy advertisers and gullible consumers, prohibitionists and medical professionals, and everyday Americans in love with their brew. Here the author weaves a history full of stories and explanations for such classic slogans as "taxation with and without representation;" "the lips that touch wine will never touch mine;" and "rum, Romanism, and rebellion." He reintroduces readers to Samuel Adams, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and the colorful John Chapman (Johnny Appleseed), and he rediscovers America's vast literary and cultural engagement with beverages and their relationship to politics, identity, and health.

Series Statement

Arts and traditions of the table

Uniform Title

Arts and traditions of the table.

Subject

• Beverages > United States > History

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references and index.

Contents

Colonial diversity -- An essential ingredient in American independence -- Tea parties -- Tarantula juice -- Cider's last hurrah -- The most popular drink of the day -- Nature's perfect food -- The most delightful and insinuating potations -- Unfermented wine -- The temperance beverage -- To root out a bad habit -- Youth beverages -- Judgment of Paris -- The only proper drink for man -- The coffee experience.

Call Number

JFE 13-6056

ISBN

• 9780231151160 (cloth : alk. paper)
• 0231151160 (cloth : alk. paper)
• 9780231530996 (e-book)
• 0231530994 (e-book)

LCCN

• 2012010134
• 40021651231

OCLC

791488335

Author

Smith, Andrew F., 1946-

Title

Drinking history : fifteen turning points in the making of American beverages / Andrew F. Smith.

Imprint

New York : Columbia University Press, c2013.

Series

Arts and traditions of the table

Arts and traditions of the table.

Bibliography

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Standard Identifier

40021651231

Research Call Number

JFE 13-6056