Feast - by Catherine Kurtz (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

In nineteenth-century France, a young woman with a magical sense of taste saves a duc from poison, and her new role as poison taster thrusts her into the world of the nobility, where secrets and danger lurk around every corner.

Minha is born on the backstreets of late nineteenth-century London, the daughter of an Indian spice merchant and an English prostitute. She has a remarkable gift: an incredible sense of taste. She can taste the earth in which potatoes were grown or the tree on which fruits have ripened. She can smell each ingredient--and identify a single false note. But Minha's gift and her mixed-race heritage provoke mistrust and rejection, even within her own family. Escaping alone to France, Minha chances upon work in the Château de Bellefalaise, where for the first time her strange abilities are lauded.

As official poison taster for Duc Nicolas, Minha must taste every morsel of food that will pass his lips. Others in the household are hostile to her, but when she discovers a man hiding in the stables, their unexpected meeting turns into the first true connection she's felt since arriving in France.

But mystery and paranoia continue to swirl around the château, with the Duc's poisoner unidentified and antagonism toward Minha growing. She knows it's only a matter of time before fingers begin pointing her way. Will she run again, or is this the time to stand and fight?

A thoroughly addictive novel about food, possession, race, love, and a young woman fighting to build a fulfilling life against all odds, this is a gorgeously written debut by author Catherine Kurtz.

Review Quotes

"A beautiful book, vivid and delicious and alive--a story of escape and belonging and one woman's extraordinary gifts, unfolding its mysteries with care, brimming with feeling and stunning prose. I loved it."--Alex Hay, author of The Housekeepers

"Feast is a tasty read, a fantastic novel filled with glorious detail and deliciously vivid story-telling... I highly recommend it"--Salena Godden, author of Mrs. Death Misses Death

"A novel that truly captures the senses, this is a stunningly written debut. Perfect for readers who love atmospheric historical fiction."--Louise Hare, author of This Lovely City

"A lush and sensory novel. Kurtz writes with tenderness and precision about loss, resilience, and the ways we remake ourselves. This is a story that lingers. It's rich with feeling and quietly unforgettable."--Emma Pei Yin, author of When Sleeping Women Wake

"Feast held me in its thrall from the first page and never let go. Rich and lush, it conjures the 19th century like a gothic fairytale, where appetite, power and danger are never far apart. It is an immersive, enthralling, extraordinary piece of historical fiction."--Rachel Blackmore, author of Costanza

"A novel to savour, bursting with rich delights."--Laura Wilkinson

"Sensuous and richly imagined."--Beth Miller

"Where Perfume traced the pursuit of power, Feast examines a life of resistance."--Mark Radcliffe

"Kurtz is the real deal - an absolute original. I'm convinced that years from now we'll look back at Feast as the beginning of an illustrious canon of work."--Mick Jackson

"A tantalizing 19th-century drama fueled by royal intrigue and culinary decadence... An artist and food journalist, Kurtz skillfully layers strong flavors, scents, and emotions into her imagery of Minha's world... Readers will devour Kurtz's marvelous debut, cheering Minha as she takes center stage in her own story and, for the first time, truly feasts on life."--Shelf Awareness

"Feast has a fairytale-like quality.... it wields worthy themes of humanity's endless struggles--envy, gluttony, greed and lust are notable, along with racism and the demonising of the 'other.' Feast is reminiscent of Süskind's Perfume with its unique sensory theme running through the novel and may appeal to historical fantasy readers."--Historical Novels Review

About the Author

Catherine Kurtz is a painter represented by the Redfern Gallery and has an MA in creative writing from West Dean College. Her fiction explores the female experience, her mixed-race heritage, and the power of creativity. Kurtz is also a member of the Guild of Food Writers and a Grand Jury member of the International Chocolate Awards. Her food journalism has been published in a variety of outlets, including The Spectator's Scoff, ckbk, and Celebrated Living.