Sugar: A Bittersweet History

Elizabeth Abbott

Sept. 2011 · Abrams

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This dramatic history of an ingredient that changed the world “offers up a number of fascinating stories” (The New York Times Book Review).

Sugar explores the history behind the sweetness, revealing, among other stories, how powerful American interests deposed Queen Lili’uokalani of Hawaii; how Hitler tried to ensure a steady supply of beet sugar when enemies threatened to cut off Germany’s supply of overseas cane sugar; and how South Africa established a domestic ethanol industry in the wake of anti-apartheid sugar embargos.

The book follows the role of sugar in world events and in individual lives up to the present day, showing how it made eating on the run socially acceptable and played an integral role in today’s fast food culture and obesity epidemic. Impressively researched and commandingly written, Sugar will forever change perceptions of this tempting treat.

“A highly readable and comprehensive study of a remarkable product.” —The Independent

“Epic in ambition and briskly written.” —The Wall Street Journal

“Readers will never again be able to casually sweeten tea or eat sweets without considering the long and fascinating history of sugar.” —Booklist

Autoren-Profil

Elizabeth Abbott is Research Associate at Trinity College, University of Toronto, and, from 1991 to 2004, was Dean of Women. She is the author of several books, including Sugar and Haiti. She lives in Toronto.