Charlemagne's Tablecloth

Feasts, banquets, and grand dinners have always played a vital role in our lives. They oil the wheels of diplomacy, smooth the paths of the ambitious and spread joy at family celebrations. Charlemagne's Tablecloth is a captivating account of why we enjoy gathering around a table to eat, drink, and be merry. From the extravagance of the Medieval and Renaissance banquets to the incomprehensible blubber feasts of North America to the exquisite refinement of the Japanese tea ceremony, Charlemagne's Tablecloth serves up an eclectic collection of feats from the flamboyant to the eccentric and answers gastronomic riddles like Why did Charlemagne use an asbestos tablecloth at his feasts? and Where did the current craze of the elegant Japanese kaiseki meal begin? Fletcher answers these and many more while inviting readers to a feasting table that extends all the way from Charlemagne's castle to her own millennium feat in Scotland.