So, here's the next catch up ... it's
Chocolate Wars by
Deborah Cadbury, which I read as an audio book and is my 29th book this year. The subtitle of this book is "
From Cadbury to Kraft: 200 years of Sweet Success and Bitter Rivalry" ... and that just about covers it! This is the true account of how the chocolate industry developed both in the UK and around the world. How the race to find a really digestible product from the humble cocoa bean fired the imagination of Quakers up and down the country, leading them to create some of our most well known chocolate bars of the present day. Told by a member of the Cadbury family, it feels like you are listening to a simple family history - but one which spans the globe. We hear how Terrys, Frys, Hersheys and Nestle all started in the sweet tooth game. We touch on the ethics of the Quaker movement and how it leads to the improvement of conditions for workers. And, unfortunately, how each unique business has been swallowed up by huge corporations such as Kraft. This is a fascinating book and I learned a lot - including how takeovers can happen when the company doesn't want to be taken over.
o
Who would have thought history could be such a thrilling read? I can highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the development of a lucrative industry, the Quaker movement or indeed, good old chocolate itself.
My star rating is 5.
The stats bit:
Length: 352 print pages.
Price I paid: £7.84 (from Audible).
Other formats available in: Print; unabridged audio CD; ebook.
Pity this was not a paper book as I think I would have borrowed it from your write up.
ReplyDeleteOn the strength of your blog have bought "the Elephant to Hollywood" but when I get a chance to read it is another matter.
Keep up the good work!
M