Cookbook fans, I wonder how much you know about how the beloved cookbook came to be? 

Did you know it was in 1845? Have you ever heard of its creator Eliza Acton? Or what about the fact that the only reason poet Eliza ever wrote and revolutionised the modern cookbook was because she was told poetry wasn’t the business of a lady? 

It’s a great yarn and it’s the subject of a new novel – The Language of Food. 

The book is written by historical novelist Annabel Abbs. 

Annabel joined Francesca Rudkin from the UK. 

LISTEN ABOVE