I really shouldn't call this a book review when I have only read the introduction. Has anyone else seen this book by Sharon V. Salinger of UC Irvine? I found it at the Fort Stanwix gift shop in Rome, NY yesterday as we were driving back from Maine. From the first bit I have read, it appears to be a strong academic text with an interesting point of view - the antecedents for American patterns of drinking. So far I have learned that the Dutch in the 1600's were raging alcoholics in the eyes of contemporary commentators but we have to be mindful of the fact that the Dutch and English were then warring naval powers. That being said, it is note worthy that the slurs "double Dutch", "Dutch treat" and more pointedly "Dutch courage" remain in common English usage.
Anyway, I will follow up as I read and will certainly let you know where I see this book fitting in the oddly sparce and unsatisfying histories of the beer and the United States. Here is a 2003 review to further peak (or even pique) your interest.
Comments
Maureen Ogle - August 25, 2008 12:41 pm
Excellent book. (Read it when it came out when I was trying to decide whether to include the colonial period in the book I was writing).
Another you might like is David Conroy's IN PUBLIC HOUSES, which looks at the role of taverns/ drinking in the construction of political culture in colonial America.
James McWilliams's great (and relatively new book) on the history of colonial foodways, A REVOLUTION IN EATING, has a great chapter on alcohol in the colonial era.
Couple of other good books that I'm not sure general audiences are aware of:
Richard Unger's BEER IN THE MIDDLE AGES AND RENAISSANCE, which examines the emergence of a commercial brewing industry in the Netherlands. Excellent history of the subject.
Also, THE WORLD OF THE TAVERN, a collection edited by Beat Kumin and Ann Tlusty, as well as Tlusty's BACCHUS AND CIVIC ORDER, which looks at drinking and tavern culture in early modern Germany.
Probably more than you wanted to know.....
Alan - August 25, 2008 12:53 pm
Excellent - thanks Maureen. There can't be too much information! I have reviewed Unger's two beer books (he even put in a kind word to get me a review copy of his 900-1900 text after I saw the price) but the others are new to me and now worth the chase.
Alan - August 25, 2008 1:47 pm
More discussion here.
Adam - August 25, 2008 10:22 pm
Does 'Dutch Oven' go somewhere in that group?
Ethan - August 26, 2008 10:04 am
But, is it available anywhere else besides the gift shop? Rome's not really high on my list of places to go right now.
Alan - August 26, 2008 10:16 am
Rome is to be savoured, for sure, so if you don't have the time it can seem tragic - but I am sure it's on amazon, etc.
Maureen Ogle - August 26, 2008 10:47 am
Alan, thanks for that link to the review at Common-place. Crowley is a good historian, so no surprise about the thoughtful quality of his review of Salinger's book.
All the books Crowley mentions in his review are terrific, especially Peter Clark's history of the English alehouse. I think it's probably out of print, but I'm sure copies are floating around somewhere. Definitely worth reading if you've not already.
If you want to keep up with *current* scholarship in the field, tune in to the "Daily Digest" at the Alcohol and Drug History website. It's
http://historyofalcoholanddrugs.typepad.com
(Sorry -- I have no idea how to make that a live link.)
David Fahey does an amazing job tracking all the new research.
Salinger's book is definitely in print and available from any bookdealer or at Amazon.
Alan - August 26, 2008 10:55 am
You are link-a-fied!
Alan - August 27, 2008 12:28 pm
Interesting going. The section on colonial restrictions on trade with tribal groups didn't mention the fairly common provision and use of the drink (along with other provisions like herds of steer) during long important treaty discussion sessions like those operated by William Johnson, the Royal representative in all northern dealings before his death in 1774. But its reference to specific colonial laws is very usefully authoritative.
Maureen Ogle - August 29, 2008 9:20 pm
Alan, I meant to get back to your last comment. Have you read Peter Mancall's book DEADLY MEDICINE? I bet you'd enjoy it.
Also, speaking of "herds of steer," check out Virginia De John Anderson's CREATURES OF EMPIRE. First-rate scholarship and a fascinating study of one of those topics that's so obvious you wonder why no one thought of it before. (I'm writing a book about meat in "modern" America, so her book has been incredibly helpful.)
Alan - August 31, 2008 9:48 am
Interesting. The book on Johnson I was reading was "Mohawk Baronet" published by Syracuse University Press - it has a number of passages describing feasting as well as Johnson's understanding of the need to have the capacity to feast which you may find interesting.
dfdfsfdsfsf - May 23, 2009 10:02 pm
I like the phrase "dutch courage".