Sally Coulthard, bestselling author of A Short History of the World According to Sheep, tells the 10,000-year story of the apple in crisp and sparkling style.

The Apple: A Delicious History tells the engrossing and richly informative story of a fruit with a unique attachment to the human story. The 10,000-year tale of the round and pleasantly crunchy products of the trees of the genus Malus embraces not only culinary, horticultural, social and commercial history but also age-old traditions in mythology, folklore and religion. Best-selling author Sally Coulthard takes the reader on a fascinating and strikingly international journey – from the apple’s earliest beginnings in the mountains of Kazakhstan to the explosion of apple-growing in twenty-first-century China. Along the way, we learn how the apple made its way along the Silk Road from Central Asia to Europe and about its role in the grisly rituals of the Druids; and we discover why, despite there currently existing more than 7500 varieties of apple – from the ubiquitous, astringent Granny Smith to the purple-skinned Black Diamond of Tibet – only a handful of cultivars are available in modern supermarkets. Amplified by apple recipes and the stories behind them, from apple fritters to apple crumble and from verjuice to pomade, The Apple: A Delicious History is the perfect gift book for gardeners, nature lovers – or indeed anyone who likes a drop of cider or a slice of apple pie.

"From the mouth-puckering Bramley to the scrumptiously tart Cox – Sally takes us through a crisp, delicious history." - Mich Turner, MBE

"An enlightening and delicious journey from ancient myth to modern agribusiness through the rich history of the humble apple." - Eleanor Barnett, author of Leftovers

"Praise for Fowl Play: A marvellously complete and utter history of chickens. - Country Life A playful, entertaining and satisfyingly informative study of this humble bird and the integral and varied roles it played thoughout human history accross the world. - Archaeology Worldwide Magazine Charming and illuminating. - Mail on Sunday A genial and wonderfully diverting read... A timely book indeed." - Daily Mail

"Praise for A Short History of the World According to Sheep: A snappy, stimulating book, and certainly not just for shepherds. - Mail on Sunday Sally Coulthard's story of how sheep shaped the human story is full of rich pickings... Full of fascinating social history. - Independent Global in scope, with fascinating vignettes from the ancient world to the present day, this is anything but woolly." - BBC History Magazine

"The real voice of the proper countryside." - John Lewis-Stempel