By Betty Fussell
Quality Paperback
356 Pages
North Point Press
ISBN 0-86574-545-8
$18.00 (order online and get it for $14.40)
Review by Cheri Sicard
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It's safe to say that a lot of people in this country go through their day to day lives without thinking too much about corn. Yes, corn. But perhaps they should, for if they took even a tiny glance into what corn has meant to America and the impact this seemingly innocuous little vegetable still exerts, they'd be amazed. I know I was.

And if people who live in the United States, a country upon which corn has had enormous impact, will be amazed, folks from abroad will be blown away. I was reading this book on a recent trip to Japan, when a friend commented that it was funny that I was reading such a large book about corn. I explained that corn is at the very heart of not only American history, but also the basis of its many unique regional cuisines. My friend laughed and said "But there is no American cuisine, it's just hamburgers and steaks."

While to a foreigner it may seem like that, corn has been a huge part of regional cuisines throughout the Americas since before recorded history. Iimmigrants arriving here from all over the world quickly adapted to its seemingly endless uses.

Author Betty Fussell has thought about corn. A lot. She has researched and evaluated every bit of corn minutia and come up with the definitive work on the subject. A work which, by the way, won the prestigious International Association of Culinary Professionals "Julia Child Award."

Lest you think this is a dry scholarly journal, think again. Fussell's impeccable style keeps this book reading like an adventure, from the explorations of myths and legends to the science of corn's sex life (yes, corn has a sex life), to the seasons and harvesting of corn to its use in food and drink and beyond to its political ramifications. Corn infiltrates Americans' lives in ways most are never aware of: sweeteners in a myriad of foods, explosives and embalming fluids to name but a few.

Please be aware, this is not a cookbook, there are no recipes. It is, however, a fascinating exploration of how we are all united through food, on an individual scale as well as a global one. Fussell's passion for her subject makes us want to know more. The moving historical photos, liberally scattered throughout the book kept me turning the pages, sneaking a peak in anticipation of the next chapter's adventures like a child reading a story book.

It is said you are what you eat. No food defines the American people more than corn. This book provides a unique perspective on the history of not only the vegetable, but of the people who have benefited from it for centuries.

Click here for an interview with author Betty Fussell as well as some of her fabulous recipes.

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The Story of Corn. Order now and save 20%. Regular price $18.00, Amazon.com price $14.40.
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