The Feasts of Autolycus: The Diary of a Greedy Woman

audiobook

The Feasts of Autolycus: The Diary of a Greedy Woman

by Elizabeth Robins Pennell

EN·~4 hours

Chapters

Description

A witty, unapologetic voice guides listeners through the intimate musings of a woman who treats the kitchen as a stage for art rather than a mere chore. She challenges the long‑standing notion that modesty and restraint are feminine virtues, arguing instead that the act of eating can be as poetic and expressive as painting or music. Through lively anecdotes and sharp observations, she reveals how societal expectations have kept women from fully savoring the pleasures of the table.

The diary’s centerpiece, “The Virtue of Gluttony,” reframes the old sin of excess into a celebration of sensory delight. Drawing on history, religion, and everyday life, the author exposes the absurdities of ascetic traditions that have long dictated women’s appetites. Listeners are invited to reconsider the simple joy of a well‑crafted meal, discovering how each bite can become a small, personal masterpiece.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~4 hours (257K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Release date

2012-12-24

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

Subjects

About the author

Elizabeth Robins Pennell

Elizabeth Robins Pennell

1855–1936

An American writer, critic, and biographer who spent much of her adult life in London, she brought unusual energy to subjects ranging from food and travel to art and literature. She is especially remembered for lively books on eating, cycling, and major cultural figures such as Mary Wollstonecraft and James McNeill Whistler.

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