author
George Edwin Roberts
1831–1865
An English geologist and writer with a lively curiosity about the natural world, he turned his love of science into books on rocks, local landscapes, and everyday customs. His work blends Victorian learning with an approachable, wide-ranging interest in how people lived.
1 Audiobook
Cups and Their Customs
by George Edwin Roberts, M. D. Henry Porter
About the author
Born in Birmingham in 1831 and brought up in Kidderminster, he was the son of a draper and later took over the family business after his father's death. Alongside that work, he developed a strong interest in natural science, especially the geology of Worcestershire, Herefordshire, and nearby parts of Wales.
He published studies of local rocks and landscape, and he also wrote books for younger readers. One of his best-known titles today is Cups and Their Customs, a lively book about the history and preparation of drinks, written with Henry Porter.
Roberts died suddenly in December 1865, still relatively young. Although not widely famous now, his books show the range of a Victorian writer who could move easily between science, popular history, and practical subjects.