The Writer's Table

What Did Your Favourite Author Have for Dinner?

Iris Murdoch's supper. Emily Dickinson's tea. Truman Capote's chicken hash. The Writer's Table collects the dining habits and favourite recipes of some of the world's most beloved authors — a delicious, slightly voyeuristic glimpse into the kitchen rituals of the people whose books you've carried everywhere.

Each recipe comes with a short introduction to the author and the dish, clear instructions, and modern ingredients. Valerie Stivers — who writes the long-running "Eat Your Words" column for The Paris Review, cooking from classic literature — brings the same warmth and curiosity to every page. The result is a book that's as good to read as it is to cook from.

Writers & Recipes Featured

• Leo Tolstoy's Sour Schi
• Jane Austen's White Soup
• Colette's Cherry Clafoutis
• Barbara Pym's Toad-in-the-Hole
• Truman Capote's Chicken Hash
• Andrea Camilleri's Sardines a beccafico

Perfect For

• The reader who wants to feel closer to the writers she loves — one recipe at a time
• The home cook with strong opinions about both literature and dinner
• A gift for anyone who has ever wondered what their favourite author had for breakfast