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The Duchess of Malfi's Apricots and Other Literary Fruits
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The Duchess of Malfi's Apricots and Other Literary Fruits Hardcover - 2002

by Robert Palter


From the publisher

The sensuous richness and bawdy ridiculousness of fruits are a regular feature of literature, from the Bible and ancient Greek plays to Arabic court poetry and medieval and modern prose and verse. This attractive and substantial volume revels in the luxurious fruity metaphors of the past with chapters dedicated to particular fruits and their literary double meanings through the ages. Palter begins with apples and figs and picks his way through strawberries (and cream), plums, bananas, peaches, apricots, pomegranates, pears, pineapples, citrus fruits, melons, cherries, grapes and berries. He also looks at wine, orchards and gardens and the enemies of fruit. The volume is full of poetry and prose, demonstrating how authors have used fruit to describe much about the human experience, particularly sex, love and desire. The chapters also look at the place of each fruit in kitchens through the ages, as they evolved from being an exotic to a more everyday food, and their perceived medicinal properties. This is a lovely book, well worth a dip.

First line

To contrast with the fine tribute to apples by Plutarch (b. before 50; d. after 120 C.E.), another Greek text, perhaps half a millennium earlier, may be quoted from an even more prestigious source-if it is indeed by Plato (ca. 429-327 B.C.E.), as the (doubtful) traditional attribution would have it: I am an apple [malon] tossed by one who loves you.

Details

  • Title The Duchess of Malfi's Apricots and Other Literary Fruits
  • Author Robert Palter
  • Binding Hardcover
  • Edition First edition
  • Pages 872
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher University of South Carolina Press, Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.A.
  • Date December 2002
  • Illustrated Yes
  • ISBN 9781570034176 / 1570034176
  • Weight 3.99 lbs (1.81 kg)
  • Dimensions 10.46 x 7.38 x 2.23 in (26.57 x 18.75 x 5.66 cm)
  • Library of Congress subjects Fruit, Fruit in literature
  • Library of Congress Catalog Number 2001003346
  • Dewey Decimal Code 809.933
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The Duchess of Malfi's Apricots, and Other Literary Fruits
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The Duchess of Malfi's Apricots, and Other Literary Fruits

by Palter, Robert

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9781570034176
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Columbia, South Carolina: University of South Carolina Press. Hardcover. VG/VG. Dark green cloth over boards; Color illus. dj.; 872 pp.; 15 bw figures; 37 color plates. Examines the various ways fruit has been used in literature to symbolize, love, desire, anger, hate, and much more; Includes hundreds of examples in texts from around the world; Divided into sections by fruit: apple, fig, strawberry, banana, apricot, pineapple, citrus, cherry, grape, and much more; Heavy.
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The Duchess of Malfi's Apricots, and Other Literary Fruits
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The Duchess of Malfi's Apricots, and Other Literary Fruits

by Palter, Robert

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1570034176
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Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.A.: University of South Carolina Press, 2002. Book. Near Fine. Hardcover. 872 pages, 4to. Out of Print. Minor shelfwear to DJ: light scuffing along edges and covers, some light scratches on covers. DJ in mylar. Tightly bound, no marks. Volume is in Near Fine condition. DJ in Very Good-plus condition..
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The Duchess of Malfi's Apricots, and Other Literary Fruits
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The Duchess of Malfi's Apricots, and Other Literary Fruits

by PALTER, Robert

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ISBN 13
9781570034176
ISBN 10
1570034176
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Columbia: University of South Carolina, 2002. hardcover. fine/fine. 37 color plates and 15 black & white text illustrations. 872 pages, tall thick 8vo, green cloth, d.w. (Columbia): University of South Carolina, (2002). A fine copy in a fine dust wrapper.<br/><br/>
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The Duchess of Malfi's Apricots, and Other Literary Fruits
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The Duchess of Malfi's Apricots, and Other Literary Fruits

by Robert Palter

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1570034176
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Univ of South Carolina Pr, 2002. Hardcover. New. reprint edition. 872 pages. 10.00x7.25x2.25 inches.
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The Duchess of Malfi's Apricots, and Other Literary Fruits
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The Duchess of Malfi's Apricots, and Other Literary Fruits

by Palter, Robert (M.)

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University of South Carolina Press, 2002-12-01. Hardcover. New. New. In shrink wrap. Looks like an interesting title!
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The Duchess of Malfi's Apricots...
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The Duchess of Malfi's Apricots...

by Palter, Robert

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9781570034176
ISBN 10
1570034176
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University of South Carolina Press, 2002. Second-hand hardcover. Palter, Robert. The Duchess of Malfi's Apricots, & Other Literary Fruits. [FIRST EDITION] University of South Carolina Press: Columbia, SC USA 2002. 4to (260x185mm) HC xviii,[2],872,[4]pp. Near Fine/Near Fine
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