Elizabeth David was much more than a cookery-book writer. It is cliched, but true, to say this upper-class, remarkable, independent woman revolutionised the way we eat. Her Book of Mediterranean Food, published in the austerity of post-war Britain, introduced cooks to the simple joy of using good quality ingredients and "exotic" vegetables - transforming the kitchens and dinner tables of middle England, and paving the way for the food we eat today. In this fascinating page-turner of a biography, Artemis Cooper gets behind the closely guarded public persona and reveals details of David's private life that some of her friends never knew, telling of her travels in 1930s Europe (including an escape from Greece as it was invaded, followed by internment in Italy) and the often stormy relationships with lovers, friends, colleagues, rivals and her husband. Cooper also documents the journeys and research which went into David's cookery books and food columns, providing the personal stories behind the recipes - and inspiring the reader to hunt out David's books. Like a good meal, I wished there was more of it.