How Carrots Won the Trojan War Curious (but True) Stories of Common Vegetables

Vegetables are more than just food for humans: they'¬"ve been characters, companions, and even protagonists throughout history. How Carrots Won the Trojan War is a delightful collection of little-known stories about the origins, legends, and historical signifi cance of 23 of the world'¬"s most popular vegetables. Curious cooks, devoted gardeners, and casual readers alike will be fascinated by the far-fetched tales of their favorite foods'¬" pasts. Readers will discover why Roman gladiators were massaged with onion juice before battle, how celery contributed to Casanova'¬"s conquests, how peas almost poisoned General Washington, why some seventeenth-century turnips were considered degenerate, and, of course, how carrots helped the Greeks win the Trojan War (hint: carrots enabled the soldiers to stay inside the Trojan horse without a break). In addition, Rupp offers gardening tips and sheds light on (and shreds myths about) vegetable nutrition. For example, carrots are healthier cooked than raw, and the most nutritious part of a tomato is the jelly around the seeds. The author of numerous books spanning the topics of science, nature, fantasy, and home schooling, Rupp brings her well-crafted, witty storytelling to the world of vegetables. How Carrots Won the Trojan War is the perfect book for vegetable gardeners, foodies, and anyone else interested in the secret stories behind a salad.  

Introduction: Vegetables In and Out of the Garden
One: In Which Asparagus Seduces the King of France
Two: In Which Beans Beat Back the Dark Ages
Three: In Which Beets Make Victorian Belles Blush
Four: In Which Cabbage Confounds Diogenes
Five: In Which Carrots Win the Trojan War
Six: In Which Celery Contributes to Casanova's Conquests
Seven: In Which Corn Creates Vampires
Eight: In Which Cucumbers Imitate Pigeons
Nine: In Which An Eggplant Causes a Holy Man to Faint
Ten: In Which Lettuce Puts Insomniacs to Sleep
Eleven: In Which Melons Undermine Mark Twain's Morals
Twelve: In Which Onions Offend Don Quixote
Thirteen: In Which Peas Almost Poison General Washington
Fourteen: In Which Peppers Win the Nobel Prize
Fifteen: In Which Potatoes Baffle the Conquistadors
Sixteen: In Which Pumpkins Attend the World's Fair
Seventeen: In Which Radishes Identify Witches
Eighteen: In Which Spinach Deceives a Generation of Children
Nineteen: In Which Tomatoes Fail to Kill Colonel Johnson
Twenty: In Which Turnips Make a Viscount Famous