Charlemagne's tablecloth

the long version

Feasts, banquets, and grand dinners have always played a vital role in our lives. They oil the wheels of diplomacy, smooth the paths of the ambitious, and spread joy at family celebrations. Fletcher has written a history of feasts throughout the ages that includes the dramatic failures along with the dazzling successes. From a humble meal of potatoes provided by an angel, to the extravagance of the high medieval and Renaissance tables groaning with red deer and wild boar, to the exquisite refinement of the Japanese tea ceremony, this book covers them all. For anyone who has ever sat down at a banquet table and wondered, "Why?" Nichola Fletcher provides the answer in a book that is a feast all its own.--From publisher description.