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| 'Sandwich Man' by John Montagu, 11th Earl of Sandwich (Skyscraper Publications) |
'Sandwich Man' about the original Sandwich, John Montagu, the fourth Earl of Sandwich (1718 to 1792), written by the current, eleventh Earl, also called John Montagu. In a collection of informative vignettes, the Earl describes the life and loves of his predecessor, his connections with other notable names, including Captain Cook, William Wordsworth and Omai of Tahiti (only the second Pacific Islander to visit Europe), and the origins of his famous foodstuff. In just a few pages, the Earl takes us on an intriguing, whistle stop journey through the life of his ancestor.
I'm not just buttering up the author here (groan!), I did genuinely enjoy this booklet and learned more than I expected about the man who made a name for himself in quite an unexpected way. It's funny how you can think you know about a historical figure and be completely wrong. I'd somehow ended up with an image of a sleazy aristocrat and ne'er-do-well, who was so addicted to the gaming tables that he refused to leave even to eat. I now know differently!
This booklet came from Mapperton House near Beaminster in Dorset, home to the current Earl and Countess of Sandwich and recent star of the film 'Far From the Madding Crowd'. It's a hidden gem with historic formal gardens and plenty of lovely, quiet spots for reading in the sunshine, so well worth a visit. Perhaps I'll be spotted there next summer with one of the books listed in the 'Sandwich Man' further reading list!
To find out more about Mapperton House and Gardens or to order your own copy of 'Sandwich Man', visit the Mapperton House website.
Now back to the marauding vikings!
