Imparting all the warmth and fragrance of an old-fashioned, turn-of-the-century kitchen, The Settlement Cook Book was originally devised as a cooking and homemaking primer for newly arrived immigrants. Filled with hundreds of recipes for good eating, this back-to-basics book is also good reading. A blend of hardy, old-fashioned dishes and simple recipes that will fit today's demanding lifestyles, the text covers everything from making roast chicken (with chestnut dressing) to the best way to dust a room. Clearly detailed, easy-to-read directions tell how to create such tasty fare as griddle cakes, shrimp Creole, and mulligatawny soup; cheese fondue, oyster a la poulette, and other Continental specialties; as well as ethnic foods such as gefilte fish and matzo ball soup. Sections on preserving, canning, and pickling are interspersed with quaint "lessons" on how to sterilize milk, build a fire, and discern fresh eggs from stale ones. A delightful culinary education from the days before convection ovens and "dream kitchens," The Settlement Cook Book is a treasury of Americana, a delightful sampling of cultural history that will enchant lovers of old cookbooks and well-prepared foods.

Cook's Ark is a fascinating account of the animals that sailed with Captain James Cook to the South Pacific, with particular reference to New Zealand. It offers a novel insight into an aspect of Cook's voyages rarely touched on by other authors: the menagerie that travelled in uncomfortably close proximity to the men on board Endeavour and Resolution. From the tiniest mouse, poultry, cats, monkeys, goats, pigs, etc to the larger cattle and horse, the reader follows their journey with Captain Cook. Dr Sutherland's intensive research on the vermin, livestock, utility animals, pets and exotic animals that sailed with Captain Cook not only reveals a captivating glimpse into the life of animals at sea in the 18th century, but also exposes little known or understated historical facts. These include the story behind the massacre of Furneaux's men at Grass Cove, the relationship between a Maori girl and a young seaman, and for the readers interested in heritage breeds, concludes by linking animals introduced during Cook's voyages to some of New Zealand's rarest breeds of livestock.