Beeton, Isabella

Beeton, Isabella (1836–1865) was a writer, cook, and author of Mrs Beeton’s Book of Household Management (1861), arguably the most famous English domestic manual ever published. As an icon of Victorian culture, both during and after her lifetime, Beeton bridged the transition from tradition to modernism, typifying an era in the throes of industrialization and advancing knowledge.

Originally commissioned as a series of articles by her publisher husband Samuel Beeton, Mrs Beeton’s Book of Household Management was a compilation of essays and recipes, ranging from medicinal tonics to pineapple ice cream. In addition to recipes for kitchen classics such as boiled carrots and mashed potatoes, four extensive chapters were dedicated to cakes, confectionery, and sweet dishes—a dessert panorama showcasing traditional English recipes like Bakewell Tart alongside dishes with a more colonial twist, such as “Delhi Pudding.”