The Victorian Cookbook as a Literary Form | Faculty Scholarship Series | Dr. Livia Woods

On September 10, 2026, Dr. Livia Woods presented her research arguing that Victorian-era cookbooks should be studied as literary forms that reflect and shape ideas about gender, class, bodies, and labor. The presentation traced the evolution of cookbooks from the 17th to the 19th century, highlighting a shift from including medical recipes to focusing on supportive cookery for the sick, and noted the lack of existing literary scholarship in this area. 1 A Q&A session followed, covering topics such as the cost of historical cookbooks, sociocultural influences, and the transition from oral to written culinary knowledge.