Along with the scholastic value of this translation, which is considerable, readers have the added pleasure of learning social conditions, etiquette and conventions, and the place of food in a complex and sophisticated society. In addition, the recipes themselves are fascinating. Independent scholar Nasrallah provides an elegant translation for an enormous quantity of text, providing clear accounts of over 600 recipes. Her introduction gives readers the context for the food culture of Baghdad of over 1,000 years ago, the structure of cuisine and its place in high society, and the prevailing thought about the properties of healing foods. She also provides listings for people and places mentioned in the text and glossaries from Arabic to English and English to Arabic. The result is fascinating as a study of a society as well as a practical success, as Nasrallah provides standard measurements with the recipes. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)