The Writer's Table by Valerie Stivers, illustrated by Katie Tomlinson #TheWritersTable @valerie_reads @Frances_Lincoln @RandomTTours

 

These are the dishes that fuelled great writing. 

Ever wondered what Iris Murdoch might have served for supper, or how Emily Dickinson took her tea? The Writer’s Table brings together dining habits and favourite recipes from some of the world’s most beloved authors, offering a delicious glimpse into their everyday lives and kitchen rituals. 

Each recipe is paired with a short introduction to the author and dish, along with clear instructions and modern ingredients, making it easy to recreate literary comfort food at home. With beautiful illustrations throughout, the book is a feast for the eyes as well as the table making you feel closer to the writers you love. 

Writers and recipes featured include: 

• Leo Tolstoy’s Sour Schi  
• Jane Austen's White Soup
• Colette's Cherry Clafoutis
• Barbara Pym's Toad-in-the-Hole
• Truman Capote's Chicken Hash
• Andrea Camilleri's Sardines a beccafico
  
  

Perfectly giftable, irresistibly browsable and full of charm, The Writer’s Table is a celebration of food, creativity and the simple pleasures that connect us all. A must-have for readers, home cooks and anyone who’s ever wondered what their favourite author had for dinner.

The Writer's Table by Valerie Stivers is published today; 9 October 2025 by Frances Lincoln and is illustrated by Katie Tomlinson. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this #RandomThingsTours Blog Tour 

This is quite possibly one of the most beautiful books that I own. The illustrations are stunning, it's the kind of book that you can pick up at any time and discover something new. 

I honestly think this book was made for me, I'm an avid recipe book collector and reader, and of course, I love fiction and anything to do with literature. A combination of food created and loved by famous authors, or featured in their books is just perfection. 

Katie Tomlinson's illustrations are stunning. Her style is quite simple line drawings with plenty of colour and expertly portray each of the authors and recipes. 

Valerie Stivers writes a column called 'Eat Your Words' for the Paris Review and in 2017 she began to collect these stories and recipes for her coloumn. 

There is a chatty, friendly feel to the book as she features some authors discussing their various food likes, or things that they've included in their works, instead of an actual recipe. 

From Jane Austen’s White Soup to Truman Capote’s Chicken Hash and Colette’s Cherry Clafoutis, this exquisite literary cookbook features 50 favourite recipes from renowned authors, showcasing the meals that shaped their lives and work, and will make an ideal gift for both food and book lovers. Highly recommended

Valerie Stivers is the literary columnist for UnHerd, and hostess of a popular cooking-from-literaturedinner salon series in New York City. She is the co-host of The Fretful Porpentine: Music & Books podcast, and previously wrote the 'Eat Your Words' column for The Paris Review, in which she developed recipes and cooked from classic novels. She now cooks from Catholic literature for Our Sunday Visitor Magazine, and writes frequently about books for publications such as Compact and First Thing. 

She can be found on Substack as The Writer's Table, on Instagram @ivalleria and on X @valerie_reads

Katie Tomlinson is an award-winning visual artist and illustrator whose work blends bold linework with vibrant colour and narrative flair. With experience across editorial, publishing, and print design, her illustrations have appeared in international campaigns and independent publications alike.