cover image Secrets of Saffron CL

Secrets of Saffron CL

Pat Willard. Beacon Press (MA), $23 (224pp) ISBN 978-0-8070-5008-8

In Secrets of Saffron: The Vagabond Life of the World's Most Seductive Spice, Pat Willard (Pie Every Day; A Soothing Broth) weaves an exotic, mysterious narrative about the 2,000-year history of saffron based on fact, legend and the devices of her own imagination. Whether used by Cleopatra to make herself more desirable or by the Amish in Pennsylvania Dutch country to add zest to their everyday dishes, saffron's medicinal and flavorful charms have been found irresistible by people the world over, especially in Spain and India, where its use is best known. With an unerring ear for satisfying storytelling, Willard delivers another inventive, almost magical read. Agent, Anne Depue. ( May 1)