Calories and Corsets: A history of dieting over two thousand years Main Edition

Foxcroft – whose writing recalls the late father of medical history, Roy Porter – tells what is essentially a grim and visceral tale with wit and sprezzatura. — Michael Bywater ― The Week

Entertaining … Foxcroft’s book is full of startling anecdotes, but she also has a serious purpose — Joan Smith ― Literary Review

A book of such relentless good sense that I must recommend it – especially if you’re considering a post-festive binge diet — Natalie Haynes ― Prospect

This witty history of dieting is full of interesting facts … a great reminder that the basic principles of weight loss never change ― Elle

Amusing [and] illuminating — Daisy Goodwin ― Sunday Times

Astutely researched … amusing, alarming and poignant by turns. ― Nature

Put down the diet book and pick up Louise Foxcroft’s history of dieting… by the time you’re finished you might see the weight-loss industry in a very different light… Foxcroft takes a briskly sceptical line on the global dieting phenomenon. — Jane Shilling ― Daily Mail Published On: 2012-01-06

A compelling history of mankind’s peculiar and often perverse relationship with dieting… like a grown-up version of Horrible Histories… her style is pacy and she has a wonderfully light touch — Sarah Vine ― Times Published On: 2012-01-07

Elegantly written and full of tasty morsels — Jemima Lewis ― Mail on Sunday Published On: 2012-01-08

Anybody with an appetite for such unwholesome [dieting] texts should opt instead for Foxcroft’s a slim and sensible history. — Helen Brown ― Daily Telegraph Published On: 2012-01-07

An authoritative history… There are plenty of good stories and she is good on Lord Byron… — Cressida Connolly ― Spectator Published On: 2012-01-14

A catchy title and a great subject… — Katie Law ― Evening Standard Published On: 2012-01-12

Meticulously researched, Calories And Corsets is packed with intriguing details – some jaw-dropping, others laugh-out-loud funny – that make it an easy and enjoyable read. — Susan Swarbrick ― Herald Published On: 2012-01-14

A welcome addition to the fields of food and body histories… an engaging synthesis of existing research and delves into a number of original sources… There is some substantial scholarship here… — Peter Atkins ― BBC History Magazine Published On: 2012-02-01

Fascinating ― Daily Express Published On: 2012-01-23

‘fascinating… Foxcroft does this (dispels dieting myths) admirably, and with wit. This short volume would be a wise investment for anyone tempted to sign up to the (screamingly fashionable) high-protein diet of Dr Dukan, or to the (previously hip, now less so) regime of the low-carb king Dr Atkins. — Isabel Berwick ― FT Published On: 2012-01-21

At last, a book on dieting that is sensible, and better still, entertaining… a lively history. — Christopher Hirst ― Independent Published On: 2012-01-19

Entertaining and colourful — Stephanie Cross ― The Lady Published On: 2012-01-27

Mixing science with fashion and celebrity, this enlightening book gives the full skinny on lean, fat and in-between. — Iain Finlayson ― Saga Published On: 2012-02-01

An excellent book — Lucy Noakes ― History Today Published On: 2012-03-01

Entertaining — Joanna Bourke ― The Lancet Published On: 2012-03-17