Though the apple is world renowned, perhaps less well known is its rich and varied history. In her latest book, The Apple: A Delicious History, Sally Coulthard has trawled through the archives to uncover the intriguing, strange, and sometimes absurd history of this most cherished and alluring fruit. With her witty and jovial prose, Coulthard puts the apple firmly on center stage and showcases the surprising role this humble fruit has played in shaping the world today.

The apple’s rich culinary and genetic diversity is endangered, but all is not lost.