From Publishers Weekly

Food aficionado Capella (The Food of Love) brews a tale of a young poet-turned-coffee-expert in 19th-century England. Robert Wallis, a lazy 20-something poet, meets a man in an artists' cafe and soon has a job. With his talent for over-description, Wallis is the perfect employee for Samuel Pinker, a coffee merchant wanting to create a guide to the world's coffee beans. Unfortunately, Wallis falls short trying to woo Pinker's daughter Emily with charming epigrams and his oversized ego. To spare his daughter from scandal, Pinker sends Wallis on a journey around the world, and the real story begins. Political issues of the time—from the slave trade to women's rights—provide the backdrop for Wallis's expedition. Navigating a series of unpredictable challenges, Wallis transforms from an apathetic charmer to a poised young man. Despite the lack of food details prevalent in Capella's earlier work—coffee doesn't have quite the same appeal—the surprising plot twists and authentic love story will make this a crowd pleaser. (Sept. 2)

Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

“Robust…. Fast-paced … propelled by Capella’s masterful characterizations.”—Kirkus Reviews