Richard Boston (1938–2006)

The finest and most entertaining book about beer, brewing and pubs that is every likely to be written.

Although written from a British perspective, this book looks at the history of beer from 4000BC onwards and at how it is drunk, and the place it takes in people's lives, around the world. But it is about British, and more specifically, English, beer and the pubs it is drunk in that this book deals with in most detail.

As well as being a record of the opinions of one man - and Boston certainly does have opinions - this book is well-researched and draws selectively on earlier sources, in particular its obvious predecessor "What's Yours". If you like beer or pubs, read this book. If you want to understand the place of beer in English life, read this book. And if you simply want to be entertained, read this book.

There's even a decent bibliography and index at the end - icing on the cake.… (meer)