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Simon & Schuster imprint Gallery Books is to publish Ed Balls’ "moving and entertaining" title Appetite: A Memoir in Recipes of Family and Food this summer.
Described by cook and author Delia Smith as "delightfully different", the memoir recalls how Balls was just three weeks old when he tried his first meal — pureed roast beef and Yorkshire pudding — and features food memories and recipes.
The synopsis explains: "Appetite is a memoir with a twist: part autobiography, part cookbook, each chapter is a recipe that tells a story. Ed's story is universal. Taught to cook by his mother, he’s now passing these recipes on to his own children as they start to fly the nest. Sitting round the table year after year, the world around us may change, but great recipes last a lifetime. Appetite is a celebration of love, family, and really good food."
Balls — who was an MP from 2005 to 2015 and shadow chancellor between 2011 and 2015 — is now a broadcaster, writer and economist. He is professor of political economy at King’s College, London, and a research fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School, co-chair of the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation and vice-president and former chairman of Norwich City Football Club.
On radio and TV, he is best known for winning the BBC One series "Celebrity Best Home Cook"¸ his series "Travels in Trumpland: with Ed Balls", his appearance on the 2016 series of "Strictly Come Dancing" as well as regular broadcasts on BBC’s "The One Show", Radio 2 and Radio 4. He previously published Speaking Out: Lessons in Life and Politics with Hutchinson in 2016.
Commenting on his memoir, he said: "This is a collection of the meals I love to cook most, and the experiences that have gone with them, from childhood through parenting and politics to the Best Home Cook kitchen — a constant comfort in our changing world, and one which I’ve been lucky to share throughout my life with my family, as a dad as well as a son.
"As my own kids fly the nest, it is a celebration of the family traditions and the favourite dinners that I hope will keep them coming home in the years to come. And above all, this is a tribute to everything I learned from my mum which, I've realised more and more as I've grown older, was about so much more than just recipes."
Holly Harris, publishing director for non-fiction, acquired world rights from Joanna Kaye at KBJ Management. Harris said: "Appetite is an absolute joy – a compelling, moving, relatable memoir complete with excellent recipes that have helped many of his publishing team survive the latest lockdown. Ed writes brilliantly and we really look forward to connecting this wonderful book with readers."
Gallery Books will publish on 19th August 2021.