The General’s Cook

Have you ever read a book about a slave with an interesting occupation?

Hercules (I wondered how he came to be called Hercules), is an amazing chef whom George Washington acquired as payment for a debt. Hercules had more freedom than most slaves since he was able to go out every evening, roaming the streets of Philadelphia wearing his dapper clothing.

He’s able to afford his clothing because he can sell the leftover food from his kitchen and keep the monies – about $200 a year, which is quite a sum.

This book is a fictional account of Hercules life and the author uses real people, as well as fictional people, in this story. This novel touches upon so many things, slavery, free Blacks….Hercules lives in Philadelphia, in a free state, yet he is enslaved. You see him interacting with both slaves and free Blacks. The issue of mixed race Blacks passing as White is also addressed in this story.

The story is good and well-written and also shows how hard it is to work in a kitchen, a professional kitchen, and not get paid for your labors. Hercules is not your ordinary Black man and after reading this novel, I longed to know more about him.

The food! I loved how the author mentioned all of the different foods that Hercules and his staff prepared for President Washington. Hoecakes, carrot pudding, chicken pudding, fish, oysters, roasts….I found myself stopping to research the foods which I’d never heard of, like carrot pudding. I noticed in the author letter that she mentioned some colonial cookbooks that she used for research. I’d like to make some of these meals myself!

The family dynamic is also addressed in this tale. Hercules doesn’t get to see his children very much and this hurts him. Slavery is so wrong – tearing apart families…abuse…Slavery is such a shameful part of US History. Makes my heart sad to read about it.

I highly encourage all readers to try this incredible secular novel. You’ll learn a lot and enjoy an amazing story!

So, have you ever read a book about a slave who had an interesting occupation?