First published in 1992, Wedding Cakes and Cultural History is a unique contribution to the anthropology of food, tracing the fascinating history of wedding cakes, from late medieval feasts and rites, through the Victorian wedding breakfast and into the 1990s. Dr. Charsley maps the intricate creation of the wedding cake and explores its uses and meanings. He shows that the wedding cake provides a vivid illustration of the traditions and traditional values inherent in all foods and...

Introduction Part I: Caste, Community and performanceA ritual performance of Kerala, *Vayala Vasudevan Pillai* The Patuas of Bengal, *Makbul Islam* Bards and goddesses: *The Pombalas in Tirupati, Anand Akundy* Explorations in the art forms of the Cindu madigas in Andhra, *Y A Sudhakar Reddy* and *R R Harischandra* Caste identity and perfo...