The first novel in twelve years from the author of the famous intellectual bestsellers "Lampriere's Dictionary", "A Rhinoceros for the Pope" and "In the Shape of a Boar" - for the first time in Russian! This book is a true feast for the senses, not a historical reconstruction, but a living miracle , the vividness of the descriptions is not inferior to “Perfume” by Patrick Suskind. This is the story of an orphan who takes a job in the kitchen of a huge ancient manor, and then becomes the most famous chef of his time. This is a story of impossible love, unfolding in the shadow of an ancient legend, over which class differences, war or revolution have no power. After all, the first task that John Saturnall receives, not a scullion, but already a cook, seems completely impossible: by demonstrating the wonders of culinary art, to force Lady Lucretia to stop her hunger strike...