I teach a freshman course called "Alcohol and Civilization", and have found Schivelbusch (Tastes of Paradise) useful as a starting point for a conversation. Of course it ranges from the subject of drink and over-generalizes, but it is one of the few books in English that provides a "grand theory" (that can be tested with additional articles on each period) and makes pleasant reading for undergrads. I have a syllabus (unfortunately not complete) at my web site (www.facstaff.bucknell.edu/tlusty/courses.html). cheers, Ann T. At 10:12 AM 9/11/99 -0400, you wrote: >I'm proposing a course on the history of alcohol, broadly construed (I'll >narrow it down soon enough) and am looking for decent general histories, or >collections. I know of "The changing face of drink" and earlier >collections ("Alcohol, Reform and Society" for example.. part of my >personal Jack Blocker library!) but could use a few more suggestions... >especially something that is accessible for non-historians. > >The course I'm proposing is for general students, but especially students >of viticulture, so wine history would also be useful. > >I know similar questions have been asked of this list before, but they were >a while back, and new material might be available (for example, I seem to >recall Rod Phillips was talking about developing such a course or text a >few months ago). So any suggestions will be appreciated. > >Cheers. > >Dan Malleck >================================================================ >[log in to unmask] > >"It is not because things are difficult that we do not try them, it is >because we do not try them that they are difficult." --Seneca >