Wikipedia talk:Featured article candidates/Ann Cook (cookery book writer)/archive1

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Ann H. Cook (fl. c. 1725 – c. 1760) was an English cookery book writer and innkeeper. In 1754 she published Professed Cookery. In the work, in addition to a range of recipes, she included a poem and an "Essay upon the Lady's Art of Cookery". This was an attack on Hannah Glasse, who had published a best-selling cookery book, The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy, in 1747. Cook and her husband John became embroiled in a feud with Glasse's half-brother, Sir Lancelot Allgood, following an argument over an invoice the Cooks had issued. Although they were later exonerated, Allgood continued his attack on them, forcing them to leave their inn and move. Their finances suffered and John was imprisoned for non-payment of debts. To earn money, and gain a measure of revenge, Cook published Professed Cookery. Further editions of were published in 1755 and 1760. The introduction, written as a poem, accuses Glasse of plagiarism and mocks her capability of being a teacher, as well as poking fun at her illegitimacy.