What is it about the small fruits of field and wood that encourages rapture?

These gifts of the earth – flagrant in hedgerows, carpeting the forest floor or colouring the uplands – are so ubiquitous as to be commonplace and so extraordinary that we have woven them into our folklore, fables and art.

Strawberries, brambles, blueberries and raspberries were painted in the frescoes of Pompeii, twined into the borders of medieval miniatures and embroidered on silks and linens.

Today the huge demand for these nutrient-rich fruits is pushing berry cultivation into new territories, from South America to Scandinavia, and changing the nature of our relationship with these much-loved fruits.

In this delightful, surprising and occasionally juicy exploration, Victoria Dickenson traces the humble berry’s journey across cultures and through centuries with humour and passion.