The Victorian Era and Food

The Victorian Era (1837-1901) is often associated with strict social norms and etiquette. However, beneath the surface of this seemingly rigid society lay a surprising fascination with the unusual and the eccentric, particularly in the realm of food.

• Fasting and swooning were popular trends, reflecting a fascination with the body and its limitations.
• Tattoos and the use of arsenic in cosmetics were also embraced, showcasing a willingness to experiment with appearance and beauty.
• Beyond these eccentricities, the Victorians valued social order but also embraced a sense of curiosity and adventure.

William Buckland: The Dean of Westminster and His Unusual Food Habits

William Buckland, born in 1784, embodied this spirit of curiosity and exploration. A minister, geologist, and teacher, Buckland's unconventional approach to life extended to his culinary choices.

• He was a professor at Oxford University and later became the Dean of Westminster.
• Buckland's fascination with animals extended to keeping a diverse menagerie, which included snakes, eagles, and monkeys.
• His teaching methods were considered unusual, as he would engage students by shouting questions and presenting them with hyena skulls.

A Passion for Eating Every Animal

One of Buckland's most striking habits was his desire to eat every animal in existence. This goal led him to sample a wide array of creatures, often surprising his contemporaries.

• He was a member of the British Society for the Acclimatization of Animals, which sought to introduce new species to Britain.
• He frequently served mice on toast at parties he hosted for Society members.
• Other items on his culinary repertoire included hedgehogs, porpoise, panther, roasted ostrich, and even puppy.

The Glutton Club and Charles Darwin's Food Adventures

Buckland's love for unusual food was shared by others during this era. Charles Darwin, a close friend of Buckland's son Francis, belonged to a group known as the Glutton Club while at university. This group was known for its fondness for "strange flesh" and its members indulged in such delicacies as hawk and bittern.

• The Glutton Club members, like Buckland, sought to expand their culinary horizons beyond the ordinary.
• Darwin's fascination with food continued during his voyage on the Beagle, where he sampled armadillos, comparing their taste to duck, and an unidentified rodent he claimed to be the best meat he had ever tasted.

The Legacy of Victorian Food Culture

The Victorian Era saw a fascinating intersection of social decorum and a willingness to explore the unusual. Buckland, with his insatiable curiosity and eclectic palate, exemplified this contradiction, demonstrating the unexpected side of Victorian life.

• Buckland's story offers a glimpse into a time when culinary adventures and scientific exploration went hand in hand.
• The Victorian love for unusual food, embodied by Buckland and groups like the Glutton Club, showcases a fascination with the unknown and a desire to push boundaries, both scientific and culinary.