The People's Chef"Alexis Soyer paved the way for today's cooking he is one of my heroes." Michel Roux " his life story, amusingly dished up over seven courses in Ruth Brandons lush The Peoples Chef, makes for such an interesting read." The Times "well worth reading" Sunday Telegraph "exhilaratingly illuminating vivid social history His life illuminates our history and our lives. Its a wonderful book." Sheila Dillon in The Victorian "Soyers huge, almost Balzacian