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    Back to Good Food

    Good Food

    The Untold Story of Alcohol in American Literature

    Olivia Laing is the author of The Trip to Echo Spring , a book about her literary journey across the US, tracking the role alcohol played in the lives of extraordinary American writers. She talks about how she discovered the untold story of the role of alcohol in literature.

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    By Evan Kleiman • Dec 23, 2014 • 1 min read

    Olivia Laing is the author of The Trip to Echo Spring, a book about her literary journey across the US, tracking the role alcohol played in the lives of extraordinary American writers. She talks about how she discovered the untold story of the role of alcohol in literature.

    The full episode

    6 of 7
    The Best of 'Good Food,' 2014 Edition
    1. 0:00The Breakfast Bible
    2. 8:45Donut Man of East LA
    3. 16:20The Buttermilk Drop
    4. 23:34Soylent, Is It the Future of Food?
    5. 31:43Jonathan Gold Reviews Porridge and Puffs
    6. 39:20The Untold Story of Alcohol in American LiteratureYou’re reading this
    7. 48:49Are Placebo Cocktails Enough to Get a Buzz?
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Evan Kleiman

      host 'Good Food'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Gillian Ferguson

      Supervising Producer, Good Food

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Laryl Garcia

      Senior Director, Good Food

      CultureFood & Drink

    The full episode

    6 of 7
    The Best of 'Good Food,' 2014 Edition
    1. 0:00The Breakfast Bible
    2. 8:45Donut Man of East LA
    3. 16:20The Buttermilk Drop
    4. 23:34Soylent, Is It the Future of Food?
    5. 31:43Jonathan Gold Reviews Porridge and Puffs
    6. 39:20The Untold Story of Alcohol in American LiteratureYou’re reading this
    7. 48:49Are Placebo Cocktails Enough to Get a Buzz?
    Back to Good Food