Cheese in Thomas Heywood's 'Of Books And Cheese'
Poet involved
What happened
The English playwright and poet Thomas Heywood wrote a poem titled 'Of Books And Cheese' that draws an analogy between judging books and judging cheese, suggesting that both require taste and discernment. The poem reflects the early modern fascination with food as a metaphor for intellectual and cultural judgment.
Literary impact
Heywood's poem is an early example of using cheese as a metaphor for literary criticism, a conceit that would be revived by later writers and poets. The comparison between cheese and books highlights the sensory nature of reading and the importance of personal taste, themes that would be explored by critics from Samuel Johnson to modern food writers. The poem remains a witty testament to the connection between cheese and culture.
Source: Wikipedia
