'Beat Kümin has written a sophisticated, nuanced study of public houses...This is an admirable study.' - Marc R. Foster, Humanities and Social Sciences Net Online '...a readable, informative, and richly illustrated account of details ranging from floor plans to dinner menus, punctuated with nineteen color plates and thirty-one black-and-white images, a rare treat in today's scholarly market. ... Read moreThe result is an impressive overview that recognizes the early modern public house as the primary site of social exchange and makes a convincing argument for its market-orientated versatility.' - B. Ann Tlusty, Renaissance Quarterly 'Overall, this is an excellent volume (with splendid and beautiful illustrations) which one hopes will accelerate study of the social history of the drink industry at a time when many European countries are staggering under the contemporary burden of alcoholism.' - Peter Clark, English Historical Review 'Beat Kümin has written a highly readable social history of the public house that combines analysis of specific cases (Berne, Bavaria) with a general overview... he resists the temptation to provide simple answers to his complex questions, and this is one of the strengths of his book... Reading Kümin's excellent book is great fun and makes us want more field research.' - Martin Scheutz, German Historical Institute London Bulletin '...Drinking Matters is a well-crafted, clearly structured, and very clever book thatis, moreover, a delight to read....[it] will no doubt be of great value to research and teaching alike.' - Journal of Modern History '...this is a very pleasant book indeed...For nonacademics with even a passing interest in the hospitality trade, it provides an informative and tasteful overview. At the end of the day, what can one say? Guten Appetit!' - Central European History Show Less