When King Henry VIII wanted three pounds of sugar for his guests at an important banquet, he had a tough time getting it. Now the average American eats that much sugar in a single week.
Once a rare, exotic ingredient, sugar has become a dietary staple, leaving its sticky fingerprints all over the globe. Anthropologist and sweets expert Julia Harrison takes participants on a journey from ancient sugar cane plantations to modern candy factories, uncovering sugar’s economic and social significance. From slavery and mass migration to environmental changes and nutrition, the consequences of sugar’s rise are global—and not always sweet.
Julia Harrison is an anthropologist and avid traveler for whom all roads lead to sweets. Her projects include a multimedia online map of bakeries, desserts, and candy-makers around Puget Sound. She received a MA in Applied Anthropology from Macquarie University and spent two years studying Material Culture theory and methodology at University College London.
Harrison lives in Seattle.
Upcoming Events
- When
- 1:00 pm, Wednesday,
January 16, 2019 - Where
- Centralia College – Washington Hall
600 Centralia College Blvd
Centralia, WA 98531 United States
- When
- 6:30 pm, Tuesday,
March 26, 2019 - Where
- Chelan Public Library
216 N. Emerson Street
Chelan, WA 98816 United States
- When
- 6:00 pm, Wednesday,
March 27, 2019 - Where
- Wenatchee Public Library
310 Douglas Street
Wenatchee, WA 98801 United States
Learn More
For more information on how to book a speaker, please contact Hannah Schwendeman at (206) 682-1770 x101 or by email.