This book was written by Dorothy L. Sayers’s husband, Atherton “Mac” Fleming, and indeed was dedicated to her. (“To my wife, who can make an omelette.") At Christmas 1931 she sent a copy to G. K. Chesterton, who replied:
Will you please thank your husband a thousand times for thinking of trusting so rich and impressive a monograph to me — who who alas cannot cook or do anything useful: but only eat — and drink — and give thanks not only to God but my more creative fellow creatures: the great Craftsmen of the Guild and Mystery of the Kitchen. I hope he will forgive me if I do not thank him directly — or rather thank you both collectively — but I suppose I must wait a little while before you publish a companion volume, containing all the best ways of poisoning the foods he is so expert in preparing.