Apicius is the only surviving cookery book from the Roman Empire, offering a unique collection of recipes. While many ancient texts on food exist, this work is thought to be a compilation from various collections by working cooks, with its attribution to the 2nd-century noble Apicius being more of a literary convention.
Dublin, Ireland 1915 Eighteen-year-old May Gallagher is beautiful but restless, and longs for the freedom to live her own life, to decide her own destiny. Mollycoddled as the only remaining child of middle-class parents in the suburbs, she sneaks out to the theatre when she can. She is mesmerised by the captivating actor Peter Cullen, and wishes she could enjoy a more bohemian life. The Great War is taking all the boys away, and the promise that it will all be over by Christmas is ringing more hollow with each passing month. Her parents would be appalled if they knew she'd befriended the enigmatic Peter, who was from the wrong side of the city, but there is something about him that intrigues May. When catastrophe strikes Peter, it's to May that he turns, and in that moment she knows her life will never be the same again.
Mags Munroe navigates the chaos of her life as a new Garda recruit from Gen Z, balancing her commitment to political correctness with the demands of her household. She faces challenges from her teenage daughters who want to adopt a variety of pets, a mother-in-law whose behavior is becoming increasingly difficult, and a husband who has taken up a noisy new hobby. The story explores the complexities of modern family life and the pressures of balancing personal and professional responsibilities.