This Compendium of Tropical Fruits is a whirlwind round the world tour. It lists and describes some 135 fruit species from a wide range of origins: lychees from China, avocados from Central America, mangoes from India, pineapples from South America, bananas from the Far East, starfruits from the Malaysian Peninsula, dates from North Africa... the list goes on. These sun-ripened fruits are a very model of diversity. The book is precise but not overly scientific, mixes historical information and practical advice, is lavishly illustrated, and is enough to satisfy the curiosity of any reader, since although some of the fruits described have long been a familiar sight in our homes, others have only so far provided a splash of colour on tropical market stalls, and are well worth discovering. All in all, this is a mouthwatering book.