The Essential Table for Fox Households

You see that little volume right there? That is one of my greatest finds as a Scavenger . I didn't steal it, and I didn't trade it. I bought it fair and square at a thrift store in Rayl. I am surprised it was discarded, however. I don't think most others would know what it is.

Purpose

At first glance, The Essential Table for Fox Households looks like it is merely a cookbook for proper Fox women. The author's note explains the stance that while men do magic and handle politics, it is important for a woman to build a strong household, and argues that cooking is "women's magic." The author goes on to explain that the book is divided into nine chapters, to reflect the similarity of the work a woman does cooking and a Fox mage does in magic. Each chapter teaches how to make a complete meal centered around a different fox tradition. The meals also get increasingly difficult. In reality, the book is not a cookbook, but a book on magic, specifically to teach Fox magic to women. It is disguised to look merely like a cookbook to the casual observer, but to easily reveal its secrets regarding magic to someone takes the time to read it page by page, especially if they are familiar with Fox traditions.

Document Structure

Clauses

Like the nine circles of magic, the book is divided into nine chapters. Each chapter centers around a different Fox holiday and gives recipes on how to prepare a traditional meal for that day. Though most of the individual recipes can actually be cooked as recipes, the author uses clever plays on words in addition to clues such as word choice, the number of courses in a meal, and how many people it serves to indicate rules for performing magic.

Publication Status

The book was published in 1709 by Awse Graeme, and had a very short lived popularity in Fox communities. It's popularity has since declined, due to the conservative message in the author's note, though the book is still common enough that women often gift it to their daughters as a family heirloom, or give a new one as a wedding gift. I believe that the book is actually more popular than it appears to be based on sales, and that women have pretended to dislike it for its overly conservative message in order to keep it out of the scrutiny of men.

Historical Details

Background

For centuries, female Foxes have looked for a way to study magic. Several times, objections have been raised to only boys being allowed to attend Fox schools, but these have always been shot down, likely due to the power which men already hold in the community. Therefore, underground forms to learn have magic have developed. At times, there have been secret societies which have learned from male students who are daring enough to pass on their information, and a rumor exists that even the famous Isolda Stringer was in one such group. Of course, rumor also has it that she left her diary in a Fox school to be found by a female student. This book may be the most successful attempt at teaching women Fox magic in history.

Type

Guide, How-to

Medium

Paper