I truly loved this book. The history of chocolate production through early industrialisation at the dawn of consumerism. I love history books, and to see it from the point of view of a well-known, much-loved brand, truly held my attention. Highly recommend.

NetGalley, Janis Littleton

This was a completely unexpected thrill! From the founding to the future, I found myself excited to learn about the company of who's chocolate I so crave. It was a welcome relief during the pandemic, as it sparked discussions with my husband and friends, and led to further research on my part. Thought invoking, and interesting.

NetGalley, Elizabeth Turney

I highly recommend this book to anyone even mildly interested in Cadbury’s and what they might signify.

NetGalley, Anjana Devarakonda

This is a very interesting and thorough history of the first 100 years of the Cadbury company and its founders. Scattered throughout are many vintage postcards and photos of various chocolate boxes and the factory workers producing early chocolate items such are Easter eggs.

NetGalley, Kerrie Hoar

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This book is a great piece of history on the Cadbury family and how they grew their business to the empire it is today. Even if you do not like non-fiction or history, you will find this book extremely interesting, in my opinion. It does not just tell the good, it also tells the bad as well. If you love Cadbury eggs, and buy them up when they are available, this is a must read.

NetGalley, Autumn Hunt

It is 4 stars from me for this one, it was a good insight in to how Cadbury shaped the local area and community too, it was well written and an enjoyable read too, the author has clearly done an awful lot of research and knows her topic. Highly recommended and a great addition to my social history collection!

Read the full review here

Donna's Book Blog

It is 4 stars from me for this one, it was a good insight in to how Cadbury shaped the local area and community too, it was well written and an enjoyable read too, the author has clearly done an awful lot of research and knows her topic. Highly recommended and a great addition to my social history collection!

NetGalley, Donna Maguire

An interesting history, competently written and beautifully illustrated.

NetGalley, Suzanne Jones

This book reminds us how Quaker influence through business, education, and community planning were exemplified through one extended family and its delicious chocolate.

Read the full review here

Friends Journal

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

History to touch (and eat) - the truly best stories are written by life and here is a book that is also fascinated by the people and circumstances that have shaped history. great!

NetGalley, Nureeni Lem

Author interview with presenter Dave Hodgson on The Daily show

Talk Radio Europe, 27th May 2019

Featured in

BRITAIN magazine, July 2019

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Few people who love chocolate actually stop to consider how the chocolate we eat today evolved. A History of Cadbury is not only written about the history of chocolate, it focuses on one of the premier families in the chocolate industry. Our favorite milk chocolate bar is a side product of the drinking chocolate that started everyone's addiction. As a Quaker family restricted from drinking coffee, the Cadbury's beverage of choice became the cornerstone of today's multi-million chocolate lover's market. The history of Cadbury is a very fascinating read for any chocolate lover.

NetGalley, Denice Langley

This book may appeal to a wide variety of readers. Sociologists and Social and Industrial Historians may find it useful and informative, while consumers of the Company’s products with an interest in that organisation’s origins and history may also find it worthy of their attention. Those readers seeking an informative and well written book to occupy a wet Sunday afternoon may also find it of interest.

Keith Rimmer, NZ Crown Mines

There are some fabulous first hand accounts of what life was like at the factory and in the village and if nothing else it is good that these have been preserved for future generations to read.

NetGalley, Lynn Brown

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Beautifully illustrated history of Cadbury! Fascinating history of one of my most beloved chocolates. The start of the company and growth to the modern day company is well written and easy to read.

NetGalley, Denise Wheelock

Ahhh! One of my favorite chocolates! It's right with Swiss chocolate- yum! I think more books on great candy makers should be written. I can't believe this company is 200 years old, though only the past 100 are covered in this book. Just amazing. Even more amazing is the fact that their chocolates really haven't changed from when I was a child way back in the 60's! Hershey's, sure has over the years. I still remember the goodness of Hersheys when I was a kid, it's not the same today, sadly. I haven't seen a book on Nestle candy or Nedderegger- so authors take note! There's market! great book! Entertaining and engaging story.

NetGalley, Catherine Hankins

An interesting and fun read about chocolate and the Cadbury family legacy. This is an in depth read and kept my attention from beginning to end. I highly recommend this to all chocolate lovers with a curiosity abouth Cadbury, you won't be disappointed.

NetGalley, Melissa Borsey

This was a really interesting look at the history of Cadbury Chocolate. I live near Hershey, so am very familiar with the history of that chocolate company, but had never heard about how Cadbury got started. The fact that it had Quaker roots and John Cadbury thought that his chocolate drink could take the place of alcohol was fascinating. This is truly one of those books that you will find little pieces of interesting trivia!

NetGalley, Cristie Underwood

This is a collection book about this historical and marvelous chocolate maker. The book includes the social impact of this first factory and the begging of this emblematic brand.

NetGalley, Jo M

It’s a fascinating book with some immense detail and it covers a wide variety of topics in a very interesting way.

NetGalley, Colin Edwards

This book is filled with interesting facts about the household name, from the company's small beginnings to the days of the Cadbury empire. From mergers with Fry and then Schweppes, through to the hostile takeover from an American company.

A wonderful collection of photographs is included. From ornate chocolate boxes to the factory workers.

Some amazing facts are given. One of them is that Cadbury was an enlightened company, being the first to offer a Women's savings and pension fund.

A delightful reference book

For the Love of Books

I recommend this book not just for people who've enjoyed Cadbury's products, but anyone with an interest in 19th and early 20th-century history and labor practices. Cadbury did a lot right and that's undoubtedly a major reason why they are still around today.

NetGalley, Beth Cato

I love chocolate and I love history so it was no surprise that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one! I would recommend it to anyone. Those who are fascinated with historical accounts presenting the inception of companies, the evolution of business practices among the 19th and 20th centuries, confectionary in the age of industrial revolution, and of course, anyone who enjoys chocolate would particularly be enlightened.

NetGalley, Erica Robbin

I really enjoyed this look at the history of Cadbury chocolate and the Cadbury family. How it began, and prospered, through good times and bad, made a very entertaining story. The photographs are wonderful with my favorite being the Easter Egg production. Posters advertising Cadbury's are interspersed though out.

Learning about Quaker John Cadbury's interest in the temperance movement and how he encouraged drinking chocolate as healthy alternative to alcohol was just one of the facts that personalized this history for me. The logistics that went into creating milk chocolate, designing elaborate boxes for the chocolate, and the way Cadbury treated its employees were eye-opening. Now when I'm savoring my favorite Cadbury chocolates, I'll be able to appreciate what all went into creating them. Fascinating.

NetGalley, Rose Miller

Chocolate is one of my favourite foods and it seems that the history of how the Cadbury family began the in the making of this wonderful food was a very adventurous one. The aroma, the taste and all the processes that were developed by the cadbury family to produce the wonderful chocolate that we enjoy today was well worth a read and I must admit it urged me out to the supermarket to purchase a purple wrapped block of Cadbury's finest.

NetGalley, Patrica Liebe

This book offers so much more than what you would expect. it’s not just about chocolate and you’ll love it. If you’re a chocolate lover, you’ll love this book. If you’re a history buff, you’ll love this book. If you’re looking for a book that will make you feel good as you read about how people help others, you’ll love this book. Definitely a great book to add to your must read book list!

NetGalley, Cindi Austin

This is a great little read and highly recommend not just for those who love their chocolate but also it is a fascinating insight into a family who strove to create a business that would last throughout the years.

Read the full review here

Chicks, Rogues and Scandals

The story of the company is interesting and there were a lot of photos to illustrate their history and the people involved. An interesting read for non-fiction fans or chocaholics.

NetGalley, Janet Pole Cousineau

A fascinating read that delves into a multitude of different themes from chocolate making to the slave trade, from housing provision to healthcare. Certainly well worth a read perhaps being accompanied by the consumption of one of their products.

NetGalley, G Heard

This book is about chocolate and, therefore, it is yummy. But even if you are one of those people who doesn’t like chocolate this is a book that you should enjoy.

NetGalley, Christine Ethier

This is a comprehensive history of the company Cadbury’s. It looks into its geographical and business history as well as the social impact it had upon consumers and workers.
What I particularly like is its explanation of the Bournville estate and its purpose; something that is useful when considering the impact of a blossoming company.

NetGalley, Han H

For all of my life, Cadbury has been synonymous with chocolate, and I have always preferred Cadbury chocolate to the other brands, such as Galaxy. Diane’s charming and fascinating book tells the story of the Cadbury family and how they transformed the lives of the people of Bournville by building a model town for its employees. Over the years Cadbury has swallowed up loads of smaller chocolate companies, such as Fry, who still make my favourite chocolate bar, Fry’s Chocolate Cream, before themselves being taken over by the Americans, who tried to change our chocolate formula and failed. Long may they dominate the British chocolate world! The book is an absolute must for chocoholics!

Read the full review here

Books Monthly

As featured in

The Telegraph 21/2/19

Diane Wordsworth has written a very approachable narrative of the Cadbury family and the development of the company... This is a great story and well-written.

Read the full review here

A Line From A Book, Jennifer Sahmoun

Amazing black and white images from a new book called A History of Cadbury show what life was like there, from crafting Easter eggs to playing football and cricket.

Mail Online

This book tells of the chronology of the business and the Cadbury family, how chocolate is made, mergers and branding.

Read the full review here

GoodReads, Kristine Fisher

Books to look out for with a Yorkshire link

Yorkshire Post, 4th January 2019