A Taste for Purity

This book examines the global history of vegetarianism, revealing complex motivations and connections across cultures, particularly in A Taste for Purity.

In A Taste for Purity, Julia Hauser delves into the intricate global history of vegetarianism, tracing its evolution from the mid-nineteenth century through to the early Cold War. The author reveals how vegetarian movements in India and the West were intertwined by shared ideals of purity, which influenced a range of political and cultural movements, including internationalism, anticolonialism, and troublingly, nationalism and violence. This exploration highlights the complex motivations behind adopting vegetarianism, particularly in the context of societal changes driven by industrialization and urbanization.

The organized vegetarian movement that emerged in Europe and North America during the nineteenth century emphasized the health risks and ethical dilemmas associated with meat consumption. Advocates presented vegetarianism as a remedy for the social ills of the time, often idealizing South Asia as a model for dietary practices. In colonial India, however, the motivations for vegetarianism were diverse and deeply rooted in local contexts. Hindu nationalists framed vegetarianism as a means of purifying the body for anticolonial resistance, while the cow protection movement became increasingly militant, targeting meat consumers, especially among Muslims.

Through a meticulous examination of personal networks and the exchange of ideas across continents, A Taste for Purity uncovers the mutual influences and disconnections that characterized cross-cultural encounters. Hauser argues that the drive for vegetarianism during this period was fueled by expansive visions of moral and racial purification, revealing how these movements were often entangled with exclusionary ideologies. This comprehensive study not only rewrites the narrative of vegetarianism but also sheds light on its implications within broader historical contexts.