Dedication

- Philippa Brewster

TO PHILLIPPA BREWSTER WHO WAS THE BEGINNING

Philippa Brewster, the publisher who ‘discovered' the young Jeanette Winterson and gave her the big break by publishing her first novel Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit. During a 1985 interview with Philippa Brewster for an editorial position at Pandora Press, Winterson recounted the details of her eccentric early life. Impressed not only by her facility with language but also her ability to spin tales, Brewster encouraged Winterson to write down her stories, which became the material for the critically acclaimed and popular Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit. The tremendous success of Oranges, which won the 1985 Whitbread Award for a first novel, established Winterson as one of Britain's most promising young literary talents.

Epigraph

- The Making of Marmalade

'When thick rinds are used the top must be thoroughly skimmed, or a scum will form marring the final appearance.'
From The Making of Marmalade by Mrs Beeton.

"Se usate grossi pezzi di scorza, abbiate poi l'accortezza di scremare accuratamente la superficie, onde evitare la formazione di quella schiumetta che rovinerebbe l'aspetto finale della preparazione"
Da The Making of Marmalade di Mrs Beeton.

- Nell Gwynn

'Oranges are not the only fruit.'
-- Nell Gwynn

Nell Gwynn (born Feb. 2, 1650, London, Eng.-died Nov. 14, 1687, London) British actress. She was selling oranges at the Drury Lane Theatre when she became the mistress of its leading actor, Charles Hart, who trained her for the stage. She became the leading comedienne of the King's Company (1666-69) and as "pretty, witty Nell" was in demand as a speaker of impudent prologues and epilogues. She became the mistress of Charles II (1669-85) and was popular with the public, who found her high spirits and frank recklessness welcome antidotes to Puritanism. For these reasons Nell Gwynn has come to be considered a folk heroine, with a story echoing the rags-to-royalty tale of Cinderella.

Jeanette Winterson's novel Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit opens with a Nell Gwynn quote, that gives the title of the novel: Oranges are not the only fruit.

Chapter

- Genesis

Genesis is the first of five books which the Jews call the "Law" and Christians, usually, the Pentateuch. This word comes from greek and means "five scrolls" or books. Although Genesis is a word derived from greek, which means beginning, origin. This book was so called in the ancient Greek and Latin translations because it deals with the origins of the world, of humanity, of God's people.

- Exodus

This book was titled Exodus (exit) from the ancient Greek and Latin translations, because it tells the way God delivered his people, making it "out" from Egypt.
(capitoli 1-2). The book opens with a description of the oppression subjecting the Israelites in Egypt (Chapters 1-2). In order to free them, God calls Moses to be their guide, and therefore He intervened with punishment against the Egyptians, to force them to leave his people (chapters 3-11).

-Leviticus

Leviticus (the tribe of Levi) is the title that was given when the book was translated into greek. It refers to its content, which concerns, in part, the activities of the priests of the tribe of Levi.

-Deuteronomy

The book is presented as a report of three speeches delivered by Moses to remind the Israelites, who are going to enter the promised land, the needs of the covenant which God made with them at Mount Sinai. Because of this new presentation of the laws, the book was titled, in the ancient Greek and Latin translations, Deuteronomy, that is, the second (presentation) Act.

-Joshua

Joshua is the sixth book of the Bible's Old Testament. Joshua is the protagonist and the author of the book. He received to God two great tasks: to introduce the people into the promised land, and to distribute the land among the various tribes. Book's name cames from the leader who succeeded Moses and led Israel to the conquest of Canaan, the Promised Land.

-Judges

The book of Judges presents the difficult period that followed the settlement of the Israelites in the land of Canaan. The protagonists of the stories told are called "judges". They were not only governators but especially men chosen by God and prepared to release one or more tribes of Israel from danger or oppression.

-Ruth

This little book tells the story of Ruth, a foreigner who becomes the daughter of Israel and takes place in the genealogy of King David. Although it is named as Ruth, at the narrative level the action is carried out by Naomi, the mother-in-law of Ruth.