Ice Cream: A Global History takes the reader on a vibrant trip through ice cream history, stretching from ancient China to modern-day Tokyo. As befits a food so strongly identified with celebration, the story of ice cream is a lively one – food and travel journalist Laura B. Weiss examines how this delicious indulgence became a global sensation. Ice Cream tells of chimpanzees wooed with ice cream cones, humour-loving World War ii German diplomats, and sundaes with names such as 'Moonlight on the Ganges' and 'Sweetheart Lovey-Dovey Supreme'. The account is populated by Chinese emperors, English kings, former slaves, women inventors, shrewd entrepreneurs, Italian immigrant hokey-pokey ice cream vendors and gourmand American First Ladies. Today American brands dominate the world ice cream market, but vibrant ice cultures like Italy's continue to thrive, and new ones, like Japan's, flourish through unique homegrown twists to the beloved treat.