by Regina Schrambling - epicurious - on 08/15/12
Since even Google is celebrating Mme Child's 100th today, I guess I'd better chime in, too, with a repeat recommendation for a great book by and about her: As Always, Julia.
This collection of letters between her and her close friend Avis DeVoto gives a rich and full picture of what a singular mind, and wit, she possessed. It's a slow read, with plenty of footnotes, but you come away with a real understanding of where both American and French food stood in the 1950s, before she managed to get her masterwork published thanks largely to DeVoto's maneuvering. Joan Reardon did the world a huge service in editing them.
What's also rewarding about these letters, now that we're in full crazy
campaign season, is they show a whole other side to her. I knew from researching
her obit for the New York Times she had many dimensions: "Mrs. Child was a
breast cancer survivor, a cat lover, a fervent advocate of Planned Parenthood
and an unabashed sensualist with a sly sense of humor." Here she is very
political: A certain party had her constantly verging on apoplexy. If you're on
her side, you'll really love her sharp tongue and sense of humor. If you're not,
you can skip to the food-porn parts. There are certainly plenty of
'em.Read More http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/blogs/editor/julia-child/#ixzz23gDmiB3X
1 comment:
As Always Julia is one of the favourite 'literary food writing' books on my shelves. I was a judge of the section of the the same name (LFW), for the IACP Book Awards a couple of years back and after reading more than thirty books, this was the standout. (It won the prize - there were other judges.)
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