As Always, Julia: The Letters of Julia Child and Avis DeVoto: Food, Friendship, and the Making of a Masterpiece [B1747]

2010 HCDJ in nice clean condition. This revealing correspondence between the legendary French chef Julia Child and her dear friend is "a delicious read" (People). With her outsize personality, Julia Child is known by her first name alone. But how much do we really know of the inner Julia? Now more than 200 letters exchanged between Julia and Avis DeVoto, her friend and unofficial literary agent memorably introduced in the hit movie Julie & Julia, open the window on her deepest thoughts and feelings.

This riveting correspondence chronicles the blossoming of a unique and lifelong friendship between the two women and the turbulent process of Julia's creation of Mastering the Art of French Cooking, one of the most influential cookbooks ever written. Bawdy, funny, exuberant, and occasionally agonized, these letters show Julia, first as a new bride in Paris, then becoming increasingly worldly and adventuresome as she follows her diplomat husband in his postings to Nice, Germany, and Norway. With commentary by food historian Joan Reardon, and covering topics as diverse as the lack of good wine in the United States, McCarthyism, and sexual mores, these letters show America on the verge of political, social, and gastronomic transformation. "An absorbing portrait of an unexpected friendship."-Entertainment Weekly. "Two housewives, each in her 40s ... let rip about all kinds of things, from shallots, beurre blanc and the misery of dried herbs to politics, aging and sex ... Funny and forthright opinions about food and life."-The New York Times.

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "Seriously, just read it. It is a joyous, informative, intelligent, sophisticated conversation between two friends, who between them knew everybody, went everywhere, and supported each other as only the very best of friends can."; "A recipe for friendship. These are not letters as much as they are diaries-both women sharing details of their lives that bring them closer, all the while pulling together that massive tome, 'Mastering the Art of French Cooking'. It's cultural history-the relationships, families, politics, ambitions, joys and disappointments of two very bright women at a time that was not always welcoming to women's achievements. And the reader has the added pleasure of knowing how it all ends-publication of 'Mastering' and world-wide fame for Julia."; "Provocative insights to a true cultural revolution. An unexpected page turner! This remarkable treasure trove of very personal correspondence is so much more than Julia Child's heroic effort to create the book that would spark a cultural revolution. Child and Avis DeSoto were high priestesses of the now lost art of letter writing. Their lively correspondence is a striking commentary on the world as it was unfolding."; "This was a delightful read! Occasionally I got bogged down with the footnotes, but when I skimmed over them the reading experience improved. What a long hard road it was to get their cookbook published."; "Letters!!! This makes me want to write many many letters. What a privilege to watch a friendship unfold in first and second person. Relying on others is maybe one of the most special tenants of societal loving."