As Always, Julia

Julia Child fans and gourmands everywhere have another gift they can add to their wish list. As Always, Julia: The Letters of Julia Child & Avis DeVoto is an intimate look at Julia Child's lifelong friendship with Avis DeVoto. A fervent and staunch supporter of the classic masterpiece, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, DeVoto worked tirelessly to get the book pitched, edited and eventually published. Without her perseverance, this influential cookbook might never have been published.

Food historian Joan Reardon painstakingly edited an overwhelming collection of correspondence between these two spirited women. Over 200 letters were written in a course of a decade. As a wife of a diplomat living in Europe, we can literally see Julia's daunting task of putting together a large volume with two other opinionated chefs (Simca Beck and Louisette Berthole).

Avis DeVoto & Julia Child (Paul Child/Schlesinger Library).

What's even more fascinating is the birds-eye view of the personal lives of Julia and Avis. In the midst of all their notes and concerns on the book's recipe development, the readers also get to know their views on American culture, politics, family life, love, and yes, even sex. Their friendship took place during the McCarthy era and well before the Women's Lib movement.

We all know that a book isn't published overnight, but this amazing collection of letters give a colorful portrait of what two legendary personalities went through to accomplish this amazing feat. As a result, their culinary legacy still goes on strong today.

Available at Amazon.com and other book retailers.

Image credits: Paul Child used with permission from the Schlesinger Library.

For editorial consideration, a review book copy was provided for this post.

Comments

[Carolyn Jung]

What a treat to actually get to "hear'' Julia's words in her own voice like that. Can't wait to check out the book.

[Tami]

It's a fabulous book. I've always read about her friend Avis but to read their letters is like watching the cookbook come to life all over again.

[Sonja]

Sounds like a lovely read. How interesting to get an inside look at their relationship and what went into the cookbook.