Julia Child: En France

I’ve been fortunate enough to have read some good books over the past few months—even returned to Cheever for a second pass—and one of my favorites is My Life in France by Julia Child.

The book describes the first years that she and Paul Child lived in Paris for his foreign service work and then their luck to be able to build a small home on property lent to them by her coauthor of the French cookbook that made her career.

The book also details the work that went into creating Mastering the Art of French Cooking (as well as the anguish over the title, which was repeatedly revised).

It’s a wonderful read and a story that I’m afraid could never be repeated. The world has changed and France, especially Paris, is no longer as financial accessible—especially the incredible and lavish meals she and Paul ate, often for less than $5 for three courses and wine—as it was in the post war years. I certainly don’t miss the financial troubles—and political troubles—the French went through after the war, but it was a unique time and America was in many (but not all) ways a much better and more decent place than it is now.

If you have the chance, this is a fun read that will transport you from Trump (asshole failure), pandemic, and economic crisis into a lovely world created by Paul and Julia Child.