Priceless Treasure Discovered

OMG!!!!  Just by reading Julia Child's book "My Life In France" yesterday, led me to find a truly unique and priceless treasure of my own.  She mentions a book that a 'true French native' lady gave to her to study by, which Julia refers to as her 'cooking bible'.  As soon as I saw the title of the book and the description of the book, I literally gasped out loud and thought... 'I think I have that book'.  So I dashed to my cookbook library and yep......there it was!  A priceless treasure that I just thought was a really cool and really old cookbook and had actually displayed it on my recipe rack just for decoration.  I am thrilled beyond words!!  It's like going to a yard sale and buying a painting you really like and finding out it is really a Da Vinci!! However... it isn't really a 'priceless artifact' to the average person, just to me because of my fascination with Julia.

The book I'm reading, is about her life in France during 1949-1954, and is so interesting because she is seeing and experiencing France still war torn and fraggled.  Julia and her husband Paul spent many weekends just jaunting around the back streets and discovering all of Paris's off the beaten paths and secrets, and of course their wanderings took them to places like Lyon and Marseille as well.  Joe and I have been to many of the places she talks about in the book, but the way she describes France while living in it during it's time of recovery after the war is simply fascinating!!  

During the time Paul and Julia lived in France, they wrote many letters to Paul's twin brother (Charlie), who lived in the United States.  They described in great detail about all of the places they had visited, the foods and wines they were experiencing and what daily life was like in France.  Charlie saved every single letter and the idea of the book came from a family member when they found all those old letters.   Paul's Great-nephew (Alex Prud'homme) co-wrote this book with Julia, by having many conversations with her, and from the words in their letters to Charlie.  

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in France and/or Julia Child.  It's a mini-history book, travel guide, and love story, all rolled into one and written in a delightful 'diary-ish' style.  It's the most intimate and personal view of her life that Julia Child ever gave to the public.  And.... it's just such a witty and charming read even if you aren't interested in France or Julia Child.  

Oh and..... THANKS BUNCHES to my Mom and Aunt Edie who rescued this book from the yard sale for me!  What a treasure you gave me!  HUGS, HUGS, HUGS!!!!