Provence, 1970: M.F.K. Fisher, Julia Child, James Beard, and the Reinvention of American Taste [Paperback]

Provence, 1970 is about a singular historic moment. In the winter of that year, more or less coincidentally, the iconic culinary figures James Beard, M.F.K. Fisher, Julia Child, Richard Olney, Simone Beck, and Judith Jones found themselves together in the South of France. They cooked and ate, talked and argued, about the future of food in America, the meaning of taste, and the limits of snobbery. Without quite realizing it, they were shaping today’s tastes and culture, the way we eat now. The conversations among this group were chronicled by M.F.K. Fisher in journals and letters—some of which were later discovered by Luke Barr, her great-nephew. In Provence, 1970, he captures this seminal season, set against a stunning backdrop in cinematic scope—complete with gossip, drama, and contemporary relevance.“The book’s real success is in transporting the reader back to a pivotal time, in bringing it to life again. It is a nostalgic, lovely read.” —Boston Globe
 
“A fascinating narrative.” —New York Times
 
“Required reading for anyone who fears a little life-upending change—even if they know change will bring happiness and relief.” —Oprah.com
 
“An enjoyable and perceptive group biography that reads as fluently as a novel.” —The New Yorker
 
“Barr’s careful presentation of his characters’ trajectories reveal[s] Provence as an important work of cultural history in the guise of a foodie treat.” —Slate
 
&llƒ