Italian Food
ITALIAN FOOD by ELIZABETH DAVID Drawings by Renato Guttuso. MACDONALD : LONDON.
FIRST EDITION. 1954. With a clean DJ. Signed on the fep by E.D.-- "To John, with love Elizabeth September 24' 1954" 1p Half Title. Frontispiece and Title Page. vii-viii Acknowledgments. ix Contents. [1] 11-313. 314-315 Bibliography - 'Some Italian Cookbooks'. [1] 317-335 Index. [1] 1fep. Also enclosed is a 2 page letter in E.D's handwriting, dated the same day - 24th. from her home 24 Halsey St SW3. To "Dear John" The pages are slightly browned at the edges. Also enclosed is a woodcut illustration of Melon, Salami and Proscuitto by Renato Guttoso. It is the same illustration that is on page 48, preceding the chapter on 'Antipasti e Insalate' There are many illustrations throughout the book. A very clean copy of the very scarce 1st edition. A very rare item especially with the topical letter and the Guttoso illustration.
- The signature in the book and on the letter are both dated on the same day and addressed to John; John Lehman her publisher. The letter states "Dear John Italian Food comes out today (just about three years since we signed the contract) I am glad to see it out at last, but also very sorrowful that it is not your production. I hope that you wont feel that I have taken you[r] name in vain in acknowledging my debt to you, and it occurs to me now that perhaps I should have asked you first, and if I have committed a breach of etiquette, please forgive me. I was anxious to put in record some word of tribute to the fact that without your encouragement I don't believe I could have carried it out, but whether or not the book has any success, I would like it not to be a discredit to you. With Love Elizabeth." During the writing of 'Italian Food' John Lehman's ailing publishing firm ground to a halt. In spite of being one of the most entrepreneurial and prestigious contemporary publishing names, Lehman was making a loss, and the printers Purnell told him they couldn't subsidize him any longer. Macdonald, the final publisher of 'Italian Food' was a financially successful firm under the Parnell aegis. Macdonald was offered Lehman's list of authors by Purnell, but agreed to take only two, one of whom was E.D. Elizabeth was furious, but could do nothing to extract herself from what she felt were Macdonald's clutches. Elizabeth acknowledges her debt to John Lehman in the 'Acknowledgments' at the beginning of 'Italian Food'- Hence the rather touching and pertinent letter.
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Modern category
ref number:
10997