Soyer.   Aleis Benoit     - Signed by Soyer.
The Modern Housewife
OR MENAGERE. COMPRISING NEARLY ONE THOUSAND RECEIPTS FOR THE ECONOMIC AND JUDICIOUS PREPARATION OF EVERY MEAL OF THE DAY, AND THOSE FOR THE NURESERY AND SICK ROOM; WITH MINUTE DIRECTIONS FOR FAMILY MANAGEMENT IN ALL ITS BRANCHES. Illustrated with Engravings, INCLUDING THE MODERN HOUSEWIFE’S UNIQIUE KITCHEN, AND MAGIC STOVE. BY ALEXIS SOYER, AUTHOR OF “THE GASTRONOMIC REGNERATOR,” (REFORM CLUB.) EIGHTEENTH THOUSAND. LONDON; SIMPKIN, MARSHALL., & CO., STATIONERS’ HALL COURT; OLLIVIER, PALL MALL. 1850.
8vo. 1 modern fep. 2nd yellow coloured fep with Soyer’s signature. [1] Frontispiece, with a very light water-stain not affecting anything. Title page. The 3 pages have a small burn on the outer edge. ½” long 1/8” does deep not affect the text. Verso has a small introduction. A one page illustration of “The fair daughter of Albion”. [1] (1)iv-vi to Eloise. (1)vii Contents. (1)x-FBI Introduction. (1)2-427. [1] (1)430-445 Index. [1] )1_448-456 Press opinions. 2p Advertisements. 1 fep. A handsome full modern black calf binding with blind tooling on the boards. The spine with raised bands, blind tooling on bands and compartments. Apart from the very small burn mark on the first few pages this is a very clean desirable copy with the dedication signed in Soyer's shaky hand stating, "Presented by the author to his friend J.H. Nightingale - A. Soyer".
- I have researched the family background of his famous nurse and compatriot from the hospitals at Scutari - Florence Nightingale. I could not find anyone with the same name nor initials Soyer dedicated this book to - Intriguing!. This copy was published approx. one year after the first edition of 1849. Although Soyer was an extreme extrovert with an unrivalled penchant for self-publicity, signed copies of his numerous published cookery books seem to be quite scarce. The complexity of Soyer’s character and personality are well recorded. His professional undertakings were staggering and surprisingly varied, from the re-design of the Reform Kitchens to his much heralded efforts in Ireland during the famine, the crucial re-organisation of the hospital kitchens during the Crimean war that un-questionably saved many lives, and his many inventions - one still current in the 1990’s. His famously flamboyant but financially disastrous restaurant at the Great Exhibition and his marriage to Emma Jones the Victorian artist elevated his already significant stature. Designing a mobile cooking carriage for the army at the time of his death at 48 years old, one is amazed so much was packed into such a relatively short space of time. Truly, a memorable character and a remarkable life that is still being written about today.

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Antiquarian category
ref number: 11167