MADAME PRUNIER'S FISH COOKERY BOOK; Selected, Translated and Edited, with an Introduction and Notes, from Les Poissons, Coquillages, Crusta es et leur Preparation Culinaire par Michel Bouzy
London: NICHOLSON & WATSON, 1938. First British Edition. Hardcover. 290 pages. 20.5 x 15 cm. Presentation bookplate: "Violet The Lady Melchett D.B.E., The Hon. Mrs. Malcolm Bowes-Lyon, and Colonel The Hon. Angus McDonnell C.B., C.M.G. have graciously consented to be sponsors of this book which was published on Thursday, July 21st, 1938."
The book itself is Ambrose Heath's translation and adaption of Michel Bouzy's Les Poissons, Coquillages, Crustacés, et leur préparation culinaire - with an original preface by August Escoffier, fitted out with a "special forward" by Madame S. B. Prunier and decorations by the Breton painter Mathurin Méheut. Madame Prunier aka "the First Lady of Fish" opened The Prunier St James's restaurant in London in 1935 and ran it for forty-one years. Simone Prunier (1904-1976) inherited a Parish fish-restaurant dynasty founded by her grandfather Alfred in 1872 and expanded by her father Émile, whose death in 1925 left her, at twenty-two, running the family business assisted by her husband Jean Barnagaud. Closing the Paris restaurant in 1934 she opened the London establishment to a ravenous english crowd. Interior lightly foxed. Previous owner's notes in pencil on front free end paper. Boards rubbed at edges. Dust wrapper toned with 2 cm. loss at tail of spine. Covered in protective mylar. Blue illustrated cloth covered boards. Very good, in good dust wrapper. Item #5132
Price: $100.00