Fearon, Ethelind & Jardine, Alex (Illus.) ~ The Reluctant Cook

First UK Printing : Herbert Jenkins, London : 1953

The First UK Printing published by Herbert Jenkins, London in 1953. 8vo., burgundy cloth with device in gilt to upper board (showing a woman in an apron removing a dish from the oven); lettered in gilt to spine with publisher's device in blind to lower board; decorative endpapers; together in the original unclipped pictorial wrapper (6/- net) showing an illustration by Alex Jardine; with frontis, title device and numerous other in-text illustrations by Jardine; The BOOK is in near Fine condition with slight pushing to foot of the spine and the gilt a touch dulled to the backstrip; aside from the odd spot clean and bright internally; the WRAPPER is in near Fine condition with slight toning, but evenly so, with some very minor rubbing to extremities. The wrapper is protected in a removable Brodart archival cover. A companion to Fearon's 'The Reluctant Gardener', first published the previous year. Ethelind Fearon (1898-1974) was a professional gardener who penned a series of gardening books between 1946 and 1952. After the success of 'The Reluctant Gardener' she deviated from her usual subject to write children's activity books, cookery titles and even a series on lifestyle ('The Reluctant Hostess', 'How to keep pace with your daughter', etc.). Sadie Stein of the Paris Review later wrote that "“Fearon’s output was tremendous, her energy seemingly inexhaustible. To read her - on gardens, on herbs, on parenting, on fancy cakes, on travel - is to be inspired, cheered, and exhausted by proxy." A charming work, featuring everything from 'Fishes done into Dishes' to 'Toothsome cakes'.

BINDING: Hardcover
CONDITION: Near Fine
JACKET: Near Fine