My Life in France is an autobiography by Julia Child, published in 2006. It was compiled by Julia Child and Alex Prud'homme, her husband's grandnephew, during the last eight months of her life, and completed by Prud'homme following her death in August 2004.
In her own words, it is a book about the things Julia loved most in her life: her husband, France (her "spiritual homeland"), and the "many pleasures of cooking and eating". It is a collection of linked autobiographical stories, mostly focused on the years between 1948 and 1954, recounting in detail the culinary experiences Julia and her husband, Paul Child, enjoyed while living in Paris, Marseille, and Provence.My Life in France, p. 3
The text is accompanied by black-and-white photographs taken by Paul Child, and research for the book was partially done using family letters, datebooks, photographs, sketches, poems and cards.My Life in France, p. 6-7
My Life in France provides a detailed chronology of the process through which Julia Child's name, face, and voice became well known to most Americans.
The book also contains an index cataloging every person, place, ingredient, recipe, topic, and event discussed.My Life in France, p. 305-317
Summary
Part 1
La Belle France Julia's first descriptions and impressions of Paris, France. Julia reminisces about the Childs' search for an apartment in Paris,My Life in France, p. 28-34 Paul's job with the USIA,My Life in France, p. 21-22 and their exploration of Paris' restaurants.My Life in France, p. 24-25 Julia's sister Dorothy's visits.My Life in France, p. 48
Julia excitedly describes the sole meunière lunch she savored in Rouen the day of their arrival, and which sparked her obsession with French cuisine, her "epiphany".My Life in France, p. 16-19
Le Cordon Bleu Julia signs up for cooking classes at the École du Cordon Bleu, and has many disagreements with the school's owner, Madame Brassart,My Life in France, p. 57-58 but her cooking improves. Paul says that "All sorts of délices are spouting out of [Julia's] finger ends like sparks out of a pinwheel".My Life in France, p. 71
She makes:My Life in France, p. 75
terrine de lapin de garenne quiche Lorraine galantine de volaille gnocchi à la Florentine vol-au-vent financière choucroute garnie à l'Alsacienne crème Chantilly charlotte de pommes soufflé Grand Marnier risotto aux fruits de mer coquilles Saint-Jacques merlan en lorgnette rouget au safran poulet sauce Marengo canard à l'orange turbot farci braisé au champagne
The Childs learn that television is sweeping the States,My Life in France, p. 72 head to England for Christmas,My Life in France, p. 76, p. 100 and Julia recounts her and Paul's family histories, and courtships, hardships and more.My Life in France, p. 76-81 Julia attempts (and fails) the Cordon Bleu final exam.My Life in France, p. 100-103
Three Hearty Eaters Julia is invited into the exclusive women's eating club The Gourmettes,My Life in France, p. 104 and takes a trip back home to the United States.My Life in France, p. 109-111 Julia retakes the exam at the Cordon Bleu, and passes.My Life in France, p. 110
Julia meets two fellow Gourmettes, Simone (Simca) Beck Fischbacher and Louisette Bertholle. They form L'École des Trois Gourmandes, a cooking school focusing on French food and classical techniques.My Life in France, p. 114-117
The three Gourmandes meet celebrated gastronome Curnonsky,My Life in France, p. 126-128 and Simca and Louisette ask Julia to help them finish a cookbook of French recipes for an American audience. This cookbook eventually becomes Mastering the Art of French Cooking.My Life in France, p. 130-139
Paul is promoted to Public Affairs Officer in Marseilles, and the Childs leave Paris.My Life in France, p. 143-150
Bouillabaisse à la Marseillaise Julia and Paul adjust to the "hot noise" of Marseille.My Life in France, p. 151-156 Julia continues to research recipes for the cookbook, finds American equivalents for French ingredients, and works on finding a new publisher for the project.My Life in France, p. 156-157, p. 172-174, p. 177 Paul and Julia attend the Cannes Film Festival,My Life in France, p. 169-170 and come up with the idea of illustrating the making of recipes.My Life in France, p. 184-185
Julia and Paul live in Marseille for a year before Paul is transferred to Germany as Exhibits Officer.My Life in France, p. 187
Part 2
French Recipes for American Cooks Julia works long-distance from Germany on the cookbook, researching chicken, geese and duck, and disagrees with Simca over the cookbook's components. Louisette's contributions to the project wane, and she is made a "consultant".My Life in France, p. 193-197
Paul is called home to Washington D.C., and is interrogated during one of Senator Joe McCarthy's investigations for Communists. He is eventually exonerated, and is transferred back to D.C. and promoted.My Life in France, p. 195-205
Julia begins teaching cooking classes to Washington women, and revises and retypes the cookbook manuscript.My Life in France, p. 206-207
Houghton Mifflin finds their manuscript too lengthy, and they agree to prune the book, making the recipes simpler, shorter, and with an emphasis on how to prepare ahead and reheat. However, even their edits prove to be too much for Houghton Mifflin, and they are encouraged to try their manuscript with a different publisher.My Life in France, p. 207-217
Paul is transferred to Norway as the U.S. Cultural Attaché.My Life in France, p. 211
Mastering the Art The manuscript, tentatively titled French Recipes for American Cooks, is shown to Judith Jones, an editor at Alfred A. Knopf, and Knopf makes an offer to publish the cookbook. Some changes in serving sizes, recipe additions, and a new title, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, are made.My Life in France, p. 220-226
Paul and Julia leave government service and return to the U.S. as civilians, to a home they purchased in Cambridge, Massachusetts.My Life in France, p. 227
Julia and Simca proofread, edit, and argue over the soon-to-be-published manuscript. Once published, the cookbook catches on, and Julia and Simca head on a promotional tour, even doing a segment on the Today show.My Life in France, p. 227-231
Julia does a segment on the show I've Been Reading on WGBH, which is met with favorable reviews. This segment leads to The French Chef, Julia's cooking show on WGBH, making her a household name.My Life in France, p. 236-243
Julia and Paul take a trip to France and visit Simca in Provence. They rent a plot of land from Simca and her husband, and build La Pitchoune/La Peetch, or The Little Thing, a getaway cabin.My Life in France, p. 243-248
Son of Mastering Julia and Simca work on Volume II of Mastering the Art of French Cooking,My Life in France, p. 249-253, p. 270-272 and Julia appears on the cover of Time Magazine in 1966.My Life in France, p. 250 Julia finds working at La Pitchoune extremely productive,My Life in France, p. 250 and she explores the mystery of baking French bread in the home kitchen.My Life in France, p. 234-256 Julia finds working with Simca increasingly frustrating,My Life in France, p. 252-253, p. 268-270 and actually looks forward to returning to the U.S.My Life in France, p. 270
The French Chef in France Julia and the crew of The French Chef set out to do an ambitious series on how French food is actually made and sold in France, believing that the footage "...would prove to be an important historical document..".My Life in France, p. 273 that would archive many of the artisanal skills that were slowly disappearing. Segments were shot in the marketplace, restaurants, and while visiting the local butcher.My Life in France, p. 273-280
From Julia Child's Kitchen Paul and Julia retire to La Pitchoune in 1971.My Life in France, p. 285 After Simca badly maligns the outcome of Volume II, Julia ends their collaboration, though Simca then goes on to write Simca's Cuisine.My Life in France, p. 287-289 Julia began working on From Julia Child's Kitchen.My Life in France, p. 195-297
Epilogue Paul and Julia move back to Cambridge in 1974 after Paul suffers a heart attack. Julia decides to close up La Peetch in 1992, after Paul suffers a series of strokes, and is no longer able to share the home with her.My Life in France, p. 295-302
References
Sources
Child, Julia, and Alex Prud'homme. My Life in France. 1st ed. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2006. Print.
Further reading New York Times book review of My Life in France.
External links Author Alex Prud'homme's website