INSCRIBED TO GEORGE LASSALLE
An Omelette and a Glass of Wine
Robert Hale, 1984.
First edition. Black boards with silver lettering to the titles on the spine in a pictorial dustwrapper featuring Cedric Morris's 'The Eggs' on the front cover, and the author's photograph by Cecil Beaton on the rear. Green pictorial endpapers. Author's presentation copy, signed and inscribed on the half title, "Dear George, some memories here, / With my love. / October 1984". Endpapers and illustrations throughout by Marie Alix originally for '107 Recettes on Curiosites Culinaires' (1928) and author's portrait frontispiece by John Ward, R. A. A near fine copy, with slight pushing to the head and tail of the spine, in a very good dustwrapper, with corresponding small closed tears to the spine.
David's inscription in this copy speaks to both the past and continued closeness between herself and George Lassalle. David and Lassalle first met around 1940 in Ciaro where Lassalle was stationed as an intelligence officer. They had a brief affair, which was rekindled after the war. In 1946, David and Lassalle visited Ross-on-Wye together, where Lassalle encouraged David to commit to writing her distate for British cooking and the food they had been served under post-war rationing. Spurred by her lover's suggestion, her abhorrance at the tastes of the nation, and her reminiscences of the food she'd eaten in France, Greece, and Egypt, her musings became the foundation of her first published book, 'A Book of Mediterranean Food' (1950). This copy's charming association hints to Lasalle's continued closeness to and influence on David and her work.
Given to George Lasalle by the author.
Stock ID: 47106
£1,500.00
