"This isn"t just any cookery book. It is "Mastering the Art of French Cooking", first published in 1961, and it"s a book that is a statement, not of culinary intent, but of aspiration, a commitment to a certain sort of good life, a certain sort of world-view; a votive object implying taste and appetite and a little je ne sais quoi. Julia Child was like Amelia Earhart, or Eleanor Roosevelt: she was a hero who"d gone out there and made a difference. Her books are a triumph, and also a trophy." (AA Gill, "The Times"). This is the classic guide to French cooking, with over 1,000 clear, authentic and delicious recipes for everything from Boeuf Bourguignon to the perfect omelette. Bon appetit!