(*NEW ARRIVAL*) (Italian) Artusi, Pellegrino. Italianissimo: Italian Cooking at its Best

Translated by Elisabeth Abbott. Illus. with photographs. Jacket. NY: Liveright, [1975].

A lovely (and solidly translated) edition of Artusi's classic writing about Italian cuisine. Although Artusi was himself of the upper classes and it was doubtful he had ever touched a kitchen utensil or lit a fire under a pot, he wrote the book not for professional chefs, as was the nineteenth-century custom, but for middle-class family cooks: housewives and their domestic helpers. His tone is that of a friendly advisor – humorous and nonchalant. He indulges in witty anecdotes about many of the recipes, describing his experiences and the historical relevance of particular dishes.

Very good and bright - an uncommon edition.