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Bemoaning the Lack of a French Spouse, 1964 Style.

By MPL Staff on May 5, 2014 12:46 PM

"Our Adam and Eve cover has been given a 1964 look", says the preface to the second edition of Oh, for a French Wife! Well, it certainly has, if you take a look at it:

Our apologies for adding the censor bar on the '1964 look' of Oh, for a French Wife. While we librarians often balk at the idea of censorship, in this instance we felt that while sharing the cover of this unique find in our collection is important, perhaps some things are best left seen by those intrepid researchers who come to look at the book in person.

Oh, for a French Wife! is a funny little book, written by a couple of Australian men back in 1952 with illustrations by a Romanian (who had moved to Australia), George Molnar. Filled with anecdotes and tips about hosting cocktail parties, dinner parties, and all manner of recipes, French cuisine and not. Even the recipes have a sense of humor, as seen in the instruction "Clean, also remove the eyes, which you don't want to see reproaching you from the middle of a festive table".

Ultimately, this book is an excellent little time capsule of food attitudes of the fifties, with illustrations that definitely evoke a sixties mindset. Unique in many ways, this little gem requires an appointment to see. To view this item, please call the Central Library Art, Music and Recreation Department at 414-286-3071 to arrange a visit. And while you're here, why not check out other cookbooks from bygone days available from the general collection?

Tim @ Central



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