Poet of the Appetites

Just finished the fantastic biography of M.F.K. Fisher, the author of Consider the Oyster, Gastronomical Me, etc. etc. This bio was a glorious journey along MFK's life, detailing her first trip to France with new husband Al Fisher, whom she eventually left to join Dillwyn Parrish, all the way to life in Sonoma in Last House, a cottage built for MFK by David Bouverie on his ranch. Along the way she has her first pregnancy during her heady days as a Hollywood writer (pregnancy disguised as an adoption since was unmarried)--Anna, and in a fit of boredom moves to NYC where she marries Donald Friede after 5 days. Her daughter Kennedy is born of this marriage, which spirals into debt, stress, and discovery of Donald's problems in the bedroom. MFK has various and several affairs over the ages, becomes good friends with Donald's next wife Eleanor, and becomes increasingly distant from her daughters. One of her last affairs was with Arnold Gingrich, the magazine editor who would write her daily letters on his commute from Ridgewood, NJ into NYC. Prior to that she had an extended affair with Marietta Voorhees in St. Helena.

In the literary world, her best work is written pre-1950s, yet she is rediscovered in the 80s. North Point press comes out with a reprint of all her works, and she meets literary talents like Evan Connell, Walter Percy. In the gastronomical world, she's pals with Julia Child, James Beard, Alice Waters.

Throughout the bio, Reardon manages to convey the same mouth-watering atmosphere that MFK creates. Definitely a complete look at MFK's life- worth reading for any MFK fans.