CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium

Julia Child: Her Life in Paris

Diamond 342

I will be presenting the research I found regrading the esteemed French-American chef, Julia Child. The focus subject of my research revolves around Julia Child;s life in Paris, France where she was inspired by the for and the people she met there to pursue her love of cooking. She meant and collaborated with many Parisian chefs and authors who helped her construct, experiment, and type out endless French recipes into Americanized versions. She recognized the near impossible feat of being an American cook and attempting to decipher and execute French recipes that were written in either French or in English by a French author. Her famous book Mastering the Art of French Cooking was an exceptional accomplishment that she and her two collaborators spent years tirelessly writing letters, and tested recipes, back and forth between each other after Julia moved away from Paris. The book became a sensation in the United States where it launched Julia's career in the television cooking shows. The idea and inspiration of her cookbook began within the heart of Paris and that is where I draw most of my research. Her work and experimentation were thorough and quite elaborate. Through her education at Le Cordon Bleu and through her unfaltering friendships she gained, she was ablate overcome many obstacles that awaited her in Paris. From not speaking French to her awkward appearances, as she stood over 6 feet tall and was considered out of place among other petite Frenchwomen, Julia faced new cultural standards. She soon won over nearly everyone she met with her charming and outgoing personality. She only lived in Paris for five short years but because of her experiences and literary work, Julia Child's name can still be found on a French-inspired cookbook in nearly every American kitchen.

https://digitalcommons.colby.edu/clas/2015/program/310