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One of these days, when someone invents a practical time machine, I am going to spend a few days at Victorian and Edwardian parties. I don’t think I’d like to live there permanently, but it would be fun to dress up in silk and jewels and go to an elegant formal dinner back when dining was an art. Wendell and Wes Schollander’s book Forgotten Elegance brings back those days, and even gives you directions on giving your own formal dinner.
Forgotten Elegance is full of wonderful facts. It tells how dining evolved from the middle ages till World War I put an end to most formality in entertaining. Did you know that during the Renaissance there were professional carvers who were part of the entertainment? They would start with a joint of meat, a knife fork and carve so that at the end, the slices would form an intricate pattern. Did you know that it was customary to parade the fish dish around the room before serving it so that the diners could admire its size? Do you know the difference between tea, and High tea? After you finish this book, you will.
There is information about china, crystal and silver and how the decorations of the table changed as the style of serving changed from a la Francaise to a la Russe. The chapter on silver is especially interesting. Did you know that the White House had a large collection of antique silver dating back to Dolly Madison? Well, they did, but Frances Cleveland decided she did not like it and had it all melted down and re-cast. For we moderns who are faced with only a knife, fork and spoon at most meals, the array of forks alone could be daunting. The authors show a picture of these forks in the Chantilly silver pattern: dinner forks, place forks, dessert forks, pie forks, cake forks, corn forks, salad forks, bird forks, fruit forks, breakfast forks. dessert forks, pickle forks, pastry forks, ice cream forks, cheese forks, oyster forks, caviar forks, terrapin forks, sherbert forks, ramekin forks, lemon forks, and orange forks.
There are chapters on correct dress, breakfast, luncheons, how to pay a formal call, and much, much more. The illustrations are fascinating, and there is even a glossary of French terms to help in deceiphering a menu. Unlike some books of social history that I have read, this one is not dense with post-modern jargon. It is both interesting and accessible, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Forgotten Elegance will appeal to anyone interested in social history, and to foodies too. After you finish it, you will have the urge to put on a bustle and tiara, get your partner into white tie and tails, and settle back to a long, leisurely meal with several appropriate wines – in the correct glasses of course. Cotelettes de veau aux champignons anyone?
Grade: A
Book Type: Non Fiction
Sensuality: N/A
Review Date: 19/02/02
Publication Date: 2001
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Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.