A beautifully illustrated food lover's companion

'A thumbs-up . . . The entries range from a single paragraph to two pages and riff on anything food-based, from a home recipe (John Irving's meatball recipe) to plant taxonomy (a banana is not a fruit but is the largest herb) to Marie Antoinette's last meal (only a little bouillon) . . . In essence an epicurean's miscellany, Life is Meals is made for random dipping, but I recommend reading it in one fell swoop' San Francisco Chronicle

'Divine . . . it has now kept me up two nights reading until the wee hours and smacking my lips. It's a beauty, with charming illustrations . . . I appreciate the wit, the occasional recipes and the historical ambiance of this Salter effort toward fine living. What a great Christmas gift!' New York Post

'James Salter is one of the great bon vivants of our time; his novels and stories are full of the details of fine living. This book of days pays homage to great writers, great meals, great conversations and essential ingredients . . . The book is a safe haven, a bastion of civilization, protection from all kinds of heavy weather' Los Angeles Times Book Review

The breadth and scope of the entries, from personal anecdote to Classical history, from modern American manners to French peasant cookery, is admirable, as are the beautiful illustrations and whip-smart design