Sublime

What impressed me most was how hard she worked, how devoted she was to the “rules” of la cuisine française while keeping herself open to creative exploration, and how determined she was to persevere in the face of setbacks. Julia never lost her sense of wonder and inquisitiveness. She was, and is, a great inspiration.

Without that moment of inspiration, Child would never have changed from independent-minded socialite and wife doing government work to chef, best-selling writer of a definitive guide to French cuisine, and global television celebrity, who worked tirelessly from her midlife transformation until her death.

Julia and Avis were cosmopolitan women who traveled widely, read extensively, and moved in diverse political, intellectual, and social circles. They had many acquaintances in common and frequently referred to public figures and friends by their first names or initials.