OP: The Grapes of Ralph, Still Life with Bottle, and Untrodden Grapes (3 vols)
Harcourt Brace & Company, New York, 1992; Ebury Press, London, 1994; Harcourt, Inc., Orlando, 2005. Very Good. First printings.
British illustrator Ralph Steadman (1936– ) may be most recognizable for his ongoing partnership with journalist Hunter S. Thompson, creating the frenetic artwork for Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. But the prolific artist has also collaborated with other authors—including with Anthony Bourdain for the Appetites cover—musicians, and brands. His work with British wine merchants Oddbins led to Steadman’s first illustrated travelog and wine guide, The Grapes of Ralph (1992).
The Grapes of Ralph is a serious resource for wine information, but unsurprisingly—if you’re familiar with Steadman’s work and cohort, anyway—it is also entirely unpretentious and extremely colorful in its language, storytelling, and illustration.
Steadman produced a follow up, Untrodden Grapes (2005), continuing his travels through the world’s vineyards and reporting on his experiences. His perspective as an outside observer leads to welcome details other wine connoisseurs might neglect like the existence of a dog in every winery, “...not necessarily a nice dog, but always an integral part of the daily life and running of a winery.” A “selection of grand cru mutts” follows.
Between the two wine books, Steadman takes a detour, a parallel journey along Scotland’s whisky trail for Still Life with Bottle (1994). This equally entertaining and engaging book includes a prehistory, er, prewhiskery [his pun, not ours!], which connects humanity’s endless pursuit of spiritual knowledge with the alchemy of distillation.
We’re pleased to offer all three of these spirited, irreverent guides together. A great addition to any beverage enthusiast’s collection and quite unlike any others.
All three are first printings (the wine books being the US firsts and the whisky book being the UK true first). The Grapes of Ralph jacket is price clipped and bears the Glenfiddich Food & Drink Books of the Year sticker to the front. The half title page carries a gift inscription to a previous owner. Otherwise, the books are in Very Good condition with modest shelfwear.
