OP: La Bonne Table

Simon and Schuster, 1964. Hardcover. Very Good. First printing.

Ludwig Bemelmans (1898–1962) was a traveler, bon vivant, essayist, illustrator, creator of the irrepressible Madeline (one of the beloved twelve little girls who lived in an old house in Paris), and much, much more. Although his work achieved considerable publicity a few years ago when Anthony Bourdain announced (on camera, in our store) that this was one writer whom everyone just had to read, Bemelmans had already been a giant figure in the world of books. 

This collection contains essays written over the years, providing behind-the-scenes glimpses of the great food establishments and the larger-than-life people who owned, ran, or frequented them. Heavily illustrated with Bemelmans’ own witty drawings in second color printing and delivered in his trademark style—irreverent, mischievous, and utterly charming—the pieces form a travelog of the high life that is absolutely timeless. 

Published posthumously in 1964, it was assembled by the prominent editors Donald and Eleanor Fried. It includes pieces published variously in Holiday, Town and Country, Vogue, and The New Yorker. Some had appeared in others of Bemelmans’ books, but a good number appeared here in book form for the very first time. 

La Bonne Table was finally reissued in a handsome paperback after many years of unavailability, though we are very fortunate to have located an excellent first printing of the American edition, published simultaneously in the UK. 

The book has been read—as indeed one might hope—but handled respectfully, and the pages are clean, the binding strong, and the case, Very Good, shows a touch of soiling and some shelfwear. A previous owner’s bookplate to the front free endpaper (verso). The unclipped dust jacket is Very Good with minor fraying and closed tears. Overall, a good looking copy, now protected in a mylar sleeve. Most definitely a collector’s item.