Author: Tschumi, Gabriel
Title: Royal Chef: Recollections of Life in Royal Households from Queen Victoria to Queen Mary
Description: William Kimber, 1954. Hardcover. In 1898, as a Swiss youth who spoke no English, the author started his apprenticeship in the kitchens of Buckingham Palace, Windsor and Balmoral. He re­calls the elaborate meals of that era-the 12 or 13 course dinners for which sometimes the soup alone would need 3 days to prepare­ and the life amongst the servants of Queen Victoria and her relations with them. He describes the conditions of preparing meals in the Royal Yachts of those days, and one of his most interesting stories is of the preparation of food for the Corona­tion of Edward VII and what happened to it when the Corona­tion had to be postponed at the last minute. His recollections then take him through the reign of George V, of which he has a fund of personal anecdotes both of the King and of Queen Mary. In the closing years of his career he was Royal Chef to Queen Mary at Marlborough House, and paints an intimate picture of life in her household. Recalling service with the Royal Family for forty years has enabled Gabriel Tschumi to write not only a unique account of `behind the scenes' on great occasions, but an intimate and fascinating chronicle of the home lives of the Sovereigns. 230p illustrated. The book is clean, unmarked and in very good tight condition. The unpriceclipped d/w is also clean but there is some creasing at the top edge and a 10mm chip at the bottom of the spine.D/w now protected. Booksellers label on front pastedown - Lawrence's Hinckley. Still a very collectable or presentable copy of this the hardback first edition of this uncommon book. See scans. . Very Good

Keywords: