With a Jug of Wine by Morrison Wood

With a Jug of Wine by Morrison Wood is a wonderfully characteristic mid-century American cookbook, combining practical recipes with the personality, anecdotes and enthusiasm of a well-known food columnist. First published in 1949 and sufficiently popular to go through numerous subsequent printings, this copy is the fourteenth printing, issued in September 1958 by Farrar, Straus and Cudahy of New York.

Wood approaches cooking as something to be enjoyed rather than endured, presenting an extensive collection of recipes designed to bring variety and interest to the home table. With a Jug of Wine contains more than 350 recipes covering a broad range of dishes and culinary traditions, with particular attention given to the use and enjoyment of wine in cooking. Classic European-influenced dishes sit alongside American favourites and more adventurous international recipes, making the book an appealing snapshot of sophisticated post-war home cooking.

The charming illustrated dust jacket, with its grapes, wine jug, cutlery and period characters, gives With a Jug of Wine considerable decorative appeal and makes it particularly attractive to collectors of vintage cookbooks and culinary ephemera. A fascinating addition to a collection devoted to food history, wine, gastronomy or twentieth-century American cookery.

Conition – Fair

The book itself remains solid, with general age-related wear, bumped and rubbed corners and some staining/foxing to the page edges. There is noticeable discoloration and staining to the endpapers. The dust jacket is poor, with substantial edge wear, tears, losses and creasing, particularly around the spine ends and corners. It has been extensively repaired/reinforced with clear adhesive tape, including along the edges and reverse. Despite the damage, the jacket remains substantially complete and retains its colourful original artwork.