Elizabeth David

Elizabeth David (born Elizabeth Gwynne, 26 December 1913 – 22 May 1992) was a British cookbook writer who, in the mid-20th century, strongly influenced the revitalisation of the art of home cooking with articles and books about European cuisines and traditional British dishes.

Early life

Born to an upper-class family in Ridgmont, Bedfordshire, David rebelled against social norms of the day. She studied art in Paris, became an actress, and ran off with a married man with whom she sailed in a small boat to Italy, where their boat was confiscated. They were nearly trapped by the German invasion of Greece, but escaped to Egypt, where they parted. She then worked for the British government, running a library in Cairo. While there, she married Tony David, a fellow worker.

Career

After the war, David returned to England, where she was shocked by the contrast between the bad food served in Britain and the simple, excellent food she had learned about and enjoyed in France, Italy, Greece and Egypt. She wrote magazine articles about this subject in an attempt to educate the British about the food of other countries.

Her first book, Mediterranean Food, was published in 1950, and was an immediate success. Within a few years, she had become a major influence on the nation's cooking. She introduced a generation of British people to Mediterranean food hitherto barely known in Britain, such as pasta, garlic, olive oil and wine. Her books and articles were illustrated by leading artists and photographers of the day.

David's reputation rests on her articles and her books, which have been continually in print since they were first published, and on her insistence on the use of good-quality, fresh ingredients, cooked in the simplest way.

Legacy

David's influence on British cooking extended well beyond her death in 1992. In 2013, to mark the centenary of her birth, the Elizabeth David Day was held at the British Library, and several of her books were reissued. She is recognised today as the doyenne of English culinary writing.

See also

• List of food writers
• British cuisine

External links

• Official website