Elizabeth David

Born Elizabeth Gwynne, she was of mixed English and Irish ancestry, and came from a rather grand background, growing up in the 17th-century Sussex manor house, Wootton Manor. Her parents were Rupert Gwynne, Conservative MP for Eastbourne, and the Hon. Stella Ridley, who came from a distinguished Northumberland family. They had three other daughters.

She studied Literature and History at the Sorbonne, living with a French family for two years, which led to her love of France and of food. At the age of 19, she was given her first cookery book, The Gentle Art of Cookery by Hilda Leyel, who wrote of her love with the food of the East. “If I had been given a standard Mrs Beeton instead of Mrs Leyel’s wonderful recipes,” she said, “I would probably never have learned to cook.”

Books in order of publication:

A Book of Mediterranean Food – 1950

French Country Cooking – 1951

Italian Food – 1954

Summer Cooking – 1955

French Provincial Cooking – 1960

English Bread and Yeast Cookery – 1977

An Omelette and a Glass of Wine – 1997

Is There a Nutmeg in the House?: Essays on Practical Cooking with More Than 150 Recipes – 2000

Elizabeth David’s Christmas – 2003

At Elizabeth David’s Table: Her Very Best Everyday Recipes -2010