Written to inspire courage in those daunted by wartimes shortages, How to Cook a Wolf continues to rally cooks during times of plenty, reminding them that providing sustenance requires more than putting food on the table. M. F. K. Fisher knew that the last thing hungry people needed were hints on cutting back and making do. Instead, she gives her readers license to dream, to experiment, to construct adventurous and delicious meals as a bulwark against a dreary, meager present. Her fine prose provides reason in itself to draw our chairs close to the hearth; we can still enjoy her company and her exhortations to celebrate life by eating well.
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"I do not know of any one in the United States who writes better prose."--W.H. Auden
"Poet of the appetites."--John Updike
"She writes about fleeting tastes and feasts vividly, excitingly, sensuously, exquisitely. There is almost a wicked thrill in following her uninhibited track through the glories of the good life."--James Beard
"She writes about food as others do about love, but rather better."--Clifton Fadiman
"M.F.K. Fisher ... brings onstage a peach or a brace of quail and shows us history, cities, fantasies, memories, emotions."--Patricia Storace, The New York Review of Books
"M.F.K. Fisher is our greatest food writer because she puts food in the mount, the mind and the imagination all at the same time. Beyond the gastronomical bravura, she is a passionate woman; food is her metaphor."--Shana Alexander
"Poet of the appetites."--John Updike
"She writes about fleeting tastes and feasts vividly, excitingly, sensuously, exquisitely. There is almost a wicked thrill in following her uninhibited track through the glories of the good life."--James Beard
"She writes about food as others do about love, but rather better."--Clifton Fadiman
"M.F.K. Fisher ... brings onstage a peach or a brace of quail and shows us history, cities, fantasies, memories, emotions."--Patricia Storace, The New York Review of Books
"M.F.K. Fisher is our greatest food writer because she puts food in the mount, the mind and the imagination all at the same time. Beyond the gastronomical bravura, she is a passionate woman; food is her metaphor."--Shana Alexander
About the Author
M. F. K. Fisher (1908-1992) is the author of numerous books of essays and reminiscences, many of which have become American classics.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
74 of 75 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
M.F.K. Fisher was a superb writer. And she lived in "interesting times" in Europe and California. How to Cook a Wolf pitted her inate love of food and cuisine against some severe times when money might be short or food was rationed. Her strange sense of humor and practical outlook are interesting; for example, she gives a recipe for a sludge to keep body (if not soul) alive. The instructions begin with borrowing 50 cents to buy the ingredients; hamburger, wilted vegetables. The resulting mush can be used as a nutritious dog food, or a staple to survive on. She even claims it can be quite acceptable fried as scrapple, but then you'd have to have some cooking fat (and even that could be hard to come by.)
In these times of plenty, it's hard to relate to this book except to read Fisher's ideas and fantastic prose; the section on "Sue" (really California artist and etcher Nel Coover) who survived and entertained her guests with wild ice plants, seaweed and stolen eggs and potatoes is captivating.
If you have never read any M.F.K. Fisher, start with "The Measure of My Powers", but if you have read her, and if you have developed a taste for her marvelous writing, this is one of her famous works that is unique and interesting.
27 of 27 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Not only could she write with style, wit and warmth, she could
also "serve it forth" -- the recipes really work! Especially
the prune roast (it sounds dopey, but it sure is great!!).
I'm hooked.
also "serve it forth" -- the recipes really work! Especially
the prune roast (it sounds dopey, but it sure is great!!).
I'm hooked.
32 of 34 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I can't vouch for her recipes but I can speak for her prose. I picked up this book for pure entertainment and found it. Fisher's conversation is elegant, entertaining, and educational, and her advice is at times amusing, at times timeless.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating history of making do in hard times
Fisher writes a very interesting account of hard times and making do with the limited ingredients available..... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Jozette B Campbell
4.0 out of 5 stars
Book Club Read
We read this for my book club, I looked at the cover several times to make sure M.F.K. Fisher was the author and not my mother. Read more
Published 2 months ago by M. Stout
5.0 out of 5 stars
An essayist of the first power, take book from kitchen to bedside
Those of us born in the US have not know the privations of WWII England - and we can include any war-torn nation.
M.F.K. Read more
M.F.K. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Diane
5.0 out of 5 stars
Combine History and Cuisine
A great biographical cookbook! Provides insight into the impact of WWII on folks culinary life. Easy to follow recipes are a real plus. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Charles L. Mitsakos
5.0 out of 5 stars
Inspirational cooking book
I can not say enough good about this book. It was written during rationing in WWII and written to inspire Americans to get excited about cooking. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Mark5280
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tremendous Read
This book is relevant :
Much of what she says about food and eating that contradicted the common knowledge of the time have been proven in the interim. Read more
Much of what she says about food and eating that contradicted the common knowledge of the time have been proven in the interim. Read more
Published 20 months ago by A. Moore
5.0 out of 5 stars
What a read!
Ms. Fisher was writing in Europe during WW2; due to wartime rationing and shortages, the wolf seemed literally to hover near the door. Fine, she says, a wolf! Let's eat him! Read more
Published on May 25, 2007 by M. S. Casill
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is it! The First Edition of Wolf!
The famous and funny book by MFK Fisher. I love the title alone. (meant to refer to the wolf at the door! Read more
Published on September 22, 2006 by a-to-b books
3.0 out of 5 stars
MFK Fisher is somewhat over-rated as a food writer
MFK Fisher is somewhat over-rated as a food writer. This book has interest because it was written when food rationing was in force due to WWII. Read more
Published on January 27, 1998 by "ramonam"
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