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Tuesday, November 12, 2024

The Secret War of Julia Child by Diana R. Chambers

 



I never knew this aspect of Julia Childs life. I only knew her for her gastronomy skills and that was it. This
was an absolute surprise and I loved her description of Sri Lanka where she had her initial foray into her training as a spy, because I myself am Sri Lankan. She spoke of an era before my time of a colonial past, rich and evocative and many of the places she speaks of are very much part of Sri Lanka today.

A tall according to her ungainly woman, from Pasadena’s elite Julia started her career as a clerk and then graduated to a secret Fire Registry before her transfer to India, Sri Lanka, and then on to a fiery baptism to China. Her efforts and very successful work wherever she was employed was muted, though the contributions she made were vast and impact immeasurable. She who had never thought she’d find love, did so in China with Paul Child and this formed an integral and beautiful part of the story.

Descriptive not just of terrain, but people and food of course, the story was a page turner and so detailed in its description of day to day life during the end of WWII especially the dangerous expansion of Japan towards the end of the war.

Sent by Sourcebooks Landmark for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

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