OF CABBAGES AND KINGS

This is the sort of cookbook that completely shatters your morale -- if you read it just as you determine to take off those extra pounds. An adventure story in royal cookery, with key dishes and methods in the European tradition, and recipes for gourmets. There is no attempt to cover the whole range, but all in all, he manages to get in a wide range of foods, fish meat, game, soups, salads, herbs, eggs, soufflÉs, casserole dishes, desserts, wines and drinking -- and midnight feasts. There is plenty of high life gossip in this snob's cookbook.