Encyclopedia of the Exquisite: An Anecdotal History of Elegant Delights

Author(s): Jessica Kerwin Jenkins

History

"Encyclopedia of the Exquisite "is a lifestyle guide for the Francophile and the Anglomaniac, the gourmet and the style maven, the armchair traveler and the art lover. It's an homage to the esoteric world of glamour that doesn't require much spending but makes us feel rich.
Taking a cue from the exotic encyclopedias of the sixteenth century, which brimmed with mysterious artifacts, Jessica Kerwin Jenkins's "Encyclopedia of the Exquisite "focuses on the elegant, the rare, the commonplace, and the delightful. A com-pendium of style, it merges whimsy and practicality, traipsing through the fine arts and the worlds of fashion, food, travel, home, garden, and beauty.
Each entry features several engaging anecdotes, illuminating the curious past of each enduring source of beauty. Subjects covered include the explosive history of champagne; the art of lounging on a divan; the emergence of "frillies," the first lacy, racy lingerie; the ancient uses of sweet-smelling saffron; the wild riot incited by the appearance of London's first top hat; Julia Child's tip for cooking the perfect omelet; the polarizing practice of wearing red lipstick during World War II; Louis XIV's fondness for the luscious Bartlett pear; the Indian origin of badminton; Parliament's 1650 attempt to suppress Europe's beauty mark fad; the evolution of the Japanese kimono; the pil-grimage of Central Park's Egyptian obelisk; and the fanciful thrill of dining alfresco.
Cleverly illustrated, "Encyclopedia of the Exquisite "is an ode to life's plenty, from the extravagant to the eccentric. It is a cele-bration of luxury that doesn't necessarily require money.

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"A delightful ode to everyday elegance that brims with tales showing how beauty can be found in the most unlikely places. "Encyclopedia of the Exquisite" has the potential to make our lives that much more interesting. It left me truly inspired." Sarah Jessica Parker. "A beautifully researched and written book. Every story whether on the origins of badminton or the art of Renaissance sotleties is fascinating and inspiring. I kept turning the page, wanting to learn more." Tory Burch. "A wonderful melange of chic and amusing tidbits this book makes me smile." Michael Kors. "Jenkins's wittily curated selection emphasizes the rare and not often considered, with a dash of Julie Andrews's 'favorite things' sensibility. . . . There are enough fancies in "Encyclopedia of the Exquisite" to fill a castle of your own. It is a worthy trove." The New York Times Book Review.

General Fields

  • : 9780385529693
  • : Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
  • : Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
  • : 0.572
  • : August 2010
  • : 197mm X 159mm X 32mm
  • : United States
  • : April 2011
  • : books

Special Fields

  • : Jessica Kerwin Jenkins
  • : Hardback
  • : 12-Oct
  • : English
  • : 001.94
  • : 336
  • : Line Drawings throughout