Caption: Edna O'Brien
Edna O'Brien 

JULIA CHILD Presents "Lunch with Edna O'Brien"

From: Leet and Litwin
Series: HUNGRY: The Literary Julia Child
Length: 26:52

Julia Child introduces the Irish writer, Edna O'Brien, who gives a magnificent performance of VIOLETS, a story about fixing lunch for an important guest. It turns out to be a story of "doomed love...painful, full of longing." Read the full description.

Edna_at_the_gate_small The program begins with Edna O'Brien describing her mother's kitchen, with the Mrs. Beeton's cookery book always open: "Mrs. Beeton was quite extravagant... saying, "Take six quail and fourteen pigeons and stuff them into the pheasant, with bacon, cognac..." She laughs. ("We weren't well off...") Julia says she has often used Mrs. Beeton's "excellent" book, with "good recipes" -- and instructions for the butler, the cook, "and all that household help that no one has anymore."

The story begins, "In an hour he is due. In that hour I have tasks to perform, and they of course revolve around him." It turns out to be the start of an affair -- a story of what Edna O'Brien calls "doomed love... painful, full of longing." Chopin's First Piano Concerto helps underscore the emotion.

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Piece Description

The program begins with Edna O'Brien describing her mother's kitchen, with the Mrs. Beeton's cookery book always open: "Mrs. Beeton was quite extravagant... saying, "Take six quail and fourteen pigeons and stuff them into the pheasant, with bacon, cognac..." She laughs. ("We weren't well off...") Julia says she has often used Mrs. Beeton's "excellent" book, with "good recipes" -- and instructions for the butler, the cook, "and all that household help that no one has anymore."

The story begins, "In an hour he is due. In that hour I have tasks to perform, and they of course revolve around him." It turns out to be the start of an affair -- a story of what Edna O'Brien calls "doomed love... painful, full of longing." Chopin's First Piano Concerto helps underscore the emotion.

1 Comment Atom Feed

Caption: PRX default User image

Wonderful

This is just delightful and so much fun. These are a "must hear."

Broadcast History

Edna O'Brien's performance of "Violets" was originally part of the "Tell Me A Story" series, 1983 - 1995.

Intro and Outro

INTRO:

Julia Child and the producers started work on this program years ago, but it's never aired till now. You're about to meet a side of Julia Child you may not know, the Julia who loved to read. Here, she introduces a great story, written and performed by Edna O'Brien.

OUTRO:

Edna O'Brien's latest novel is a different kind of love story -- about the complex love between mother and child. It's called "The Light of Evening" -- an international bestseller. And keep your eyes open for "The Collected Stories of Edna O'Brien," coming out soon -- and later, Edna O'Brien's autobiography.

Musical Works

Title Artist Album Label Year Length
French Chef Theme John Morris 00:30
Chopin Piano Concerto Number 1 Gilels, Ormandy Sony 00:00

Related Website

hungrywithjuliachild@blogspot.com