They Can't Ration These - Softcover

Mauduit, Vicomte De

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1903155444 ISBN 13: 9781903155448

Publisher: Persephone Books Ltd, 2004

Synopsis

This 1940 cookery book published in response to the outbreak of war about 'food for free' suggests ways of escaping the tyranny of the supermarkets; thinking of ready-to-eat food as being something we can find for ourselves, rather than in a tin.

About this title

From the Publisher

We wanted to reprint this cookery book about 'food for free' in order to give readers some new ideas about escaping the tyranny of the supermarkets and enjoying 'the good life' (a la Felicity Kendal); to inspire them to think of ready-to-eat food as being something we can find for ourselves in the wild rather than, as in the government's recent pamphlet 'Preparing for Emergencies', being exclusively tinned; and because it is an excellent cookery book in its own right. But it also contains within it a poignant and romantic story.

The Vicomte came from an old French aristocratic family; but he went to school in England and then travelled all over the world: the subtitle of his autobiography is 'reminscences of a wandering nobleman'. In World War 1 he was an aviator, worked in Egypt and ended up living in England, publishing four cookery books and a children's book. His last book was the 1940 They Can't Ration These, 'the object of which is to show where to seek and how to use Nature's larder; which in a time of peace and plenty people overlook or ignore.'

And as Lloyd George commented in his original 1940 Foreword: 'I need not stress the timeliness of this book. It is a valuable contribution towards our national defence. Days may life ahead when it will be a matter of life and death to securer the maximum food supply from those things which grow in our countryside.'

But for the Vicomte it was alas a matter of death. At some point after the book's publication in the autumn of 1940 he seems to have crossed the Channel. Nothing is known of what he did then; all the family does know is that he died in Germany and is listed as having 'died for France'. It is possible that, just as the book was being reviewed in The Times Literary Supplement for October 12th 1940 and was being read in comfort by its readers in England, the Vicomte was all too forcibly testing out what the TLS called 'his cheering statement that any country dweller armed with this book can live in comfort and plenty even if all the banks, shops and markets were closed. He proceeds to show us where to look for wild food, fruit, vegetables and animal, and gives delicious recipes. To the country dweller with time and a spirit of adventure the book will be a delight.' Of course it is all too possible that the Vicomte had the time, somewhere in the fields of France; he certainly had the sprit of adventure.
We at Persephone Books have already cooked two meals based on They Can't Ration These. We have avoided squirrels, hedgehogs and frogs; and have made nettle soup (fantastically nutritious), trout, samphire, baked beetroot, chard and runner beans; followed by camomile tea. And before going to bed we cleaned our teeth with sage leaves. (We have also thrown away all commercial cleaning materials and, according to the Vicomte's precepts, rely on white wine vinegar and lemon juice, as well as pure beeswax.)
This cookery book is not just an excellent read but can be used by everyone. We very much hope it never has to be used in a state of emergency. But at least its precepts can contribute to the movement for self-reliance and sustainability.

Edition details

• Publisher: Persephone Books Ltd
• Publication date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1903155444
• ISBN 13: 9781903155448
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 176