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How to Cook a Wolf Paperback – October 1, 1988

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 276 ratings

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“I do not know of any one in the United States who writes better prose.” ―W.H. Auden

Written to inspire courage in those daunted by wartimes shortages,
How to Cook a Wolf continues to rally cooks during times of plenty, reminding them that providing sustenance requires more than putting food on the table.

M. F. K. Fisher knew that the last thing hungry people needed were hints on cutting back and making do. Instead, she gives her readers license to dream, to experiment, to construct adventurous and delicious meals as a bulwark against a dreary, meager present. Her fine prose provides reason in itself to draw our chairs close to the hearth; we can still enjoy her company and her exhortations to celebrate life by eating well.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“I do not know of any one in the United States who writes better prose.” ―W.H. Auden

“Poet of the appetites.” ―
John Updike

“She writes about fleeting tastes and feasts vividly, excitingly, sensuously, exquisitely. There is almost a wicked thrill in following her uninhibited track through the glories of the good life.” ―
James Beard

“She writes about food as others do about love, but rather better.” ―
Clifton Fadiman

“M.F.K. Fisher ... brings onstage a peach or a brace of quail and shows us history, cities, fantasies, memories, emotions.” ―
Patricia Storace, The New York Review of Books

“M.F.K. Fisher is our greatest food writer because she puts food in the mount, the mind and the imagination all at the same time. Beyond the gastronomical bravura, she is a passionate woman; food is her metaphor.” ―
Shana Alexander

About the Author

M. F. K Fisher (1908-1992)is the author of sixteen books of essays and reminiscences, many of which have become American classics. Her books include The Gastronomical Me and How to Cook a Wolf. In 1991, she was elected to the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ North Point Press (October 1, 1988)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0865473366
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0865473362
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 5.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.57 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 276 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
276 global ratings
This is it! The First Edition of Wolf!
5 Stars
This is it! The First Edition of Wolf!
The famous and funny book by MFK Fisher. I love the title alone. (meant to refer to the wolf at the door!) Recipes & prose and graciousness - she wants everyone to live well, no matter the situation. This is the very rare first edition, grey covers underneath the dustjacket. Someone is going to be very lucky. Highly recommended.
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Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2023
M.F.K. Fisher's timeless masterpiece, "How to Cook a Wolf," is a culinary classic that transcends generations, offering readers a delightful journey through the art of cooking and eating during challenging times. Originally published in 1942, this book has stood the test of time and continues to be a source of inspiration for food enthusiasts and home cooks alike.

Fisher's prose is both eloquent and comforting, weaving a tapestry of words that not only teaches you how to prepare delicious meals but also nourishes your soul with her vivid storytelling. The book's title, inspired by a quote from the Roman poet Horace, serves as a metaphor for the resilience and resourcefulness required in times of scarcity. Fisher imparts invaluable lessons on making the most of limited ingredients and creating meals that are not only satisfying but also deeply satisfying.

One of the standout features of "How to Cook a Wolf" is Fisher's ability to embrace frugality without compromising on flavor. Her recipes are practical, budget-friendly, and often surprisingly luxurious given the circumstances. She teaches readers to approach cooking as an art form, where creativity and resourcefulness are key ingredients.

Throughout the book, Fisher's writing is infused with a sense of humor and a dash of whimsy, making it a pleasure to read. Her anecdotes and personal experiences add depth and personality to the recipes, making them more relatable and enticing. She also shares her insights on the role of food in our lives, exploring the emotional and psychological aspects of eating, which elevates this book beyond a mere cookbook.

While "How to Cook a Wolf" is a timeless gem, it's important to note that some of the recipes may feel a bit outdated or impractical for modern cooks accustomed to the convenience of contemporary kitchen appliances and readily available ingredients. However, Fisher's principles and philosophy remain relevant, encouraging readers to adapt and improvise in their own kitchens.

M.F.K. Fisher's "How to Cook a Wolf" is a must-read for anyone with a passion for both food and literature. It is a book that not only teaches you how to cook but also inspires you to approach life's challenges with creativity and resilience. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a novice in the kitchen, Fisher's words will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression and ignite your culinary imagination. This timeless classic is a treasure trove of wisdom, wit, and gastronomic delights that will continue to enchant and nourish readers for generations to come.
4 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2023
Fascinating as a look into what it was like to cook with wartime shortages - but the recipes are still delicious. And the author's dry British humor had me giggling so much in a doctor's waiting room, I wound up having to tell strangers waiting with me what I was reading. One lady pulled out her phone and ordered a copy of the book for herself!
Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2024
I think maybe not.
One person found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2015
This little book is a bit of history of cooking during WWII, some of which we can still enjoy today. Having been very young in the early 40s, I can still remember my Mother having to be very careful with her cooking ingredients. I remember the coupon books for some precious foods. It is very enjoyable reading and the recipes look good too. Most people today don't even know what you're talking about when you speak of "the wolf at the door".
5 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2007
Ms. Fisher was writing in Europe during WW2; due to wartime rationing and shortages, the wolf seemed literally to hover near the door. Fine, she says, a wolf! Let's eat him!

Ms. Fisher shows the best of the chin-up attitude one hopes we would all be disposed to display in hard times. She was in Europe during the war, and suffered the hardships thereof; she writes from a love of the food she had been exposed to before shortages, but her writing is ABOUT the food she can obtain rather than what she can't. She writes wittily, even charmingly about how to live on practically nothing and how to do it with an eye to health and nutrition, and flavor and enjoyment! Even in the 40's Ms. Fisher was aware that everybody needs to eat plenty of vegetables; even then she was aware that even sparse rations would be "better for you" if the food could look and taste appealing.

The book was later edited and annotated by the author, and this edition includes those notes.

One comes to see that in writing during wartime Ms. Fisher wrote from the "furnace of affliction" indeed and and that this book is as much a statement of philosophy as a guide to cooking and eating when food is sparse. One's attitude toward food, family, friends can be shaped to something resembling common sense and love of beauty whether a war is raging around one or no. The notes she added years later indicate that she still agreed with her earlier thoughts, in the main -- something had solidified, something had crystallised, in her thinking.

A must for the shelf if one likes to think about food in more than a visceral and immediate way.
28 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2023
I've wanted to read this for years, unfortunately it is not available on kindle so I had to buy a hard copy. Interesting, but a little disappointing. Maybe the humor is dated (although I've read a lot of books from this period, which are still bitingly funny). Not sure how many of the wartime recipes I will try. Not sure if I am disappointed or pleased to find the wolf was kept from the door, rather than cooked and eaten.
2 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2011
This book is relevant :
Much of what she says about food and eating that contradicted the common knowledge of the time have been proven in the interim.

This book gives a great slice of life look at the time it was written:
Discussing food shortages, rationing and other challenges unique to the WWII period was enlightening. I wasn't born until a full generation after the war, so although I knew that rationing existed, I didn't think about what this actually meant for families until reading this book.

This book is very, very funny :
The author has a dry wit that I very much appreciate. While the intention of the book is not to entertain, she definitely does so while discussing things of great importance during the time it was written. This was the first book of hers I've read. I've been missing out! I'll be reading more, and I can recommend this book without reservation.
37 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2020
I picked this up for some pandemic reading and kitchen economizing. It was both entertaining and educational. I learned a lot about recipes and wartime food culture in the 1940s. I also got some good ideas I can use now!
18 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Diane Huska
5.0 out of 5 stars This book is always a keeper...
Reviewed in Canada on April 2, 2022
...even when you can't find another little squidge of space, keep this book. I'm feeling rich in that my former copies were always "discovered" in a used book store, but I just had to replace them right now, so I have a new copy. A treasure. Speedy shipping too.
Dr. v. Kanitz
5.0 out of 5 stars Style
Reviewed in Germany on June 13, 2021
Á Book on how to cook in very restricted times when food is hard to come by - and yet still to live in style. Good read.
Sew good
5.0 out of 5 stars Foodies - you need her
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 9, 2020
This is a thrilling rediscovery, as if Elizabeth David had been overlooked. Except that MFK Fisher delivers more laughs and literary punch. MFK Fisher not only flashes her humorous light on the the development of modern food tastes but gives us a sharp view of how to manage during Lockdown, as her book concerns the deprivation and lack of ingredients during the 2nd world war. And, impossibly, she makes you laugh!
2 people found this helpful
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JG
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on February 6, 2018
among the most interesting cookbooks I have read - a snapshot of another time
Thebazile
4.0 out of 5 stars interesting historically....
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 29, 2018
no proper recipes but excellent little essays on all sorts of things from this esteemed 50s/60s American writer