Long Ago in France

Long Ago in France captures M.F.K. Fisher's three years in Dijon, France during the late 1920s. Fisher and her first husband arrive as young newlyweds, settling into an apartment near the city center to pursue their studies. The memoir chronicles Fisher's culinary education in a historic French gastronomic capital. Through her experiences at local markets, restaurants, and the homes of French acquaintances, she develops the food knowledge and writing voice that would later establish her as a leading American food writer. Life in pre-Depression Dijon provides the backdrop for Fisher's personal transformation from an inexperienced California girl to a sophisticated observer of food culture. The narrative includes her interactions with local characters, fellow expatriates, and university figures who shape her understanding of French society. This memoir explores themes of cultural adaptation, sensory awakening, and the role of food in forming identity. Fisher's time in Dijon represents a pivotal period that influenced both her writing career and her lifelong relationship with French cuisine.

Readers praise Fisher's vivid descriptions of 1920s Dijon, France and her coming-of-age experiences as a young American wife abroad. Her observations of food, culture, and daily life resonate with fans of food writing and travel memoirs. Readers liked: - Detailed accounts of meals and local characters - Intimate portrayal of French provincial life - Clear, elegant prose style - Rich sensory details about markets and restaurants Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in some sections - Some found Fisher's tone privileged or pretentious - Limited broader historical context - A few readers wanted more personal reflection Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (85 ratings) Reader quote: "Fisher captures exactly what it feels like to be young and overwhelmed by the sensations of a new place" - Goodreads reviewer Another reader noted: "Beautiful writing but moves at a glacial pace at times" - Amazon review

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🍷 M.F.K. Fisher moved to Dijon, France in 1929 at age 21, and this memoir captures her three years there during which she discovered her passion for food writing and developed her distinctive literary voice. 🍽️ The book was published in 1991 when Fisher was 83 years old, reflecting back on her formative years in Burgundy nearly six decades earlier. 🇫🇷 Fisher's time in Dijon coincided with the end of the "Golden Age" of French cuisine, just before the Great Depression would dramatically change the region's food culture. 📝 The author's full name was Mary Frances Kennedy Fisher, but she chose to write under her initials M.F.K. to avoid being dismissed as "just another woman food writer" in what was then a male-dominated field. 🍳 During her stay in Dijon, Fisher lived above a wine shop and regularly attended the famous Les Halles market, experiences that would influence her future works including "The Art of Eating" and "The Gastronomical Me."