Meet the woman behind the apron in Noël Riley Fitch’s revealing biography of America’s favorite cook: Julia Child.

A household name, Julia Child has entered the hearts of millions of Americans through their kitchens. Yet few know the richly varied private life that lies behind this icon. Fitch takes us from her exuberant youth through her years at Smith College, where Julia was at the center of every prank and party. When most of her girlfriends married, Julia volunteered with the OSS during World War II and was an integral part of the elite corps. There, she met her future husband, Paul Child, who introduced her to the glories of fine French cuisine, art, and love.

Julia invested ten years of learning and experimentation in what would become her first bestselling classic, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Now her career is one of legend, spanning over half a century. Hers was a truly American life.