The Compleat Housewife: or, Accomplish'd Gentlewoman's Companion, 1736

E. Smith, The Compleat Housewife: or, Accomplish'd Gentlewoman's Companion, pub. 1736, original full leather binding, spine split, back board now loose, text block good, light foxing and staining

E. Smith, was an important figure in the history of English culinary literature, known primarily for her influential work, "The Compleat Housewife." Published initially in 1727, the book quickly became a household staple in 18th-century England. Although little is known about the author’s life, E. Smith's comprehensive guide to domestic management and cookery suggests a deep familiarity with the culinary arts and the everyday challenges faced by women of the period. The book's continued popularity led to numerous reprints and editions, cementing its place as a cornerstone of English cookery books.

"The Compleat Housewife: or, Accomplish'd Gentlewoman's Companion" is a collection of over five hundred recipes. The seventh edition, published in 1736, expands on earlier versions with significant additions, including nearly fifty new recipes communicated just before the author's death. This edition covers an extensive range of topics, from cookery, pastry, and confectionary to preserving, pickling, and the preparation of cakes, creams, jellies, and cordials. The book also includes engraved copper plates that guide the reader in the arrangement of dishes and courses, as well as monthly bills of fare.

In addition to its culinary content, "The Compleat Housewife" offers over two hundred family medical recipes, providing remedies for common ailments of the time.