Jessica Kerwin JenkinsEncyclopedia of the Exquisite: An Anecdotal History of Elegant Delights

I join all the other reviewers in my praise of this completely charming book. I think any smart, curious woman will love it, just as she will love the author's motivation, imagination, curation, and wit. Smart, curious men will surely like it too; I detect a tiny bit of gender role socialization in the choice of entries, but nothing of the bluntly stupid "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus" kind. For entries about which I, too, know a little something, I am lost in admiration at Kerwin Jenkins' ability to reduce accurately researched history to the mot both bon and juste. If I find myself nodding in agreement about the subjects with which I am familiar, I find myself equally willing to trust her to tell me all about new things (who knew that the first Bartlett pear was called Le Bon Chretien?)While I have had the book, I've delighted in dipping in it -- just letting it fall open, and reading the entry I first see. Lately, I've started reading it systematically from A to Z, and that is just charming. Each entry is brief; a quick look is enough to give one a burst of whimsy -- like a little mental chocolate. The book is wondrously informative, lightly witty and always generous in its treatment of its subjects.Kudos, too, to the publisher, Nan A. Talese, for giving the book such a wonderful physical appearance! Savoring the fine font and creamy, deckle-edged pages is an atavistic pleasure in these electronic days -- and a grand example of why human beings still want and need real books.I think this book would make the most delightful birthday or Christmas gift for any literate person with both taste, and a taste for indulging in the wonder of our world!

Encyclopedia of the Exquisite is a fantastically delightful read. It was clear when I read the introduction that the author and I are kindred spirits. This book engages the little girl in me who thought the glass doorknobs on our old house were made of diamonds and clearly had magical powers. Each entry is it's own adventure, like a peephole into a bygone era. The author writes clearly and beautifully, making each bit come to life on the page and the illustrations are gorgeous!I'm having to force myself to read only a little at a time to make it last longer, like I'd do with a fancy bar of chocolate. I'm already wondering if she'll consider a second volume, as I am now noticing exquisite things all around me that I'd love to know the story of. I know I'll be giving copies to friends for years to come, beginning with this Christmas!

A delicious book. Kerwin-Jenkins has done meticulous research to bring us bits of way-off-the-wall history. Each entry is more fascinating than the preceding one. Did you know about the Elephantine Colossus at Coney Island, one of three huge buildings shaped like the animal that were all the rage at the turn of the century. A big blue one at the Paris World's Fair in 1899. Only one remains, the 65-foot Lucy at the Jersey Shore. And that is just the "E's!This is a jewel of a book to be savored very slowly.

This book is a nice one to pick up and read a few pages at a time and skip around- each item is followed by a page or two explanation of its origins etc so it's nice to just page through and not read front-to-back. There are items you'd expect in a book with this title: "lace", "champagne", "tea", "masquerades", "nectar and ambrosia" but then there are items like "hello", "talk", "subaquatic", and "crickets" (the bug, not the sport) that seem kind of out of place. The insects for sale as snake food in the pet store are considered exquisite? When I think of exquisite luxurious feminine objects, crickets just don't hold the same appeal as perfume or folding fans and blancmange. Then there are items that just seem to be space-fillers: "lightning" (wait, doesn't that belong in a third-grade science textbook?), cloud type classification (see previous), "velocity" (maybe more fifth-grade science book) "miracles" (really? does literate human not know what a miracle is?) and "twilight" (again, is this a dictionary?). There are some sections in here that are informative and fun to read full of lovely facts, but I thought the entire book would be such, not just a few parts. All in all, I wish I had saved my money (and the whole selling point of "coffee table book" is kind of a stretch- it's physically a pretty small book, not the large glossy sort of thing you picture on a coffee table).

I received this book as a birthday present from my father!!! And it's simply delightful! Reading it could compare to taste a good glass of wine . Jessica Kerwin saids " I've often found myself defending frivolity when in serious -minded company" . And That's what I feel too! I always find myself a Little bit strange because I do not used to prefer too much Outdoor activities. I always ask myself how can I love Painters from the 18 and 19 century , gaze their paints full of colors that ressemble to nature,but prefer a dinner or a Lunch in a New York city rooftop instead of some alfresco activities . When I read this book about the history of Alfresco, I Smile at myself because outdoors /indoors activities follow a history culture pattern according to time, architecture and technology that shapes our habits . What Counts at all no matter time and space is the exquisite spirit to enjoy every simple moment of life! thank you Jessica Kerwin For this book. It's like a Collection of pearls!!!!