Encyclopedia of the Exquisite: An Anecdotal History of Elegant Delights

Savoir-Vivre

by Jessica Kerwin Jenkins

Encyclopedia of the Exquisite is a lifestyle guide for the Francophile and the Anglomaniac, the gourmet and the style maven, the armchair traveler and the art lover. It’s an homage to the esoteric world of glamour that doesn’t require much spending but makes us feel rich.
Taking a cue from the exotic encyclopedias of the sixteenth century, which brimmed with mysterious artifacts, Jessica Kerwin Jenkins’s Encyclopedia of the Exquisite focuses on the elegant, the rare, the commonplace, and the delightful. A com­pendium of style, it merges whimsy and practicality, traipsing through the fine arts and the worlds of fashion, food, travel, home, garden, and beauty.
Each entry features several engaging anecdotes, illuminating the curious past of each enduring source of beauty. Subjects covered include the explosive history of champagne; the art of lounging on a divan; the emergence of “frillies,” the first lacy, racy lingerie; the ancient uses of sweet-smelling saffron; the wild riot incited by the appearance of London’s first top hat; Julia Child’s tip for cooking the perfect omelet; the polarizing practice of wearing red lipstick during World War II; Louis XIV’s fondness for the luscious Bartlett pear; the Indian origin of badminton; Parliament’s 1650 attempt to suppress Europe’s beauty mark fad; the evolution of the Japanese kimono; the pil­grimage of Central Park’s Egyptian obelisk; and the fanciful thrill of dining alfresco.
Cleverly illustrated, Encyclopedia of the Exquisite is an ode to life’s plenty, from the extravagant to the eccentric. It is a cele­bration of luxury that doesn’t necessarily require money.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Reference, Art, Fashion, Essays, Lifestyle

336 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Jessica Kerwin Jenkins began her career in New York writing for Women's Wear Daily and for W magazine, later moving to Paris, where she was W's European editor. She lived in Montmartre, but assignments took her all over Europe, and beyond, from Madrid to Copenhagen to Athens to Venice to Ibiza to Tallin, visiting villas, palazzos, chateaux, and haciendas. She once dined in the Tower of London and endured a rude massage in a steam bath in Tunis. In Jaipur she played in a surreal elephant polo match for charity.

She now writes for Vogue and lives on Maine's Blue Hill peninsula, where she also serves some Saturdays as a librarian in a one-roomed library down the road.

Reviews

[Wendy Darling · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is what you might call a "fancy side table" book. Not a big book full of photographs that would be displayed boldly out in the open like a coffee table book, but one that you might discreetly tuck into a corner where it might be glimpsed and discovered by passers-by. It essentially serves the same purpose, however, to give casual acquaintances the idea that you have some modicum of style or curiosity about the world around you.

The book is smallish in size, has a beautiful cover, and is nicely bound in a square-ish format--so it's a shame that the contents don't really live up to its titular name. Most of the anecdotes are perhaps too long for a book you'd expect to pick up and randomly browse now and again, rather than reading straight through, and the book was surprisingly light on illustrations and not nearly as sumptuous in prose as you might wish. Most of all, many of the (approximately 100) subjects just weren't all that interesting. Are readers really pining for a 2.5 page definition of and musings on the term "al fresco?" Or wildly curious about string? I beg to differ on quite a few of these entries being defined as "exquisite." While I will concede the presence of more unusual entries such as the humble cricket or the simple thaumotrope, I really must draw the line at the inclusion of items such as omelets and jesters.

Anyone searching for an edifying amuse-bouche to add to your bookshelf/decor might do well to consider Chronicle's wonderful Pictorial Webster's: A Visual Dictionary of Curiosities instead.

[Lea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely a bit of a disappointment. The book as an object is definitely beautiful; underneath the already pretty dustcover, it's a lovely red hardcover with gold details, it has deckled edges and the paper is thick and good quality.

But for an encyclopedia of exquisite things, it is sorely lacking in IMAGES. Why, why would you talk about famous paintings, beautiful women, lovely artifacts, stunning buildings, and not have pictures of them? I had to keep googling things, and let me tell you, that got annoying very quickly.

I think the selection of "exquisite" things was also a bit random (the word "hello", really?) and I wasn't super keen on the writing itself. Why did everytime the author mention someone famous she immediately have to talk about how they died (invariably in depressing circumstances)? Like if we're talking about neckties and celebrating Beau Brummell, it would be nicer to have a picture of him and his crazy cravats than to read "btw he died poor and ignored".

[Becky R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't help myself when I saw this pretty book sitting on the "New Arrivals" shelf at my local library. When I flipped it open, it had the coolest entries about things like milk baths, the trapeze, the omelet, badminton, and more, all with their history and context. The history isn't intense, but it is a nice overview of how things have evolved. In a sense, it's a cultural encyclopedia of random facts that might pop up in a British or French novel. For instance, the entry on red lipstick was great, and something I could see featured in a magazine. I also thought the information on obelisks and their popularity around the world was pretty outside the realm of normal history books. Although I wasn't 100% sure how the topics were selected for the encyclopedia, seeing as they were a quirky collection of random facts and information, they were all pretty interesting. This is one "informational" book that can be read like a novel, for its fun facts and details. I definitely think this would make for a pretty interesting coffee table book!

[Annie Pliego · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simply fantastic and fun book.
"The perfect omelet is an exacting work of simplicity: delicate, but not puffy; golden, but not burned; firm enough to fold, but not so stiff it breaks; creamy, but cooked through. Ancient Romans ate omelets."

[Tessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. It's a beautiful collection of short essays on a myriad number of topics. I enjoyed learning more about the history of common things (such as pears or cat's cradle) and being introduced to unfamiliar things too. This was just a fun, pretty book.

[Nomad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recieved many miscellany books such as this recently and can't really figure out where to put them on my shelves, so for the time being... we're going to call them history. Whimsical history yes, but history nevertheless.

Alright, so this was an absolute treat. I honestly believe that it is impossible to be in a bad mood when you put this book down. It's that infectious and happy a kind of a book. Recently I started reading romance genre books a bit and it lead me to these sorts of books. The whimsical romance of the everyday. When did all that is considered romantic start being about brooding, jerky guys and weak women? When did we (and I) stop seeing the romantic in the small things?

Yes, I consider it both romantic and whimsical to read a book that tells me about the history of sequins, glass doorknobs, kimonos, silk fans, tea, champagne, lingerie, and even the history of words such as enthusiasm. I was told by my spouse that I had a ghost of smile on my face the entire time I would be sitting and reading this book.

We forget so much about how many wonderful objects and notions are part of our everyday life, it's nice to be reminded.

[Keata138 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel richer for having read this book. Interesting historical facts - that I never would have come across had it not been for this book - stuck in my mind long after having read about them. It's a very diverse collection. There are stories of people, stories of places, and stories of things (several of which I've managed to grab off of e-bay).

Since it's written as an encyclopedia, it's a nice nightly read before bed allowing one to read a lot or a little. Sections range from half a page to five or six per topic. However, I wasn't able to read it slowly. I became obsessed with the kinds of information Jenkins included. In fact, while reading I would often run to the computer, look up a book or two on the subject, snag it used, and go back to reading about new things. Right now, I'm thanking Jenkins for introducing me to the amazingly interesting life of Marchesa Luisa Casati.

While a handsome tome, those who see this as a coffee table book or a piece of decor to adorn their shelves are missing out. It truly does contain the exquisite.

[Antonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A veritable cabinet of curiosities. Anecdotes about a wide range of subjects of particular interest to the author, the exotic and the elegant, arranged alphabetically (though I was very surprised and disappointed to find no Z! How could she not include Z??/). Really great fun — a book to read at a leisurely pace, dipping into from time to time. I’ve taken my time with it and will return. I’ve enjoyed reading entries to my husband after dinner (or while he cooks dinner!). Typical entries: champagne, far niente, hot air ballooning, omelets, sequins, truffles, trapeze, weekends. I particularly enjoyed the entries on Claude glass (a mirror for viewing landscapes), giochi d'acqua (water jokes), and xiguo jifa (Matteo Ricci’s “memory palace”), Also, it’s a physically gorgeous book.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

An encyclopedia of charming delights, and the folklore and history that accompanies them. Example entries: far niente (languorous idleness), Bartlett pears, pouf hairstyles, red lipstick, saffron.

[Ginger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been picking this up, reading an entry here and there, off and on for years. Just a delight.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alli gave me this delightful book for Christmas, and I have greatly enjoyed it. The authoress subtitles this book "An Anecdotal History of Elegant Delights" and points out that "exquisite" comes from the Latin verb exquirere, to search out, or to seek, or as the OED explains it, "It means uncommon delicacies, carefully selected, and the kind of beauty that can excite intense delight or admiration." Basically this is a trivia book but a very interesting and well-researched trivia book.

The subjects are presented in alphabetical order and include, for example, ogi (the Japanese folding fan), Claude Glass (a convex hand mirror used to view landscapes). I was particularly interested in quintessence. As Jenkins said, the alchemists' quest wasn't a hungry hunt for gold as commonly understood but rather they were after "quintessence," which literally means the fifth element--one beyond air, water, earth and fire--an "elusive mattter betwen spirit and matter that permeated all life." Apparently Sir Isaac Newton especially searched for and researched quintessence which he described as the condensed spirit of the world.

All in all a very interesting book which I will enjoy rereading.

[Violet · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love fun, bizarre historical facts, this is the book for you. It has brief entries about things throughout history that were created for beauty's sake. Some are small things like origami, some are entire buildings or magical gardens. Particularly interesting are the stories about chopines and the art of hot air ballooning. This is a great bedside reader since you can pick it up and read a single entry without a big investment in time. A most enjoyable read!

[Jessie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a great "coffee table" read but I scored it low due to lack of photos for entries that would have benefited from it. For example, the book has an entry about the infamous beauty of Countess de Castiglione and talks about several portraits so I had to stop reading and google her (for the record, she's beautiful). Since some entries got illustrations, I would have preferred more of them in the book.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am very fond of "cabinet of curiosities" style books, of which this is one, but I feel though this book is in some very desperate need of pictures. I found myself time and time again having to go to Wikipedia to see things that had been described to me, which was annoying.

However, the extensive bibliography at the end is a refreshing inclusion in a non-academic book such as this, and much appreciated.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a gorgeously designed book about a topic I'm interested in--decadence, the extraordinary, unusual curious etc.

However, rather than oddities and sophistication--the book comes off a bit unbalanced.

Sure, there are few recipes for really rich dishes, the idea of keeping a pet cricket as background ambiance, milk baths and a brief mention of the flaneur.

But really, most of the entries are "Omelettes", "Hot Air Ballons", "Fanfare".

Que my disappointment

[Bronwyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a treasure trove of wonderful things, ranging from the well-known to the obscure. Some entries, such as the essays corresponding to 'Tempest' and 'Solteties' left me breathless with delight and aching to learn more.

I greatly enjoyed the read and would recommend it to anyone with an interest in history.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book! A wonderful, inspiring, elegantly-written little tome of information. I loved that I could read a few chapters, put it down, and then pick it up again to be inspired anew by something I'd never heard of before.

I am definitely keeping this as a reference book, and also giving it to friends!

[Annemarie Donahue · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good, clever but a little boring in parts. There is nothing terribly meaty about this book. It's a collection of witty, but brief, bits of information on things that people consider "posh". Can't really recommend.

[Sherri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clever idea with lots of fun, if not useless facts. Just went on a little long. It might be best as a coffee table sort of book rather just sitting down and reading.

[Whitney · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's fluff. But it's well researched and interesting fluff. It would have made a good vacation book.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fascinating book. When I picked it up, I equated "exquisite" with "beautiful." It's that and so much more. Each entry is packed full of interesting facts and for me, anyway, it explained some of those everyday things that I never knew where they originated. The word "hello," for instance, has quite a history and the quadrille naturaliste, a wild, uninhibited, scandalous (and very popular) dance morphed into the can can. Did you know Thomas Jefferson coined the term pell mell to differentiate between the very socially correct way English banquets were seated and the way guests were seated at a White House banquet, non-preferentially, without order or rank and royally ticked off the British ambassador? There are lots of tidbits like this and associations that I would never have made.

[Tabor]

Whimsical and a delightful anecdotal encyclopedia. This book is ideal for anyone seeking a brief introductory to the pleasurable/finer things in life, which have been enjoyed throughout history.

I was particularly fond of how the author focused on a handful of instances to illustrate the delight and often the most outlandish. The only issue with this approach is the delight could seem insignificant. Such was the case of love letters, where Catherine the Great was used as the sole example. For the plethora of love letters that have been sent throughout the ages, this entry seemed to belittle the importance of love letters. To the point where I thought "Is that really all?"

In conclusion, that was my only qualm and the book remains a fascinating and pleasurable read.

[Debby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book shows me various trivia of things that I haven't heard before (such as the pillowbook of sei shonagon and the history of bon chrétien pear) or take for granted (such as omelet and the word 'yes'). I like how the author shows me through her writings that even the simplest things in our life can be appreciated as an exquisite thing. For those who are curious about the world or looking for inspiration, I guess this book will be perfect for you. Reading this book surely is a delightful experience.

[Rebecca Huston · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard to define this book beyond that it's a collection of things. And nonfiction, mostly. Very light, rather fluffy, but fun to read through; it's the sort of book to dip into now and then, rather than just read through in a sitting or two.

For the longer review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_E...

[Dina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating potpourri of tidbits about the things that make the author like it here on earth. The entries vary in topic from the frivolous to more serious matters, but all are well presented with plenty of interesting facts to consider. I especially enjoyed reading about the music of crickets, the development and use of fireworks, and the origin of the word "hello." Fun to browse and dip into the entries of most interest to you.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm really into words and learning the provenance and history behind a lot of our common (and not-so-common) vocabulary was really interesting to me. However, I wasn't too keen on the skimming--I want to know more! Give me more in-depth history about these words! It just felt very superficial and the researcher I. Me was not satisfied by all the explanations.

Also, there are no Zs. The rest of the alphabet is present (ending with a single Y), so why not Z? I dunno, but that really bothered me.

[Lex · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute book full of random tidbits about luxury items, or how they were viewed as luxurious back in the day. I learned some neat things and really appreciated the authour's detailed descriptions of the events/items. A review I read described the book as a non coffee table book - simply because there is no photos, however the book is bursting with information and I highly recommend it!

[Br. Thanasi (Thomas) Stama · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating book of helter skelter subjects.

One entry was about two gardening experts from the end of the 19th century.

The most precious is the entry on the word Enthusiasm. It comes from the ancient Greek ethousiasmos - literally "having God in us"! It had a negative meaning as in fanatic in the 17th thru 18th century and was referencing a religious fanatic.

[Erin Tuzuner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to buy several copies of this and give them to people I love who live faraway. That is hardly an endorsement, per se, but really, this is an excellent compendium of underrated history and salacious historical tidbits. There are recipes, anecedotes, and history. I loved it. I need it. I need to give it to others.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wildly diverting, I liked this book very much. It made me long for a life of luxury I probably wouldn't appreciate if I had. Some of my favorite entries: Crickets, Far Niente, Mouches, pouf, and Quintessence. there were only a few, like Gloves, and Talk, I had less enthusiasm for. An added bonus is that I found this book for free in a pile of junk, and it's signed by the author!