Portrait of an Oyster

A Natural History of an Epicurean Delight

Andreas Ammer, Falk Nordmann, Renee von Paschen

$39.99

Hardback

Forthcoming
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English

Greystone Books,Canada
01 May 2025

Literary essays; General & world history; Cookery, food & drink; Cooking with fish & seafood

A beautifully illustrated celebration of the biology, culture, art, and taste of oysters

a perfect gift for the foodie or the artist in your life.

Everyone recalls eating their first oyster, just like they remember their first kiss ...

Portrait of an Oyster delves beyond the shucked shell to reveal the rich and surprising world of the oyster and the artists, philosophers, explorers, and chefs the mollusk has inspired across the centuries. Illustrated with full-colour paintings, vintage advertisements, line drawings, and archival photographs, Portrait of an Oyster shares intriguing insights into the biology and cultivation of oysters as the author embarks on an expedition across Europe and North America to taste some of the world's best.

Did you know that oysters shift their gender several times over the course of their lifetimes? They have one muscle that serves to keep their two shells clamped firmly shut, and a heart and basic circulatory system largely dependent on seawater

although they have no brain or known nervous system.

In the French region of Marennes-Oleron

where much of the technology of modern oysters farming was pioneered

oysters are still considered among the finest in the world. Like champagne, oysters from this region are protected by geographic distinction laws, with some even getting initials lasered into their shells, to preserve their prestige. Portrait of an Oyster travels across France, Europe, and North America, sampling some of the best oysters and restaurants in the world, including in the UK and Copenhagen, and then Boston, New York, New Orleans, and San Francisco.

This book's stunning features include:

Full-colour paintings, vintage advertisements, and archival photographs Intriguing insights into the biology, reproduction, and cultivation of oysters Sumptuous travelogs to renowned oyster restaurants and oyster farms Unique backmatter: A glorious guide to global oyster varieties, with drawings and descriptions of each specimen

By: Andreas Ammer
Illustrated by: Falk Nordmann
Translated by: Renee von Paschen
Imprint: Greystone Books,Canada
Country of Publication: Canada
Dimensions: Height: 190mm, Width: 133mm,
ISBN: 9781778401275
ISBN 10: 1778401279
Pages: 192
Publication Date: 01 May 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

The Philosopher’s Mollusks The Perfect Moment Two Genders? Breeding and Classification The Man With the Dark Glasses Once Around the World Fragments on the World History of the Oyster Kant Eats an Oyster and Meets Evangeline Still Life With Shellfish A Happy End

Andreas Ammer is a television producer, university lecturer, opera director, and the author of numerous award-winning radio plays in collaboration with different musicians. He lives in Munich. Renee von Paschen, born in Canada, is a literary translator, conference interpreter, and bilingual poet. She has taught literary translation, as well as theater, film, and media, at several universities. She won a Cine Golden Eagle for best history documentary in 2008.

Reviews for Portrait of an Oyster: A Natural History of an Epicurean Delight

“Pleasingly unlike any other book in the genre, Portrait of An Oyster is a joyful, erudite romp through the history, biology, and symbolism of the world’s favorite bivalve. Ammer’s thoughtful and wry prose ranges from raunchy to morbid, sentimental to scientific with gorgeous results. This is an essential addition to any oyster-lover’s bookshelf.” —Karen Pinchin, author of Kings of Their Own Ocean