{"product_id":"portrait-of-an-oyster-a-natural-history-of-an-epicurean-delight","title":"Portrait of an Oyster: A Natural History of an Epicurean Delight","description":"\u003ctable align=\"center\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" cellspacing=\"0\" width=\"100%\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"productDetailSmallElements\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBiographical Note\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eAndreas Ammer\u003c\/b\u003e 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. \n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eRenée von Paschen\u003c\/b\u003e, 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. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003eThe Philosopher's Mollusks \n\u003cbr\u003eThe Perfect Moment \n\u003cbr\u003eTwo Genders? \n\u003cbr\u003eBreeding and Classification \n\u003cbr\u003eThe Man With the Dark Glasses \n\u003cbr\u003eOnce Around the World \n\u003cbr\u003eFragments on the World History of the Oyster \n\u003cbr\u003eKant Eats an Oyster and Meets Evangeline \n\u003cbr\u003eStill Life With Shellfish \n\u003cbr\u003eA Happy End \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\"A decadent horror story (for the oyster) narrated with awe and gusto, Andreas Ammer's \n\u003ci\u003ePortrait of an Oyster\u003c\/i\u003e is must for all who find their joy on the half shell... Funny, thoughtful, and tastebud-piquing... a celebratory tribute to the \"bewitching\" mollusk that transforms dining experiences from ordinary to great.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e--\u003ci\u003eForeword Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"An elegant and illuminating journey through the culture and history of the world's best bivalve, \n\u003ci\u003ePortrait of an Oyster\u003c\/i\u003e gracefully joins the pantheon of essential works illuminating the oyster's elusive charms.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e--Rowan Jacobsen, author of \u003ci\u003eA Geography of Oysters\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Pleasingly unlike any other book in the genre, \n\u003ci\u003ePortrait of An Oyster\u003c\/i\u003e 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.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e--Karen Pinchin, author of \u003ci\u003eKings of Their Own Ocean\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher Marketing\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\"Narrated with awe and gusto, Andreas Ammer's \u003ci\u003ePortrait of an Oyster\u003c\/i\u003e is a must for all who find their joy on the half shell ... Funny, thoughtful, and tastebud-piquing\"--\u003ci\u003eForeword Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eA gorgeously crafted exploration of the oyster's role in art, culture, cuisine, science, and history--featuring stunning full-color illustrations.\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eEveryone recalls eating their first oyster, just like they remember their first kiss ...\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ci\u003ePortrait of an Oyster\u003c\/i\u003e 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-color paintings, vintage advertisements, line drawings, and archival photographs, \n\u003ci\u003ePortrait of an Oyster\u003c\/i\u003e 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. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eDid 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. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn the French region of Marennes-Oléron--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. \n\u003ci\u003ePortrait of an Oyster\u003c\/i\u003e 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. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eThis book's stunning features include: \u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFull-color paintings, vintage advertisements, and archival photographs.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIntriguing insights into the biology, reproduction, and cultivation of oysters.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSumptuous travelogs to renowned oyster restaurants and oyster farms.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUnique backmatter: A glorious guide to global oyster varieties, with drawings and descriptions of each specimen.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Citations:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003eForeword\u003c\/span\u003e 02\/17\/2025 (EAN 9781778401275, Hardcover)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003eShelf Awareness\u003c\/span\u003e 05\/10\/2025 (EAN 9781778401275, Hardcover)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Ammer, Andreas\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Greystone Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePub Date:\u003c\/b\u003e 2025-04-22\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBISAC:\u003c\/b\u003e Cooking|History|Cooking|Essays \u0026amp; Narratives|Nature|Ecosystems \u0026amp; Habitats|Oceans \u0026amp; Seas|Science|Earth Sciences|Oceanography|Science|Life Sciences|Marine Biology\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSubjects:\u003c\/b\u003e Oysters|History\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.9 lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781778401275\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eASIN:\u003c\/b\u003e -\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSKU:\u003c\/b\u003e SP-9781778401275\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Greystone Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51154291163414,"sku":"SP-9781778401275","price":32.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0857\/9910\/8886\/files\/9781778401275_spiral.png?v=1774940735","url":"https:\/\/lusper.myshopify.com\/products\/portrait-of-an-oyster-a-natural-history-of-an-epicurean-delight","provider":"Lusperbooks","version":"1.0","type":"link"}