"On July 22 nd, 1956, France's most beloved culinary critic, a man of fearsome gastronomic reputation, and author of 72 books, fell to his death from a fourth-story window in his apartment in Paris. Aged 83, Curnonsky had led a - and I do not say this lightly - full life, sacrificing his waistline to celebrate the cuisine of his countrymen, earning him the title of "Prince des Gastronomes"."
"Curnonsky wasn't his real name. The pseudonym was an impulsive decision and one that he came to regret as it resulted in a few problems due to its Russian connotations - during the First World War, he was mistaken for a Russian spy, and on another occasion he was held in custody for six hours. All of this simply because the 18-year-old Maurice-Edmond Sailland from Angers (b. 13 October, 1872), took the words "Cur" and "non" meaning "why not" and added a sprinkle of embellishment,"
"His death, while sudden, reflected his attitude to life. While there is no doubt that he was old by then, it was certainly an unexpected way to go considering his general indulgent lifestyle. It is alleged he was dieting at the time, came over faint, which caused him to keel over, plummeting to the courtyard below."
Maurice-Edmond Sailland, who adopted the pen name Curnonsky, became a central figure in French gastronomy through extensive journalism and the authorship of 72 books. He began writing for La Vie Parisienne and increasingly focused on regional cooking, the terroir, and the connection between cuisine and travel. The pseudonym provoked misunderstandings because of its Russian connotations, at times leading to detention and suspicion. His public persona emphasized indulgence and celebration of French cuisine, earning him the title "Prince des Gastronomes." He died in 1956 after falling from a fourth-story window at age 83, following an alleged faint during a diet attempt.
Read at The Good Life France
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