Eliza Leslie

Domestic Goddess of the Nineteenth Century

Eliza Leslie (1787 – 1858), frequently referred to as Miss Leslie, was an American author of popular cookbooks during the nineteenth century. She also wrote  books on etiquette and edited an annual gift book called The Gift, which included contributions from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Nathaniel Parker Willis, Elizabeth F. Ellet, Lydia Sigourney and others. Though born in Philadelphia, Eliza spent much of her childhood in London, where her father ran an export business

However, upon returning to the States in 1799, her father discovered that his business partners had lost money during his absence, and her mother was forced to open a boarding house to keep the family afloat. Though Eliza’s only formal education was in sewing and cooking, she read and wrote avidly, later saying that "the dream of my childhood was one day seeing my name in print." Her first published work in 1828 was one of the earliest American cookbooks:  Receipts for Pastry, Cakes, and Sweetmeats by "a Lady of Philadelphia". However, she also penned stories for children's books and women's magazines, and their success encouraged her to publish under her own name, becoming known in 1831 as "Miss Leslie." During the final decade of her life, Eliza Leslie took up residence at the United States Hotel, where she became something of a Philadelphia institution. Holding court among the hotel guests, she sought out visiting celebrities and admiring readers.

Books by "Miss Leslie" Eliza Leslie

Seventy-Five Receipts for Pastry, Cakes, and Sweetmeats, 1828. American Girl's Book, 1831. Domestic French Cookery, 1832. Pencil Sketches; or, Outlines of Characters and Manners, 1833. Miss Leslie's Behavior Book, 1834. Directions for Cookery, in its Various Branches, 1837. The Indian Meal Book, 1847. The Lady's Receipt-Book: A Useful Companion for Large or Small Families, 1847. Amelia; or, A Young Lady's Vicissitudes, 1848. Miss Leslie's Lady's New Receipt-Book, 1850. Miss Leslie's Directions for Cookery, 1851. More Receipts, 1852. Miss Leslie's New Receipts for Cooking . . ., 1854. Miss Leslie's New Cookery Book, 1857.

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