Judith Jones facts for kids

Judith Jones (born March 10, 1924 – died August 2, 2017) was an amazing American writer and editor. She is famous for finding The Diary of Anne Frank and making sure it got published. This book was almost thrown away! Judith also helped make Julia Child's famous cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, a huge success. She worked as a top editor at Alfred A. Knopf until she retired in 2011. Judith Jones also wrote her own cookbooks and a memoir about her life. She won many awards for her work, including a special lifetime achievement award in 2006.

Judith Jones: A Career in Books

Becoming a Book Editor

Judith Jones started working at a publishing company called Doubleday. First, she worked in New York City, then she moved to Paris, France. While in Paris, she found a book that had been rejected by other publishers. It was The Diary of Anne Frank.

Jones saw a picture of Anne Frank on the cover of a French copy. She read the whole book in one day. She told her boss, "We have to publish this book!" Her boss was surprised, asking, "What? That book by that kid?" But Judith knew it was important. She felt it would be a very popular book in America. She said it was "one of those seminal books that will never be forgotten."

In 1957, Jones joined another publishing house called Knopf. She helped edit books by famous French writers like Albert Camus and Jean-Paul Sartre.

Helping Julia Child's Cookbook Succeed

Judith Jones also played a big part in the success of Julia Child. Jones became interested in Child's cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. This book had also been turned down by another publisher.

After living in Paris, Jones moved back to New York. She was frustrated with the cooking ingredients and recipes available in the U.S. When she saw Julia Child's book, she knew it was special. Jones said, "This was the book I had been searching for." She made sure it got published. This book helped Americans learn how to cook delicious French food at home.

Expanding the World of Cooking

After Julia Child's cookbook became popular, Judith Jones wanted to help Americans discover more types of food. She thought, "If we could do this for French food, let's start doing it for other exotic cuisines!"

She helped publish cookbooks about Middle Eastern food by Claudia Roden. She also worked on books about Indian cooking with Madhur Jaffrey. Later, she focused on American regional cooking with authors like Edna Lewis.

Judith Jones helped many famous cookbook authors get their books published. These include Lidia Bastianich, James Beard, Marcella Hazan, Jacques Pépin, and many others. She also created a series of 18 cookbooks called the Knopf Cooks American series.

Besides cookbooks, Jones edited books by well-known fiction writers. Some of these authors were John Updike, Anne Tyler, and William Maxwell. She also edited books by Langston Hughes.

Judith Jones as an Author

Judith Jones wrote several books herself. She wrote three books with her husband, Evan Jones. After he passed away, she wrote three more books on her own. One was about cooking for just one person. Another was a memoir about her life and love for food. She even wrote a cookbook about sharing good food with dogs!

Her articles appeared in popular magazines like Vogue, Saveur, and Gourmet.

Portrayals and Thoughts

Judith Jones was shown in two films. Actress Erin Dilly played her in the 2009 movie Julie & Julia. Later, Fiona Glascott played her in the 2022 TV series Julia.

Judith Jones once said, "Learning to like cooking alone is an ongoing process. But the alternative is worse." She also noted that for a long time, women who wrote about food were not always taken seriously. She felt that this changed over time, and good food writers started getting more respect.

Life and Family

After college, Judith Jones lived in Paris. There, she met her husband, Evan Jones. He was also a writer and they worked together on books. They had four children, including two from Evan's earlier marriage.

Judith Jones passed away on August 2, 2017, at the age of 93. She died in Walden, Vermont.

Books by Judith Jones

• Knead It, Punch It, Bake It!: Make Your Own Bread, with Evan Jones (1981)
• The Book of Bread, with Evan Jones (1982)
• The L.L. Bean Game and Fish Cookbook, with Angus Cameron (1983)
• The L.L. Bean Book of New New England Cookery, with Evan Jones (1987)
• The Tenth Muse: My Life in Food (2007)
• The Pleasures of Cooking for One (2009)
• Love Me, Feed Me: Sharing with Your Dog the Everyday Good Food You Cook and Enjoy (2014)

Awards and Recognition

Judith Jones received many awards for her important work in publishing.

• (1985) Who's Who of Food & Beverage James Beard Award
• (2006) James Beard Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award

Many cookbooks that Judith Jones edited also won James Beard Awards:

• (1983) The Book of Bread by Judith and Evan Jones (Award: Single Subject)
• (1993) Peppers a Story of Hot Pursuits by Amal Naj (Award: Writing on Food)
• (1995) Jewish Cooking in America by Joan Nathan (Award: Food of the Americas)
• (2000) Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home by Julia Child and Jacques Pepin (Award: General)
• (2000) A Spoonful of Ginger by Nina Simonds (Award: Healthy Focus)
• (2002) Jacques Pepin Celebrates by Jacques Pepin (Award: Entertaining & Special Occasions)
• (2006) The New American Cooking by Joan Nathan (Award: Food of the Americas)
• (2006) Spices of Life: Simple and Delicious Recipes for Great Health by Nina Simonds (Award: Healthy Focus)

See also

• Cuisine of the United States#Modern cuisine

In Spanish: Judith Jones para niños