Electric Decade: The Alice B Toklas Cookbook

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Electric Decade

Drama

Drama: Classic & Period

Classic titles that influenced and characterised the Jazz Age of the 1920s.

During 2020, we bring you a range of classic titles that influenced and characterised the Jazz Age of the 1920s.

During 2020, we bring you a range of classic titles that influenced and characterised the Jazz Age of the 1920s, from the beginnings of Modernism, through the parties and dancing as the shadow of the war was thrown off, to increasing uncertainty as the decade drew to a close.

Electric Decade: The Alice B Toklas Cookbook: Bass for Picasso

Bass for Picasso

The Alice B Toklas Cookbook

BBC Radio 4 - Electric Decade, The Alice B Toklas Cookbook, Bass for Picasso

The Jazz Age of the 1920s. Recipes and relationships are explored with Alice B Toklas.

Gertrude is mourning artist Juan Gris and Alice is preparing a lunch to amuse Pablo Picasso amid discussion about art and the imminent arrival of a puppy.

In this new drama by Sarah Woods the story of the first half of the twentieth century, the modern age, is told through the lens of the food grown, purchased, cooked and served by Alice B Toklas for her partner Gertrude Stein and their eclectic and talented guests.   

First published in 1954 and one of the bestselling cookbooks of all time, a "mingling of recipes and reminiscence", we follow this couple as they eat their way around France and America, being painted by Picasso and written about by Hemingway. 

In human terms, this is a story about Gertrude's determination and desire for success and it explores the lives of two women whose lives challenged so many norms - yet who knew that, in France, a potato salad must always be served surrounded by chicory.

Episode 3: Bass for Picasso
In which Gertrude mourns her friend and looks forward to the arrival of Basket and Alice reflects on how 'I have met many important people, several great people, but only three times in my life have I met a genius.'

CAST:
ALICE ..... Deborah Findlay
GERTRUDE STEIN ..... Sharon D Clarke
PICASSO ..... Paterson Joseph

Writer: Sarah Woods
Producer/Director: Celia de Wolff
Sound Engineer: David Thomas
Production Co-ordinator: Sarah Tombling

A Pier production for BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Recipes and relationships are explored trough the food cooked and served by Alice B Toklas for her partner Gertrude Stein and their eclectic and talented guests.

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