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Food Legend Julia Child Was Once A Secret Intelligence Operative Researching Sharks
The iconic author and cook had an interesting career during World War II
With her distinctive voice and popular books and television appearances, Julia Child became one of the most recognizable figures in the world of food media. Her passion for cooking, particularly French cuisine, have inspired generations of people to take up the pots and pans arts and discover their own joy in the kitchen. However, before she became a media sensation she did other work, including a stint working with top security clearance on projects, including one involving sharks, for the organization that would eventually become the CIA.
Born Julia McWilliams in 1912 in California, she later took her married name of Child in 1946. Following graduating from Smith College with a degree in history, she worked for a time as a copywriter in New York City. Having grown up in an affluent family with its own cook, she didn’t develop a real passion in cooking until after her marriage to her husband Paul, who was a foodie and exposed her to his culinary passions.
In 1966, when she was solidly in middle age, she published her opus, the 726 page Mastering the Art of French Cooking after years of having it rejected for length. It was an…
