Julia Child's 2004 obituary, which is also fascinating.

There are no words for how awesome this is.

I thought it was common knowledge that she was a former spy. I heard this at least 5 years ago.

Yes .. it's not new information that she worked for the OSS. What's new is that old files have been released which give a lot of fascinating information about her and others who also served. She was so neat. I read the biography/autobiography she wrote with her nephew and it was great - a lot of fun to read. She was so smart but still so human and so willing to share her flaws and experiences. She sort of personifies the phrase "a great life well lived".

this is cool, occhi, thanks for posting!

I thought it was common knowledge that she was a former spy. I heard this at least 5 years ago.

I was actually wondering about that. I feel like I had heard it, too, but the papers are presenting it as new info, so.... I dunno.

On preview: Ahh, Kangaroo, that makes sense. Thanks!

Yes, I also knew she worked for the OSS, but information on that agency has been so limited over the years that her role was often relegated to dismissive asides, like the one in the NYT obit article above "she applied to work for the OSS but wound up as a file clerk..." etc., which likely seriously downplays her involvement.

I think she made an excellent candidate for an agent in that era; a wealthy, well-travelled socialite with ties to France. Plus her personality was such that despite the fact that she was a very sharp woman, she's also kind of the last person you'd expect to be a spy. Which is pretty much the point, really.

I remember when they declassified the VENONA transcripts; they're truly edifying.

This is so fucking cool! I just sent this around to my foodie geeks.

This is so cool. I have read about the file clerk thing, but never knew that she was actually a spy. I love Julia Child.

Yeah, this isn't "news" and was even mentioned numerous times on the blue. But I guess the files are news themselves. In any event she was just one of many people passing information to the OSS. It wasn't like she was a Pearl Cornioley.

This has me concocting all kinds of culinarian Get Smart scenarios in my head. "We know your secret plans, Barön Vön Shnötrag!! The ladle was a microphone!" before slitting his throat with a potato peeler.

wow. Jaw drops. Am amazed with this info. Had no idea.