Henriette Davidis

Johanna Friederika Henriette Katharina Davidis arguably is Germany's most famous cookbook author. Although many similar cookbooks had been published by then, amongst others Sophie Wilhelmine Scheibler's Allgemeines deutsches Kochbuch für bürgerliche Haushaltungen in several editions, Davidis' Praktisches Kochbuch became the reference cookbook of the late 19th and early 20th century, a standard in German households. The large number of second-hand copies still available, frequently heavily annotated, are proof that the books were in much use. In many families Praktisches Kochbuch was handed down through the generations.

However the cookbook was only one facet of the extensive educational program Davidis devised for young women. Starting with the Puppenköchin for very young girls on to young unmarried women, and finally housewives responsible for their own household and servants, Davidis' books offered advice and information.