Irma S. Rombauer

Irma S. Rombauer was an American cookbook author, best known for "The Joy of Cooking" (1931), one of the world's most widely read cookbooks. She self-published the first edition with her own savings during the Great Depression after her husband's suicide. The book became a bestseller due to its readability and Rombauer's unique, witty style, with recipes designed for middle-class home cooks. "The Joy of Cooking" has been continuously in print, with revisions and updates by her daughter, Marion Rombauer Becker, and grandson, Ethan Becker, and has sold over 18 million copies.