M.F.K. Fisher's Last House
"The sunset was strictly Maxfield Parrish. Thanks to the smatter of rain last week,
there is the sound of many frogs... Always amazing to me..."
-Letter to Norah Barr, 1973
M.F.K. a love of food, friendships, literature, and nature
Legendary author M.F.K. Fisher penned thirteen books during twenty-one years of residence in her ‘Last House,’ which was built for her by Bouverie Preserve landowner and architect David Pleydell-Bouverie. It was here that she welcomed friends such as Julia Child, James Beard, and Maya Angelou for conversations at the table.
A literary pursuit of wine and food
Aside from writing approximately 34 books in her lifetime, another one of Fisher’s legacies is the Napa Wine Library. In 1961, M.F.K. Fisher along with James Beard and a group of other notables, saw a need for a place in Napa where the public could access a variety of wine materials. They started a campaign to acquire wine literature and raise funds and in 1963 the Napa Valley Wine Library Association was created. Fisher helped to launch this effort and served on the board for a time. The Napa Valley Wine Library Association thrives today and materials for the Wine Library collection are housed in the St Helena Public Library.
During her life and continuing to this day, she influenced many with her reflections on food. You can hear her voice in the writings of many popular chefs today. We think she would say when we talk about food, we are talking about ourselves, our identity and our place in the world.
Mary Frances, as she was known by her family and friends, lived in Last House on the Bouverie Preserve from 1971 until her death in 1992.
Frequently asked questions about Last House
Is Last House available to tour?
No. After eight years of special programming related to Last House, we are ceasing all M.F.K. Fisher-related programing starting July 1, 2025.
While we are sure this is not the news many friends and fans were hoping for, we judged it the best decision for the mission and vision of Audubon Canyon Ranch.
We acknowledge and appreciate the global significance and enduring contribution of M.F.K. Fisher to literature and life. However, curating and running a program dedicated to M.F.K. Fisher is well outside the mission of the organization, and we must invest our trusted resources toward achieving strategic outcomes.
What will happen to the paintings, furnishings, and memorabilia?
Over the years, many paintings, furnishings and memorabilia have been donated back to the house by family and friends. “Reaching out to family and friends who have lovingly shared items, memories, and stories has been rich,” says Kennedy Golden, Fisher’s daughter and an advisor on the project.
Upon closure of regular programming, the items have been entrusted to Golden for return to their respective owners.
In deep appreciation
We deeply appreciate the many docents, volunteers, and supporters of the Last House program and invite folks to stay connected to the story of M.F.K. Fisher at https://mfkfisher.com/
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