The Silver Fountain

Ambitious and talented Jean-Paul Fontaine had one overwhelming desire – to run an exclusive restaurant in London. His path was beset with frustration and tragedy but in time he rose from the penniless young waiter he had been when he arrived in London to the proprietor of 'The Silver Fountain' – a delightful restaurant in a quiet street in Soho. The Silver Fountain was to prove only the beginning of a longstanding and intense relationship between the Fontaine family and the restaurant world. Moving through the generations from the 1870s to the 1930s, and from London to Paris and New York, this is a passionate tale of obsession, ambition and culinary creation.

Michael Legat began writing at a very early age, but most of his career was devoted to publishing. However, having worked as an editorial director for some years, in 1978 he decided to leave the trade and take up writing full time. In 1980 his first novel, Mario's Vineyard, was published and this was followed by a series of other very well received and successful works. He remained heavily involved in the publishing industry until his death in 2011, serving on various committees and was also president of two writers' circles. He was also active in passing on his writing skills to both individuals and by selective teaching and, of course, through his various publications and guides. Michael Legat has been referred to as 'one of the most popular, principled, and influential figures in London publishing'.