Martini, Straight Up

Lowell Edmunds began to learn the lore of the premier American cocktail as a teenage Martini-drinker in the 1950s. He witnessed this cocktail's demise in the 1970s and was moved to write 'The Silver Bullet', published in 1981. He was present at the Martini's rebirth in the 1990s, which inspired this revised edition. He has also been employed as a professor of classics at several universities.

List of Illustrations
Preface to the Revised Edition
Preface to the First Edition
Introduction
Time Line. The Martini Decade by Decade
The Simple Messages of the Martini
Message One. The Martini is American—it is not European, Asian, or African
Message Two. The Martini is urban and urbane—it is not rural or rustic
Message Three. The Martini is a high-status, not a low-status, drink
Message Four. The Martini is a man's, not a woman's, drink
Message Five. The Martini is optimistic, not pessimistic
Messgae Six. The Martini is the drink of adults, not of children
Message Seven. The Martini belongs to the past, not the present
The Simple Messages Reconsidered
The Ambiguities of the Martini
Ambiguity One. The Martini is civilized—the Martini is uncivilized
Ambiguity Two. The Martini unites—the Martini separates
Ambiguity Three. The Martini is classic—the Martini is individual
Ambiguity Four. The Martini is sensitive—the Martini is tough
Historical Background of the Ambiguities
Conclusion
Theory, Method, and Bibliography
Appendix. The Martini Glass
Notes
Index