european bread book?

Leader's _Bread Alone_ is based primarily on formulas he learned in France; his _Local Breads_ is more extensively researched and has classic recipes from many European regions.  Hamelman's _Bread_ draws extensively on his experience at bakeries in Ireland and Germany.

sPh

Dan Lepard's book 'The Handmade Loaf' has recipes from many European countries and beautiful photography. The recipes are unusual and very good and his kneading technique produces great rustic breads.  Patsy

You should also look up Andrew Whitley's "Bread Matters".

I agree: Dan Lepard's books (one is 'The handmade Loaf) and the book 'Bread Matters' by A. Whitley.  The later is excellent if you want to have more than recipes, but wish to gain an understanding of all that makes bread, the methodolgy, etc.  But, I am a great fan of Richard Bertinet (www.thebertinetkitchen.com).  His two books are 'Dough' and 'Crust' and each comes with a DVD.  His method of kneading is quite unusual and different from anyone else but it works.  He is a Frenchman who now lives in Bath but learned his trade in France.

Again, if you are keen to gain an encyclopedic knowledge of bread and baking, the recently re-printed book by Elizabeth David, 'English Bread and Yeast Cookery' is to be recommended for bed-time reading!

A limited but very good source of recipes from France: the site 'ChocolateandZucchini.com' - it is both in French and English and her recipes always work.  She is a real foodie who recently got on to making bread.  A discovery for her and a real good source of recipes for us.

Hope this helps.

Claudine from Oxfordshire,

If  you're looking for a good all around European bread book, Jan Hedh's Swedish Breads and Pastries is very good. In his book he cover France, Sweden, Switzerland and Italy fairly extensively, in particular pertaining to pre-doughs/ pre-ferments. A word to the wise though, the water ratios can be unreliable as European flour absorbs less water than most North American wheat, so always at least 5% water to his recipes. Bonne chance ma fabulous amie! Bises! Bises!