Beginning today, fans of KFC's Facebook Pages around the world can access content from the soon-to-be-released book, "Colonel Harland Sanders: The Autobiography of the Original Celebrity Chef."
The original manuscript, written by the Colonel in 1966 and discovered by accident more than 40 years later, is being launched exclusively on Facebook. The entire book can be downloaded for free at facebook.com/kfc beginning June 4. It is not available in book stores or via online book sellers.
"What's most amazing about the book is that while it was written nearly a half-century ago, both the insightful life lessons and the delicious recipes remain relevant today," said Jason Marker, chief marketing officer for KFC in the U.S. "Because of that, our goal is to share the autobiography with as many people as possible, free of charge. We couldn't think of a better way to do that than via Facebook."
The free content includes: a foreword written by KFC's first franchisee Pete Harman, an introduction written by Colonel Sanders, and the first chapter. Also available are two recipes selected from among the 33 never-before-seen recipes featured in the book: potato pancakes and upside-down peach cobbler.
Also featured on the KFC Facebook Page are two videos from celebrity chef Edward Lee, who provides a modern twist on the Colonel's recipes. Chef Lee, a Brooklyn native and executive chef/partner at Louisville, Ky.'s 610 Magnolia restaurant, won the Food Network's Iron Chef America competition in November, 2010, and finished in the top five of Top Chef Texas Season 9 earlier this year. He was a finalist for The Best Chef Award Southeast from the prestigious James Beard Foundation in both 2011 and 2012.
"'The Autobiography of the Original Celebrity Chef' truly is an inspiring story of passion and determination," Lee said. "I'm thrilled that KFC's Facebook fans are going to be able to download it free of charge. I think it will move people to be the best they can be."
In November 2011, KFC announced that the manuscript had been discovered in the company's archives.
The book contains 33 never-before-published recipes, dozens of rare historic photos and stories told firsthand the Colonel. Beginning June 4, the entire book can be downloaded free of charge, but only via KFC's Facebook Page.
In addition to the downloadable book, a very small number of hardcover copies also are being printed. While none of these hardcover books are being sold, 11 of them will be awarded to KFC Facebook fans. The KFC U.S. Facebook page boasts nearly 5 million likes.
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