A Year in Provence - Peter Mayle

The time of choosing was upon us again. Would I plump for a Francis? A Koontz? A Mansell? An author I was familiar with? Nah, went for a Mayle. A Peter Mayle. An author and book that I had only fleetingly heard about when John Thaws visual offering of 'A Year in Provence' had been a flop. I never saw the program. I had never read any of his work. I didn't know what to expect? The only reason that this book was in my 'to read' pile was, because it was free. In fact, the only reason I bought the magazine was, because this book was free. It was a travel mag, and while there's nothing I like better than to spread my wings and leave my ...  Read the complete review

At some point in the late 1990s, probably when I was studying Higher French and becoming more interested in the culture and lifestyle of France, I picked up my dads copy of A Year In Provence. I was enticed by the watercolour painting of a vineyard and pretty house on the cover, and the blurb on the back promising me tales of beautiful Provence, delicious food and invasions of friends and builders. Once I had picked the book up that first time, I didn't put it down until I was finished. I then declared to anyone that would listen that one day I was going to move to Provence and live in an old farmhouse, growing my own vines and vegetables. It hasn't happened ...  Read the complete review

The reason I ask that question is that his book "A Year in Provence" and it's sequel "Toujours Provence" has probably been responsible for more French language courses to have been sold than any other promotional source. Even those of us who probably won't take "le plunge" and up sticks to move to rural Provence, have our dreams. And if those dreams of peaceful country bliss, where the sun seems to never stop shining, where the olive oil is akin to eating "pure sunshine", where the wine is plentiful, palette-orgasming and cheap, where the simplest food is inexpensive and cordon-bleu, lead us to thinking of ...  Read the complete review

I'm sure that the majority of people in Britain - and across the world by now - will have read and been enchanted by Peter Mayall's sumptuously written and highly evocative portrayal of French life. The anecdotes and observations are penetrating, and as a veteran of countless Gallic forays and A-level French myself I was soon smiling and nodding in silent agreement. I too have wondered at the correct number of kisses to award a lucky mademoiselle, and cringed over whether to treat her gnarled maman to the same affection. This and countless others will leave you laughing out loud at times, and it is hard not to remember them whenever anyone refers to our dear ...  Read the complete review

Have you ever dreamt of giving up everything and moving to another country, slipping into the gentler lifestyle and experiencing, and indeed being part of, a whole new culture? Do you long to pass your lane in the rat race onto someone else? In that case read A Year in Provence at your peril, because by the end of chapter one you’ll have sold your suburban semi and bought a crumbling Mediterranean maison. Like so many, the author Peter Mayle and his wife shared the above dream, the only difference being they turned it into a reality. Mayle’s book is an autobiographical account of their first year living in Provence, an idyllic rural region in ...  Read the complete review