More than 40,000 listeners have enjoyed this story on cassette. Now anyone who's ever dreamed of getting away from it all can enjoy the charms and challenges of A Year in Provence on CD!
Peter Mayle and his wife had been to Provence as tourists. They had dreamed of one day trading the long, gray winters and damp summers of England for the blue skies and sunshine of the coast of southern France. And then they made it happen.
They moved into an old farmhouse at the foot of the Luberon mountains and embarked on a wonderful, if at times bewildering, new life. Among their experiences that first year: being inundated with builders and visitors, grappling with the native accent, taking part in goat races and supervising the planting of a new vineyard.
Peter Mayle personally recounts the pleasures and frustrations of Provençal life--sharing in a way no one else can, the unique and endearing culture that is Provence.
A Year in Provence was a New York Times bestseller for three years and won the British Book Awards' "Best Travel Book of the Year."
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"Nothing will make you want to pack up and move to the heat of the south of France like this book. I read this book after loving the movie this book was based upon. I adore this culture and the visual images and situations he describes are stunning. love love love"
— Shannan (4 out of 5 stars)
“Engaging, funny and richly appreciative.
— The New York TimesStylish, witty, delightfully readable.
— The Sunday Times (London)A Francophile's delight, this is a highly entertaining book.
— Library JournalI really loved this book.
— Julia Child" 3.7 A lovely, nice book. But not so much by way of plot. What I learned is that I really don't like French food, which I already kind of knew. "
— Eliana, 2/17/2014" I liked it overall, especially the parts about food and wine but it really lacked a solid plot. The American in me couldn't understand some of the 'delights' of Provence but it felt like a little get away so I'll probably read it again at some point. It has me craving cheese and champagne now. "
— Mandy, 2/15/2014" I read this before my trip to Paris and found his take on the French culture to be dead on. I wish I could move to France where life is slower and relationships are more important than money. "
— Peggie, 2/10/2014" A delightful read that makes me want to move to Provence myself. "
— Jessie, 2/9/2014" Read this book AFTER I spent a month in the south of France. That is when I really 'got it' about French country living. It made it much more fun...and real! "
— Julia, 2/5/2014" So delightful -- you'll feel like you're there! Mayle has a storytelling gift, and he's really funny. "
— Rasa, 2/2/2014" This was definitely not a book I would have picked up and decided to read by myself. Chosen by my book group and well recommended by my local librarian, I started reading with high expectations. While I appreciated the fine attention to detail and the lyrical way people and places were described I grew frustrated with the copious amount of French words in the book. I understand that it is a story of an English family living in France, but I do not speak French. I also felt like there was no arc in the story. It seemed more a collection of short stories for each month than a complete novel. It was ok, but I probably would not recommend it to a friend, unless I knew they spoke French and had a desire to read short stories about the people. "
— Madison, 1/30/2014" A fun pre-trip read. Cute anecdotes and fun, likable characters. "
— Amy, 1/30/2014" Just about booked a one-way ticket to Provence after reading this book. "
— Les, 1/23/2014" Enjoyed it, but the 2 that follow are funnier "
— Bea, 1/19/2014" A nice, light read about a beautiful and charming place. Provence is really the main character here :) "
— Michruss2, 1/17/2014" Love this book as I recently came back from a European adventure in the Spring. Reminds me that there is more to life than work. "
— Kristen, 1/5/2014" i really enjoyed getting lost in provence for a bit...altho i now want to travel there or anywhere! a great vacation read with lovely characters. i did find parts a bit overly descriptive. "
— KaDo, 12/27/2013" Fantastic! Loved it. "
— Corrie, 12/25/2013" What a delightful read. "
— Claire, 12/6/2013" How the frech love to eat.....what a funny,charming book.It made be laugh and very,very hungry.3 1/2 stars! "
— Linda, 11/20/2013" I'm a Francophile, so I enjoyed reading about life in Provence and the cultural references. "
— Brooke, 10/17/2013" A complete delight, cover to cover. "
— Sherbert, 8/10/2013" Great read. Author has a dry sense of humor and a sharp eye for human foibles and cultural quirks, all presented with great humor. "
— Ladybug, 7/28/2013" Laugh out loud funny and full of detailed delicious food descriptions. "
— Carolyn, 6/18/2013" Excellent, funny book. Makes you want to spend a year eating your way through Povence. "
— Wendy, 6/15/2013" I love France and have long dreamed of living the fantasy and buying a home there. This was a fun read and he does a wonderful job describing Provence is all its physical and gastronomic beauty. "
— Jan, 6/4/2013" Everyone's read it. "
— Jane, 5/25/2013" Fun holiday type book following year of living in beautiful countryside. Great characters that make you feel a part of the world. "
— Miko, 11/6/2012" It reminds me alot of Under the Tuscan Sun which was written considerably later- very quaint and I can enjoy it since I've studied abroad in France and lived there for a brief stint- It's quite charming... "
— Marisa, 9/19/2012" This is another comfort read for me. Amusing, light-hearted. "
— Shadow, 6/22/2012" Upon hearing of my impending trip to the south of France, my friend Alden recommended this book as a way of dipping my feet into the culture. I didn't think I'd plow through it so fast - something about Mr. Mayle's diction moved me. "
— Shoshi, 12/27/2011" Loved it...even bought the PBS movie that followed the book. Well written, great beach read. Especially in this year filled with politics. "
— Melinda, 9/6/2011" Fantastic book if you are looking for a nice summer/winter/fall/spring reading about beautiful Provence. Living in a paradise, surrounded by easy-going people in total happiness... mmm... even if you just read about it - it already makes you feel wonderful! "
— Olga, 8/30/2011" Utterly wonderful. A great summer escape. "
— Myev, 7/6/2011" I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Reminds me of where I live now, except I'm in Spain, not France. "
— A.J., 5/20/2011" While this was entertaining, I must say I'm a bit put off my self-involved tales written by folks with seemingly endless resources - it's all a bit smug. "
— Lissa, 5/10/2011" Really made me want to go to France! "
— Hannah, 5/6/2011" I got a tour of Provence for $0.25! "
— Cory, 5/1/2011" A nice book with not much substance to it. Peter Mayle's account of a year spent living in Provence, France. Several amusing anecdotes, quite a bit of discussion about food, and not much else. "
— Steve, 4/16/2011" My SIL gave me this book a few years ago for Christmas. I liked it, but being set in France there's a whole lot of food talk, which I don't mind, but along with that goes a whole lot of talk about wine, which I couldn't care less about. "
— Shauna, 4/14/2011" Loved reading about the ways of the French. Easy read and you learn some new french words. Can't wait to read his second book! "
— Sandy, 4/12/2011" Loved it...The way Peter writes takes one away right to his back yard with his chickens and his friendly french neighbour.I want to go to France now! "
— Lady, 4/7/2011" Very amusing. It should be titled, "A Year With the French." Great, easy read. "
— Vicki, 4/7/2011" I like memoirs (this is the second "living in France" memoir I've read this year), but there comes a point when I have to trudge through to finish them. Fiction is just my thing, I guess. :) Anyway, this memoir was interesting and humorous, with its insights into the French people. <br/> "
— Kristin, 4/3/2011Peter Mayle (1939–2018), British-born author of several novels and books of nonfiction, spent fifteen years in the advertising business before escaping in 1975 to write books, including several New York Times bestsellers. The British Books Awards named him author of the year in 1992, and he was a recipient of the Légion d’Honneur award from the French government for his cultural contributions. His work has been translated into seventeen languages, and he has contributed to a variety of newspapers and magazines. His A Year in Provence was produced as a television series starring John Thaw and screened in 1993. The novel A Good Year was the basis for the 2006 film of the same name directed by Ridley Scott and starring actors Russell Crowe and Marion Cotillard.