Favorite fiction or non-fiction books that take place in or are about the French Riviera or Provence
Dec 18th, 2002, 05:06 PM
#1
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Favorite fiction or non-fiction books that take place in or are about the French Riviera or Provence
Hi, all,<BR><BR>I have a friend who is traveling to France next year (basing in Mougins -- touring he Riviera and Provence). Wanted to get her a book or two -- fiction, non-fiction or a mix -- on this region Any suggestions appreciated. (For non-fiction, interesting guide book suggestions are fine).<BR><BR>Many thanks and happy travels and holidays.<BR><BR>John H.
Dec 18th, 2002, 07:23 PM
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Two Towns in Provence, by MFK Fisher. Non-fiction. Window on Provence, by Bo Niles, non-fiction. Both are kind of memoirs; Niles is more impressionistic. She writes about a stay which must have taken place only a kilometre or so away from where we rented a gite in Gordes, it was so familiar.
Dec 19th, 2002, 06:46 AM
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There is a series of two books by a British author. Sorry I can't recall the exact title, but there's something about "olive" in them, since she moved to Provence to manage an olive tree plantation, gets romantically involved, etc. Quite a success in the UK. Something like "beyond the olive tree"...
Dec 19th, 2002, 10:20 AM
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The Long Afternoon, by Giles Waterfield: a very atmospheric, somewhat melancholy novel about the life of an English expatriate couple in Menton, on the Riviera, between the world wars. I don't think it was ever published in the U.S., but it's available from amazon.co.uk.
Dec 19th, 2002, 10:48 AM
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Vincent may be thinking about Carol Drinkwater's "The Olive Farm," although I was unaware there was a second in the series. <BR>Carol Drinkwater, as we old-timers may recall, played Helen Herriot in the BBC series "All Creatures Great and Small." Reading her book I felt as if I was catching up on the life of an old friend.
Dec 19th, 2002, 02:15 PM
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As for fiction, I would recommend those of probably their two best native writers, both of whom loved the area and write of it evocatively and with poetry and color: Marcel Pagnol and Jean Giono. Pagnol's works may be a little simplistic, but I think some adults do enjoy them (Le Chateau de ma Mere and Gloire de mon Pere, or My Mother's Chateau and My Father's Glory).<BR><BR>I think Jean Giono might be better and would recommend: Joy of Man's Desiring, Second Harvest, or The Man Who Planted Trees. You can read about them on Amazon or someplace, they are in English translation). Second Harvest is sort of a Provencale fable and would be good if he liked something along the lines of that movie Chocolat. The Man who Planted Trees is sort of philosophy about the difference one person can make in the world. Giono was a pacifist and sort of unusual leftie, very affected by WWI, and got in a lot of trouble for his pacifist views although eventually he was awarded some national literary prize. He is considered one of the best French contemporary writers (he wrote mainly from 1935-1970) now. He was blacklisted for a while by the National Writers' Committee (and perhaps imprisoned) for not being partisan enough during the war, I guess, but that is a dark part of French intellectual history, as far as I'm concerned.<BR><BR>In the nonfiction category, I especially enjoyed Provence by Lawrence Durrell although I think it is out of print now. <BR><BR>The Memoirs of Frederic Mistral might be good if he likes that kind of thing -- memoirs about the Provencal life of late 19th century, a vanished lifestyle, by the famous local writer/poet. I know that's available easily in translation now. Here is a good link I found on Mistral (he founded that museum in Arles, so your friend may be visiting there):<BR>http://www.beyond.fr/history/mistral.html<BR><BR>So, I think it depends on your friend's tastes and reading habits -- for more serious literature, I'd suggest something by Giono or Mistral. Of course you could get both serious and light (Mayles is light but I'm afraid I don't really care for his work that much).<BR><BR>Guidebooks: Michelin green is always good for specifics; for Provence/Riviera, I prefer the Cadogan.
Dec 19th, 2002, 05:53 PM
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For light reading, Judith Kratz's "Mistral's Daughter".One"of my favorite places in villeneuve-les Aviignon, "Le Prieure" ïs a place I spent two magical weeks is featured in the plot.All of MFK Fisher's books, "long ago in France", Two towns in Provence"are a good start.<BR>Richard Goodman's 'French Dirt.<BR>"Sobin's, "The Fly truffler.<BR>Ford Madox Ford's, "Provence".<BR>And for the Riviera, Mayle's Chasing Cezanne"" and Hotel Pastis"" as another poster above mentioned and Sagan's novels. <BR>'T
Dec 19th, 2002, 07:32 PM
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John,<BR>There are a ton of books out there if you can still find them. These are about Provence.<BR>I especially loved the video (4 in all)of Peter Mayle's "A Year in Provence." I received them as a gift and refer to them often. This is a good start. Your<BR>friend can rent from local library.<BR>Some other books are:<BR>--Murder She Wrote: Provence to Die For<BR>--The Veil of Years<BR>--A Dogs Life: Peter Mayle<BR>--Provencal Tales<BR>--Love in Provence<BR>--To Die in Provence<BR>--Essence of Provence<BR><BR>
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