Sunset House: More Perfume from Provence

by Winifred Fortescue

Perfume from Provence

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, France, Biography, History

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1937

About the author

Lady Winifred Fortescue was a writer and actress. She was also the wife of Sir John Fortescue, the Librarian and Archivist at Windsor Castle and British Army historian.

In the 1930s she and her husband moved to Provence, France beginning her book writing career with "Perfume from Provence". She wrote a number of other books whilst there. Her husband died within 2 years of them moving to France but she stayed on until forced to move out by the German invasion in World War II. She returned at the end of the war and died in Opio, Provence.

Reviews

[Miemie Wessels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sunset house..

It seems to me that day has to begin now. I really dont want this joy to be over. And sincerely hope to find a sequel .

[Hilary · Rating 5 out of 5]

After her husband's death, Winifred Fortescue decided to buy a little run-down cottage near Grasse in Provence (in the 1930s) and convert it into the house of her dreams. Naturally all did not go smoothly and others have recounted similar tales of buying their dream home and doing it up in France, but none as well written or charming as this. It is a portrait of a different world when rural Provencal life was simpler, more rustic, and much less affected by mass tourism.

Fortescue describes her world beautifully and with great affection for the people and place. Sheer delight from start to finish.

[Eleanor Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 1930s version of Escape to the Chateau set on the Côte d’Azur, this is Lady Fortescue’s story following the death of her husband, she is forced to downsize from a chateau to a mere Provençal cottage. The descriptions of the locals although slightly superior and problematic truly capture this world as it was. Fortescue does mention the beginning of tourism and expats in the area and this living alongside ancient wise healer fishermen and Italian/French locals is super fascinating. I also loved the gallant deeds of Mademoiselle, her American friend and their excursion to the Alps to escape the summer heat

[Gracie Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming read

How happy I am to have discovered this author as her writer’s “voice” is as clear and lovely today as it must have been decades ago when this volume was first published.

The people she meets and the life she builds in her tiny village are delightful.

[Pamela Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

As lovely and genteel as Perfume from Provence.

[Dianne Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable.

[Lynne Head]

The Sequel to Perfume from Provence. Another lovely story about the perils of restoring a little house in Provence.

[Päivi Brink · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lady Fortescue writes really beautifully about her life in Provence in the 1930s. Here is something I wrote about her books to my blog in Finnish: http://elossa1930.blogspot.com/2012/0...

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another delightful picture of Provence in the 1930's! I preferred 'Sunset House' but still loved the characters and their exploits around Provence!

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful, a gentle biography of Winifred Fortescue's life in Providence. It is frankly and simply told and so beautifully described that you can not only see it but almost feel it and enjoy the scent of the flowers. This is the description of her new home away from the home she shared with her late husband and the beautiful friendship with the Mademoiselle, her dearest friend. A lovely read.