Serge Bastarde Ate My Baguette: On the Road in the Real Rural France

by John Dummer

I found Serge’s advice mostly useful and it would have been churlish to have refused his invitation to accompany him on a trip out in the country to “forage for hidden treasures”. If the truth be known, I secretly couldn’t resist the novelty of passing time with a bloke called Serge Bastarde.

When ex-blues drummer John Dummer decamps to France to start up as an antiques dealer and live the simple life, he doesn’t count on meeting Serge Bastarde. The lovable (if improbably named) rogue and brocanteur offers to teach John the tricks of the trade in return for his help in a series of breathtakingly unscrupulous schemes. As the pair trawl through antiques markets and old farmhouses looking for hidden treasure, they get into more than their fair share of scrapes: whether they’re conning hearty lunches from unsuspecting old peasants, secretly manufacturing priceless collectibles or losing a Stradivarius to gypsies. Filled with eccentric characters, high jinks and unlikely adventures, this is a hilarious romp through the real rural France.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Adventure

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is fun, but I was hoping for something a little more about rural Southern France. It's set there, but the book is more about interacting with Serge. That's fine, and entertaining, but it wasn't what I was really hoping for. I think I would have reacted better if I hadn't thought I was getting into something else to begin with. Sometimes that isn't an issue, but sometimes it is.

[Reena · Rating 2 out of 5]

This started off amusingly enough but it soon became a drag reading about an idiot and his accomplice in France.

[Freddy Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this so very much whilst on holiday! Serge's antics aswell as the many other mad characters frequently made me explode into raucous laughter whilst sat by the pool or on the beach. So many laughs and feel good moments, I don't see how this could fail anybody with a good sense of humor. Love how with its almost constant comedic irony it also manages to charm, sadden and move at the same time. Brilliant! not just a holiday or summery book, I'd read this anytime
Onto book 2.

[Em · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel the author forgot to write a story when writing this.
There was nothing that happened as such other than the same thing on repeat (the main characters friend constantly scamming people and the main character thinking it’s alright as he’ll let him off ‘this time’).
It has potential but fell flat

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an easy, afternoon read. If you expect something deeper and more realistic from it, you will be disappointed. The author is clearly a chancer who relies on stereotypes and stretching the truth in this book, but taken as a light read, it's enjoyable enough to warrant three stars.

[Bob Pedley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good fun

[David Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gentle series of often ridiculous capers, in easy-reading episodic chapters. Filled with mild exaggeration for comic effect.

Light and joyful.

[Fran Severn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun book. When a ex-blues drummer retires to France to start yet another career as an antiques dealer in rural France, he teams up -- more or less -- with Serge Bastarde. Which is a rather appropriate name, as it turns out. Serge is also an antiques dealer, a raconteur, shifty dude, and occasional schemer. His advice and help put the two of them into many have-to-be-true-becaause-no-one-could-make-this-stuff-up misadventures. Along the way, we experience life in the France that tourists rarely see.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this up after searching Amazon for a John Dummer Blues Band album and didn't select the music section.
I wasn't aware that he'd written anything and didn't know where he'd ended up after Darts.
It's a very light read, fairly interesting (his life as a French antiques market trader might have been more interesting to me than others) although at times felt possibly subject to some embellishment for comic effect

[Chris Trengove · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very funny book that manages to give an insight into the realities of living in rural France, while choreographing a cast of fantastical and larger than life characters. Serge himself is a treasure, a Gallic Arthur Daley operating in the world of antiques and bric a brac rather than used cars. Recommended for anyone who likes France, a laugh and a well-written episodic tale.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy and amusing book, of life in France as an expat trying to run a business. It is amusing and funny, so makes a great beach read, but doesn't stand out in amongst all the french expat paperbacks I seem to read nowadays!

[Sabina Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read

[Philip · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in one sitting. Its funny and If you want an alternative view on Rural France this is about as good as it gets.

[Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

S

[Kia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting cast of characters, especially the lingerie lady.