The Provence trilogy

Provence #1-3

by Peter Mayle

Genres: Travel

193 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1998

About the author

Peter Mayle was a British author famous for his series of books detailing life in Provence, France. He spent fifteen years in advertising before leaving the business in 1975 to write educational books, including a series on sex education for children and young people. In 1989, A Year in Provence was published and became an international bestseller. His books have been translated into more than twenty languages, and he was a contributing writer to magazines and newspapers. Indeed, his seventh book, A Year in Provence, chronicles a year in the life of a British expatriate who settled in the village of Ménerbes. His book A Good Year was the basis for the eponymous 2006 film directed by Ridley Scott and starring actor Russell Crowe. Peter Mayle died in Provence, France.

Reviews

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many years ago I fell in love with the first book, A Year in Provence - well written and truly evocative. When I discovered the complete trilogy at my local bookshop, I was therefore thrilled. I enjoyed the rich descriptions all over again, the characters and stories all contributing to an atmosphere that is almost tangibly French, and overflowing with a sense of adventure and wellbeing. Peter Mayle has a knack for telling a story so humorously and vividly that the reader feels right there.

The second book, Toujours Provence, made for good reading, too, though not quite as well put together as the first. The third, Encore Provence, is what seriously damages the overall rating for the trilogy.

From the frenetic start - a shock to the reader to learn that the author RETURNS to Provence after a considerable stay in the States - the book simply makes for an uneasy read, more a loose collection of essays than the cohesive joy the first book was. Nothing seems to really coalesce together. The feeling of openness and invitation into Peter Mayle's life that contributed so much to the charm of the first book is almost entirely lacking in the last. Descriptions are so generalized and even - by admission of the author himself - made up, that the reader is left with a sense of emptiness and disconnect.

It is as if Peter Mayle is hiding away, and - understandable as it is, fans and sightseers having made life hard for him - the book suffers from it. Enormously. It is the third book that shows so clearly that the recipe for a great expat chronicle should include not only the sights and sounds and experiences of a foreign country, but very much the HEART of the story teller, too.

If you want to experience the joys of an expat chronicle that is well written and deeply evocative in the rich descriptions and wry sense of humour of a masterful writer, then read A Year in Provence. A full five stars for that.

Read Toujours Provence under advisement.

Encore Provence is best avoided.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the series that started the modern arm-chair travel craze. The first is by far the best but all are a good, easy, happy read. Light a lavender scented candle and enjoy!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, it takes to me Provence every time I open it's pages. I frequently dip back into favourite chapters to get that 'away from it all', relaxing feeling.