Gabriel Chevallier's delightful novel Clochemerle satirizes the titanic confrontation of secular and religious forces in a small wine-growing village in Beaujolais. The eruption begins when the socialist mayor decides that he wants to leave behind a monument to his administration's achievements. He takes as his model the ancient Romans, who were famous for two things: hygiene and noble edifices. Thus, he decides to unite the two concepts...by constructing a public urinal in the centre of town. There is one problem, however. The chosen locale is next to the village church, and this outrages the ecclesiastical party. (20030303)
Clochemerle
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Review
The plot is a marvel of ingenuity and makes most detective stories look primitive by comparison (John Brophy )
A fine satire, filled with humorous incidents and much subtle philosophy. It is for intelligent, open-minded people with a sense of humour (Yorkshire Post )
The author has a wonderful eye for village types, and the village of Clochemerle is built up for us as a shining and integrated whole - he has chosen to employ his great talents in describing a series of people, episoded and conversations that are ribald, exaggerated and bizarre. I must confess that its rollicking grossness pleased me (Howard Spring )
A full-blooded uproarious farce in the Rabelaisian tradition (Times Literary Supplement )
A fine satire, filled with humorous incidents and much subtle philosophy. It is for intelligent, open-minded people with a sense of humour (Yorkshire Post )
The author has a wonderful eye for village types, and the village of Clochemerle is built up for us as a shining and integrated whole - he has chosen to employ his great talents in describing a series of people, episoded and conversations that are ribald, exaggerated and bizarre. I must confess that its rollicking grossness pleased me (Howard Spring )
A full-blooded uproarious farce in the Rabelaisian tradition (Times Literary Supplement )
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'The plot is a marvel of ingenuity and makes most detective stories look primitive by comparison' John Brophy (20031106)
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
This is a beautifully written tale, full of french passion, fight and flare..A small old fashioned country town consumed by a desire for their fruity wine and women but divided over a modern edifice..Recommended..
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
If you ever visit rural France, read this first. If you are not visiting France - read it anyway!
5 Jun 2009
By Big Jim
TOP 50 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
Ah Clochemerle. Possibly my favourite book of all time. I've re-read it about 6 or 7 times now most recently just finishing it yesterday and it never fails to amuse and impress me. Bearing in mind it was written in 1936 it is a bit "racy" and when you consider it was translated in the same year for British publication, I hate to think what the guardians of our morals thought in those days. It still stands up well to the test of time and it's just a shame the two follow up novels - inferior but still fun - are so hard to get hold off. Just while I'm mentioning translation, the translator in this case goes under the crazy name of Jocelyn Godefroi and he makes an excellent job of it. Everyone who takes it upon themselves to publish a novel in translation from French should look to this one and marvel at what a great job he(she?) does.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Ripper38
Format:Paperback
Excellent and oh, still how true! I 01st read Clochemerle when I was about 20, never dreaming I was to spend the major part of my adult life in France. Now for having lived for so long in Provincial France, and not too far away from Lyons and the Beaujolais region, I can better visualize the streets of Clochemerle; the summer heat; the Lime trees and Horse chestnut trees that line the streets and town square; the people and the village "intrigues" and all I have to say is human nature never changes!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Clochmerle fan
it takes me back to the sleepy, colloquial villages where I once resided. the humour is so well conveyed as is the adherence to Catholicism in rural France. Read more
Published 1 month ago by L. P. Williams
4.0 out of 5 stars
Second time around
First read this while serving national service in Germany. (long time ago). Enjoyed it second time around on my kindle. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Barry Rushton
4.0 out of 5 stars
Funny allegory of war
Very funny, but shows an allegory of the madness of war. Al caused by efforts to provide a urinal near the church
Published 1 month ago by James Holland
5.0 out of 5 stars
A welcome chance to read this again
I think that the version I read years ago must have been severely abridged, what a fantastic portrayal of small town rural France and French politics between the wars. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Michelle Scutt
5.0 out of 5 stars
Clochmerle
I was replacing a book that I had lost many years ago and I thoroughly enjoyed it the second timr around
Published 4 months ago by Mr.Richard Robertson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Remember the tv show?
I read teh book becuae I cannot seem to get hold of the TV series that BBC showed in about 1974 / 75
Published 4 months ago by D. G. Southgate
5.0 out of 5 stars
Truly A Gem
2012 is, for me, my second time of reading this amusing and beautifully written gem of a story - whoever translated it from the original French must have an amazing command of both... Read more
Published 4 months ago by sicut uideo
5.0 out of 5 stars
Open a bottle of Beaujolais and enjoy.
I have known this book and its sequels; Clochemerle les Bains and Clochmere Babylon, for many years. They are all excellent reads and good for a belly laugh. Read more
Published 4 months ago by I. Chard
3.0 out of 5 stars
Book Club book
I first read this when I was in my teens and thought it was hilarious, but 50 years later I found it rather hard to get into, and not so funny.
Published 5 months ago by Mrs Caroline White
5.0 out of 5 stars
Delightful
A classic and extremely amusing. Beautiful woven tales of life in beaujolais country in the 1930s, you can smell the wine.
Published 5 months ago by N. Short
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