- Hardcover: 192 pages
- Publisher: ISIS Large Print Books; Large Print edition edition (May 1994)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1856951669
- ISBN-13: 978-1856951661
- Product Dimensions: 23.2 x 16.7 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 283,088 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Review
`charming... touchingly quaint, frequently witty and refreshingly politically incorrect.' --The Good Book Guide, July 2009
`witty account of village life... an enchanting read.'
--Farnham Herald, July 24, 2009
`Her writing is very much of its time: determinedly light and oozing with... affection for the people around her.'
-- FT.com, 28th August 2009
`Her writing is very much of its time: determinedly light... Lady Fortescue ended up much respected in France.'
--FT.com, 28 August 2009
`first published in 1935... the original story of falling for France... comically punctuated by encounters with stonemasons, craftsmen and gardeners.'
--St Christopher's Beds & Bars, Live-Your-Life ezine, December 2010 --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
`witty account of village life... an enchanting read.'
--Farnham Herald, July 24, 2009
`Her writing is very much of its time: determinedly light and oozing with... affection for the people around her.'
-- FT.com, 28th August 2009
`Her writing is very much of its time: determinedly light... Lady Fortescue ended up much respected in France.'
--FT.com, 28 August 2009
`first published in 1935... the original story of falling for France... comically punctuated by encounters with stonemasons, craftsmen and gardeners.'
--St Christopher's Beds & Bars, Live-Your-Life ezine, December 2010 --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
Review
`this book will fill you with new-found enthusiasm and inspiration... a witty and charming account.'
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Lady Winifred writes about her experiences of moving to a tiny mountain village in Provence in the 1930's with her husband, referred to throughout as Monsieur, and the trials and tribulations of dealing with a new country. Not only does she come up against the barrier of language, both French and Italian, but also the completely different culture and way of life there. Her collection of amusing anecdotes about managing the builders, servants and gardeners, dealing with local officials, encountering the dubious honour of being invited to a wedding, and learning to drive on the treacherous mountain roads are all told with a smile, and ability to laugh at herself and a genuine love for the place that is utterly infectious. The illustrations by E. H. Shepherd which accompany the text throughout just make this book even more enjoyable to read. If I hadn't wanted to visit Provence before, I certainly would after reading Perfume from Provence; as it is, I'm only more keen to go there someday.
The section on driving was particularly entertaining, not least because of the way in which Lady Winifred anthropomorphises her cars. There is the gallant English Sir William whom she has had to leave behind and her new little Fiat named Desiree because there is a long period of waiting for the car to arrive from the manufacturers during which she is `desiree mais pas trouve`. But it is the section on driving lessons which is most endearing. My woes at the hands of the DVLA pale into comparison beside a friendly local teaching Winifred to brave the mountain roads by directing her up a precarious, winding track, completely unprotected from a long drop into the valley below on one side, which turns out to be a one way street running in the opposite direction to that in which she is driving. Of course, she only learns this on meeting a rather surprised car coming straight towards her. I also loved the account of how one of Winifred's friends accidentally runs over her garden while Winifred is giving her a lesson and all the servants are enlisted to try to disguise the damage before the gardener notices, after which they gleefully conspire to deny all knowledge of noticing anything happening.
Perfume from Provence is such a happy book, full of laughter and fond nostalgia, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this relaxing, amusing tale of French rural life as seen through the eyes of the bemused but affectionate English to anyone at all.
The section on driving was particularly entertaining, not least because of the way in which Lady Winifred anthropomorphises her cars. There is the gallant English Sir William whom she has had to leave behind and her new little Fiat named Desiree because there is a long period of waiting for the car to arrive from the manufacturers during which she is `desiree mais pas trouve`. But it is the section on driving lessons which is most endearing. My woes at the hands of the DVLA pale into comparison beside a friendly local teaching Winifred to brave the mountain roads by directing her up a precarious, winding track, completely unprotected from a long drop into the valley below on one side, which turns out to be a one way street running in the opposite direction to that in which she is driving. Of course, she only learns this on meeting a rather surprised car coming straight towards her. I also loved the account of how one of Winifred's friends accidentally runs over her garden while Winifred is giving her a lesson and all the servants are enlisted to try to disguise the damage before the gardener notices, after which they gleefully conspire to deny all knowledge of noticing anything happening.
Perfume from Provence is such a happy book, full of laughter and fond nostalgia, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this relaxing, amusing tale of French rural life as seen through the eyes of the bemused but affectionate English to anyone at all.
Format:Paperback
So pleased I got this book - it is like going on holiday - Another world. Can I suggest Mangos and Mimosa and this book for those dark days of the soul.
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