Passion for Provence

By Gayle Smith Padgett

Release : 2020-12-14

Genre : Arts & Entertainment, Books, Biographies & Memoirs

Kind : ebook

(0 ratings)
Falling for France is as easy as sipping a glass of pale rosé on a sun-dappled terrasse overlooking a shimmering Mediterranean cove. Moving to France is more complicated. Peter Mayle did it, famously recounting his French adventures in A Year in Provence, published in 1989. I read the memoir over twenty-five years ago while sitting on a Mediterranean beach at Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. It was magical to be in luscious Provence on my honeymoon, but enjoying A Year in Provence while in Provence made the special event even more memorable. In the years that followed, I eagerly awaited each of Mr. Mayle’s delightful publications. In fact, he signed one of them for me at my local bookstore in Virginia. I was charmed by his warmth and wit, as well as his scarlet socks. While I was writing this book, a recollection of those spirited chaussettes prompted me to send him a long-overdue fan letter. As his birthday was imminent, I tucked my note inside a fanciful birthday card. To my delight, he wrote back. Not only was his response a gracious thank-you for a thank-you, but it included sage publishing advice. I framed the letter—it inspires me every day. For my husband and me, a permanent transition to France was gradual. From our home in Heidelberg, Germany, where we lived and worked for many years, we’d head to Provence as often as possible. After retiring in 2010, we finally moved here—first to Aix-en-Provence and then in 2012 to Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. This memoir, Passion for Provence: 22 Keys to La Belle Vie, tells the tale of our French adventures—so far.

Passion for Provence

By Gayle Smith Padgett

Release : 2020-12-14

Genre : Arts & Entertainment, Books, Biographies & Memoirs

Kind : ebook

(0 ratings)
Falling for France is as easy as sipping a glass of pale rosé on a sun-dappled terrasse overlooking a shimmering Mediterranean cove. Moving to France is more complicated. Peter Mayle did it, famously recounting his French adventures in A Year in Provence, published in 1989. I read the memoir over twenty-five years ago while sitting on a Mediterranean beach at Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. It was magical to be in luscious Provence on my honeymoon, but enjoying A Year in Provence while in Provence made the special event even more memorable. In the years that followed, I eagerly awaited each of Mr. Mayle’s delightful publications. In fact, he signed one of them for me at my local bookstore in Virginia. I was charmed by his warmth and wit, as well as his scarlet socks. While I was writing this book, a recollection of those spirited chaussettes prompted me to send him a long-overdue fan letter. As his birthday was imminent, I tucked my note inside a fanciful birthday card. To my delight, he wrote back. Not only was his response a gracious thank-you for a thank-you, but it included sage publishing advice. I framed the letter—it inspires me every day. For my husband and me, a permanent transition to France was gradual. From our home in Heidelberg, Germany, where we lived and worked for many years, we’d head to Provence as often as possible. After retiring in 2010, we finally moved here—first to Aix-en-Provence and then in 2012 to Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. This memoir, Passion for Provence: 22 Keys to La Belle Vie, tells the tale of our French adventures—so far.

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