A Year in Provence

A Year in Provence ("A year in Provence ") is a written by Peter Mayle travel report, which was published in 1989, translated into German in 1992, and contains autobiographical elements. He acts by Peter Mayle and his wife, who describe the early 1980s a year of their life, which they have spent in Provence. The reader gets an insight into the daily life and the challenges that need to cope with them. Mayle's work was a great success and was translated into over 17 languages ​​worldwide. In addition, the book will be next to his successors also regarded as a prime example of a literary sparked transcultural even greater enjoyment in the course of development of global markets, which significantly influences the food culture of the United Kingdom and the cultural identity could at least walk in the expatriate Brits.

• Peter Mayle 2.1
• 2.2 Mrs Mayle
• 2.3 Faustin and Henriette
• 2.4 Antoine Massot
• 2.5 Monsieur Menicucci
• 2.6 Didier
• 2.7 Guests from England

• 3.1 reviews and reviews of " A Year in Provence "
• 3.2 Adaptation as a television series

Structure and content

Instead chapter, the book is divided into months, which tell the year of Mayle in Provence.

January

The build Mayle in Provence a new life. They buy a house in the village of Menerbes and meet the first craftsmen to help them during the renovation of their home. You learn a lot about the language and agriculture in Provence and master their first public authority in France.

February

Peter Mayle and his wife have to get used to the harsh, unfamiliar weather conditions. The work on her house go slow. They meet up with her ​​architect and with their new craftsmen and indulge in the local culinary specialties.

March

The Mayle make acquaintance with the eccentric Monsieur Massot. They are also introduced to the world of truffles. The end of March they received an anonymous call.

April

It turns out that the unknown caller Tony, a businessman from London. This is interested in real estate in Provence Mayle and needs help because he barely speaks French and understands. Mayle accompanied him to a broker who is ashamed of there but for Tony's arrogant behavior.

May

The month begins with a bike ride. The work on the house are still ongoing. The Mayle make the acquaintance with Australian students who work in the fields and pick cherries and, in contrast to the Mayle, have a negative impression of the Provence. They received their first guests and realize that they are no more tourists from now on.

June

In Cavaillon an accordion competition takes place. The Mayle's watching at a coffee shop, the behavior typical of French students what they are enjoying themselves. In addition, they meet by chance on a fugitive known couple from London. Invite the two, Ted and Susan, to his home. Susan has problems with the food and the climate in Provence. The Mayle are glad that they are better able to cope with the circumstances of life in Provence.

July

Mayle lists several stereotypical images of Belgians, French, Swiss, British and Germans. In addition, the couple Mayle receives a visit from her old friend Bennett, who is described as slightly messy and awkward. They live more and more in the French culture and learn, inter alia, the typical for the country " Boule" game know.

August

The summer holiday season is dawning and thousands of tourists travel to the Luberon. The Mayle visit a typical French "dinner - party" in Gordes, in which they feel uncomfortable at first, but quite a lot about the way how to celebrate French. In August, a great goat race takes place, which look at the Mayle's enthusiasm.

September

From September it will be quiet again in the Luberon and the tourists from traveling. Work on the central heating of the couple is completed and they are finally ready for the upcoming winter. The hunting season begins and Peter Mayle visited a wine specialist in the region, which he buys many wines.

October

Mayle makes a trip to Cavaillion, where he goes to the bakery "Chez Auzet " and many, for him until then completely unknown, breads and baked goods get to know. At home, the couple has to deal with a plague of ants, while the weather is rainy, stormy and cloudy.

November

The couple is invited to the " chevaliers ' dinner". This is a formal party where they drink, dine and dance wine. The reader learns, for example, that olive oil, which is considered as luxury in England, is considered in France as usual.

December

Christmas is approaching and the Mayle invite all artisans who participate in the renovation of their house, including those women to a celebration around the home one. Also, work on their house are finally completed. On Christmas Eve the Mayle's sit together and agree that they feel in their house in Provence and well and that they want to continue living in this place.

Figures

Peter Mayle

The author raves for French cuisine. He wanders in stories about food from very far, whereas it reveals little information about his private life. The cultural impressions and experiences he encounters open, but sometimes he seems to be the inhabitants of the rural Luberon superior to feel and look their formation skeptical. At the beginning of the book Mayle has difficulties with the French language. As the story progresses, the reader but observed its adaptation to the culture, traditions and customs. As a main character, he is the only figure in which a development is evident. All other persons are rather flat characters without personal development.

Mrs Mayle

The reader never learns her name, generally he gets very little explicit information. Peter Mayle talks mostly about "we " and "us". She accompanied her husband liked to weekly markets and shares his love for the " Provencale cuisine ".

Faustin and Henriette

The couple are the neighbors of the Mayle. They cultivate the vineyard, which bought Peter Mayle and his wife with the house. In neighboring farms rather coarse Faustin help with the slaughter of animals. Nevertheless, he is a likeable, soft -hearted person. He and his wife share traditional views and condemn tourists, it rebuilt the vineyards to tennis or golf courses. He is a passionate and proud of his wine -growing region, as well as his wife Henriette, who actively supported him.

Antoine Massot

The neighbor Massot acts on the reader rather unkempt. He lives with his vicious dogs in a gloomy house near the the Mayle and likes to hunt. Mostly he seems xenophobic towards tourists, especially Germans. This stems from his distaste for the campers who allegedly left behind on his land or in the nature of their waste. In the village he has a reputation as a " quirky " old, Mayle stresses, however, that he may suffer good Massot despite its quirks.

Monsieur Menicucci

The chief plumber is always on the spot when a problem occurs with the Mayle at the house. The helpful artisan gives the Mayle's Didier with his team of craftsmen for the interior of their house. But strong, its reliability depends on the perceived urgency of it from, ie the sooner he can improve his reputation, the more reliable it seems.

Didier

Didier passes the squad artisan who makes the most of renovation work on the house of Mayle. Its time evidence suggests that he punctuality less emphasis than on prestige or highest possible merit.

Guests from England

Many friends ask, but also extensive Known for accommodations in the House of Malyes to make a cheap holiday in Provence can. Often visitors are annoying and can seriously arrive into the lives of Mayle's because they spend only a short time as a tourist there.

Reception, effects and reviews

Peter Mayle's books have been translated into more than 20 languages ​​and there are film adaptations of his works A Good Year ( A Good Year ) and " A Year in Provence ". Mayle has already received several awards: in 1989 his book " A Year in Provence " was the British Book Award for the best travel story of the year and in 1992 appointed the British Book Award for Author Peter Mayle of the year. In addition, Mayle carrier of the title " Chevalier de la Légion d' honneur " ( a French Order of Merit ), which was awarded to him by the French Government.

Menerbes was. Using the book on the borders of France towards known and attractive as a tourist destination, although it has to offer little above average culturally relevant in the confines of the town in the opinion of many connoisseurs of Provence However, some voices also claim that Mayle's works have ruined the Luberon as a holiday destination for good. The multiplicity of him outreach there tourists who appeared suddenly on its own terrace, but drove the spouses Mayle after a few years even from the place and in the noble area of the Hamptons before they settled down after four years in Lourmarin again in Provence. This time, however, he was careful before comprehensible position descriptions of his place of residence. In any modern guide continues his books are praised as an entry reading.

The right National Front in Aix -en- Provence, however, is " A Year in Provence " so hated, because you made ​​it responsible for the increased influx of foreign tourists and settlers. Meanwhile, there are socio-economic analyzes, showing significant increases of British property purchases in the South of France from 1984 2.000 (1984 ) 14,000 (1989 ) to an estimated 200,000 in 2000, and certainly refer to the correlation to Mayle's books back.

Reviews and reviews of " A Year in Provence "

• Tilman Steffen: "You can read it again and again. What the Englishman Peter Mayle writes about his arrival in the tree lavender mountains of the Luberon, amplifies the beautiful feeling of being on vacation. The story is simple, but its reader makes Mayle addictive. A first Wahrhaftigkeitstest I underwent the book on the couch of a country house in southern France. During the day I read of Ramon, the plasterers and Didier, the mason, in the evening we were able to compare Mayle's world with the real French: on a summer festival in the nearby village with wine and duck breast. The best is the location, as Didier with a few colleagues heaves a very heavy stone table by the door of a house. In such a situation every Frenchman was an expert, writes Mayle and shows what true leadership ". Didier waited until everyone had finished speaking, and then ordered what to do " The Chancellor should read this book. "
• " The novel is anchored locally in the authentic landscape. Through the local color, the book is equally novel as guide and offers a refreshing blend of village anecdotes, sightseeing and restaurant tips and culinary lesson. British humor paired with French charm, the inadequacies of everyday life with a twinkle in his eye looking and describing, as if you were in person on the spot. "
• " A Year in Provence is a light-hearted autobiography as well as a travel / restaurant guide and cultural study of the south of France. ( ... ) His humorous yet affectionate approach will make you long for France, particularly the south, whether or not you've ever been there. (...) Whether you are interested in learning more about French, "the Hexagon", or cuisine française, A Year in Provence is the book to get you started on your cultural discovery of the south of France ". ( " A Year in Provence is a light-hearted autobiography, as well as a travel / restaurant guide and a cultural study of the south of France ( ...) The humorous as emotional approach it will take for France, especially the south, whether they now once were there or not. (...) Whether they are now interested in getting to know more about the French, " the Hexagon", French cuisine, a Year in Provence is the book with which one cultural journey of discovery should start the South of France. ")

• ( " The two books - especially the first - are classic examples of a pastoral travel story [Note: pastoral is in literary English, but also for a pastoral idyll, and not only for the transcription rural. ] Their emphasis is less on the motion as to the nostalgic appreciation. regional way of life that even though endangered, unruly remains to changes (...) the Luberon, for Mayle and a stream of happy (...) visitors is a gourmet paradise: a place where the food in a wonderful selection, the real treasure is - especially for those who do not have to carry the burden to produce these Mayle (...) emphasizes insolent idleness ( ... ) ")..

Adaptation as a television series

Following the success of the book " A Year in Provence " Ken Riddington produced for the BBC an eponymous four-part mini- series that aired in the UK in 1993 for the first time and at the David Tucker directed. The main roles are to see John Thaw as Peter Mayle and Lindsay Duncan as Annie Mayle. In a supporting role Alfred Molina appeared as Tony Havers. Each episode lasts 90 minutes and treated similar to the structure of the book, the life of Mayle in Provence during a season. The plot is geared towards both A Year in Provence and on the 1991 written by Mayle travelogue Toujours Provence, but also completely new storylines were installed. Especially, the series is different from the book on the role of Peter Mayle's wife ', which occurs as a separate character in the series.

While the book humorous adaptation disabled tourists and the local peculiarities of Provence describes, defines the series their focus on conflicts between the various figures: The reclusive neighbor Massot ( Rivière in the series) is represented as a dark, almost frightening figure. Peter Mayle is in the series less the adaptation consent sought Englishman, but an impatient character who can not cope with the peculiarities of the rural population. In an interview, the author Mayle expressed disappointment about the film and criticized the representation of itself: " It came across as a story about retirement Which was a long way from the truth. And John Thaw, who played me, Seemed to be in a perpetually bad mood, Whereas I was absolutely delighted with new life in France ". ( "The story came as a over my retirement over what had nothing to do with truth. And John Thaw, who embodied me, seemed to be in a permanent bad mood while I was absolutely delighted with my new life in France "). The series was largely rezipiert negative; among other things, it ranks tenth on a list of the 50 worst UK TV shows of the Irish journalist John Naughton.

Expenditure

• A Year in Provence. ("A year in Provence "). Illustrations by Judith Clancy, from the English by Gerhard Beckmann. Earthscan, Munich 1992, ISBN 3-426-03248-1.
• A Year in Provence. ("A year in Provence "). Droemer, Munich 2000, ISBN 3-426-61744-7.