A Summer in Gascony: Discovering the Other South of France
by Martin Calder
On This Page
Description
"Nostalgia for a traditional France, soused in Armagnac, sunshine and young love, brought vividly to life." - John Mole, author of It's All Greek to Me The only travel writing book on Gascony, A Summer in Gascony is a charming and humorous tale of an extraordinary summer spent in this relatively unknown part of south-western France, the home of D Artagnan, Cyrano de Bergerac, gutsy red wine, fine sweet wine Armagnac and sunflowers. It is a tale of two love affairs: an idyllic summer romance show more and a lifelong love affair with Gascony with its village festivals, dusty roads and sun-baked wine country. Stretching from Toulouse in the east to the Atlantic coast in the west, from the river Garonne in the north to the Pyrenees in the south, Gascony is a golden land of rolling hills and wide horizons, swathed with vineyards, sunflowers, maize and pastures. It has a distinct identity which sets it apart from the rest of France and old affinities with England: the Gascons fought alongside the English in the Middle Ages and the Napoleonic Wars against their common foe the French. In the tiny hamlet of Peguilhan, Martin Calder is introduced to the Gascon way of life: working in the fields, shepherding and slaughtering sheep, feeding the cattle, harvesting the wheat, watering the crops. He discovers a unique people, fiercely proud of their independent heritage. Full of colourful characters: the charismatic and convivial Jacques-Henri, the hardworking farmer whose family take Martin into their home and hearts; the yoga-practising Germans; Pattes, the mischievous stray dog; Madame Parle-Beaucoup, the town gossip and Monsieur Fustignac, whose pride in his Gascon heritage is unforgettable. But the real star of the book is Gascony itself, with its strong spirit of independence and the simple pleasures it provides. Written by a true Francophile who has come to know the people and understands their way of life, A Summer in Gascony evokes the spirit, sights, smells and sounds of this still relatively unknown and unspoiled other South of France. show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Recommendations
Member Reviews
A Year in Provence, but with an indecipherable dialect, and the author is the one doing all the hard work instead of paying locals to do it.
A Summer in Gascony is a travel book with a difference. It relates Martin Calder’s summer experience as a stagiare or temporary worker on a farm and auberge in the village of Peguilhan. His time was spent doing everything from cooking in the auberge restaurant to shovelling sheep poo to winnowing the grain.
Peopled with wonderful characters - Jaques-Henri the farmer and his long-suffering wife Marie-Jeanne; fascinating locals and a veritable host of interesting visitors - the book cannot help but hold you from beginning to end.
If you want an education with a difference in the history, geography, and culture of this little area of Gascony do not pass this interesting book by. Not only is Martin Calder a beautiful writer but you will show more also be rewarded by his talent as an artist - his lovely black and white illustrations are an added treat at the end of each and every chapter. show less
Peopled with wonderful characters - Jaques-Henri the farmer and his long-suffering wife Marie-Jeanne; fascinating locals and a veritable host of interesting visitors - the book cannot help but hold you from beginning to end.
If you want an education with a difference in the history, geography, and culture of this little area of Gascony do not pass this interesting book by. Not only is Martin Calder a beautiful writer but you will show more also be rewarded by his talent as an artist - his lovely black and white illustrations are an added treat at the end of each and every chapter. show less
Ratings
Members
- Recently Added By
Author Information
2 Works 27 Members
Classifications
- Genres
- Travel, Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 914.4 — History & geography Geography & travel Geography of and travel in Europe France and Monaco
- LCC
- DC611 .G26 .C35 — History of Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania France – Andorra – Monaco History of France Local history and description Regions, provinces, departments, etc., A-Z
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 24
- Popularity
- 1,106,741
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (3.56)
- Languages
- English, Estonian
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 5
- ASINs
- 1
