Provence A-Z

Mayle's new book is a must for anyone traveling to France and a dream for the armchair traveler. In a wry, intimate British baritone spiced with impeccable French, John Lee guides the listener through the Provençal chronicler's alphabetically arranged tour of this magical place. Mayle covers an eclectic map of Provence, moving from the topics of accents, Cézanne, chèvre (and the sex lives of goats) to ratatouille, lavender, hunting for truffles, the Mistral, tourists, and Zola. Lee is enthusiastic and enlightening in his descriptions of places, people, and Provençal idiosyncrasies, and his description of the food is almost salivating. Indeed, the entire alphabet package is so irresistible it will lead you to start packing your bag right now. M.T.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine

British expatriate Peter Mayle returns to writing, and narrating, about what he knows best, his life in Provence. Whether waxing poetic on the food, scenery, wildlife, or flora, Mayle reads from this encyclopedia with an obvious love for his subject. He is most enjoyable when laughing at himself, and his sometimes disparaging tone makes his descriptions of his own foibles spring to life. He systematically takes the listener through his guidebook on what he knows about this popular section of France, also sharing stories of how he gained each tidbit of knowledge. All that's missing from his beautiful and entertaining descriptions of the land and people he has embraced are the warm sun and a glass of wine on the patio. H.L.S. (c) AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine