Product Description

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 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 .

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #29896 in Books
• Published on: 2009-06-11
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

Review
Drenched in sunshine, wine and the sheer vitality --France Magazine

Martin Calder has managed to capture the flavour of Gascony. It is independent and colourful. Its people embrace outsiders who appreciate its unique history and heritage. This is a lovely holiday read or a book to inspire next year's tour de France. --Mostly Food

Entrancing... the reader soaks up Gascony like a thirsty vine. --Kevin Gale, France Bookshop

Martin Calder has managed to capture the flavour of Gascony. It is independent and colourful. Its people embrace outsiders who appreciate its unique history and heritage. This is a lovely holiday read or a book to inspire next year's tour de France. --Mostly Food

Entrancing... the reader soaks up Gascony like a thirsty vine. --Kevin Gale, France Bookshop

About the Author
Martin Calder, is a senior lecturer in French at the University of Bristol, has a PhD in eighteenth-century French literature. He has lived and worked in Paris and other areas of France but is always drawn back to Gascony, which appeals to his enjoyment of the simple pleasures of life on the land, good food, wine and hard work. Visit www.asummeringascony.com for further information.

Customer Reviews

Bienvenu Gascony
This book makes a refreshing change from the usual story of French builders and house refurbishment. The author has captured the charm of Gascony with a good mix of interesting snippets of history, local traditions and the day-to-day life of the Gascon people. He gives mouth-watering descriptions of the traditional food and wines of the region. Each chapter surprised me with a new fact about the rhythm of life in rural Gascony. I never knew what to expect. Delightful illustrations by the author at the end of each chapter added to my enjoyment of this book.

Beautifully written...
Im normally one for reading history books about kings, politicians and intrigue. I brush past the travel section of the library without a second thought - I won't go to many of the places on the shelves so why should I care. However by pure chance this book caught my eye and thankfully I took it off the shelf to flick through the first few pages.

This is a beautifully crafted story and so well written you could easily forget that you are reading about somebody else's story and not your own. The author vividly recalls the people, the sights, the smells and the emotions. I read a sizeable portion of this book during a very warm day in May and I could easily imagine I was in Gascony (albeit the illusion was ruined by the occasional passing Glaswegian accent).

Its a credit to the author that when you begin to reach the end of the book and he is saying goodbye to people like Jacques-Henri, Madame 'Parle-Beaucoup' and Monsiuer Fustignac - you can almost imagine you are there saying goodbye with him (to the extent that you have a lump in your throat). But one of the most bitter sweet scenes is the farewell to his summer love - Anja. Its at that point the magic of summer begins to fade. he says himself later that his summer in Gascony was like a 'golden capsual'. He then boards a ship back to Britain and you do get the sense that while he is going back to his old life - he is not going back to it the same person.

A nice touch is the final chapter of the book when he returns to Gascony about 20 years later (apprx). I would say this is a weaker part of the book as he could have had a bit more detail about what happened to Jacques-Henri (it isnt that clear if Jacques-Henri has died or done a runner!!!).

Please read this book - its not just about a summer in Gascony. Its about taking a journey and arriving back where you started, but seeing the world anew.

Read before and during a visit to Gascony...
A thoroughly good read that immerses the reader in the character, history and culture of the area, in an easily palatable package. The author has done a lot of hard graft in distilling things down so you can sit back and soak up the benefits. Lots of facts are intertwined with `laugh out loud' snapshots of a university grad's experience of engaging whole heartedly with a challenging real world summer job; all based in rural southern France some 20 or so years ago. The author immerses himself into the everyday lives of a hard working family, who return his labour, good nature, positive stewardship and adaptability with mutual respect, simple pleasures, board and lodging, good food and drink, humour and probably most importantly, acceptance. This allows a level of access that wouldn't usually be offered to any old foreigner, which is what makes this work unique and enjoyable, the book conveys all this whilst also managing to connect you to the broader rhythms of the region, the land and the people - even managing to find space for love interest. The character traits of the cast were representative of the people we bumped into whilst on holiday in the region; we benefited from generous offerings to taste local produce by being able to spot a proud Gascon and discuss the details of his traditional beret, whilst buying other items from his stall.

The book is a surprisingly factual read, without being too arduous, probably due to the author's background; some chapters did make you wonder if you had picked up a history book but the diversions weren't excessive and you soon return to the plot. On the whole I'm content that a balance was struck between pandering to relaxed leisure reading and the author's instinct to educate. This actually proved to be a positive and I found I could drop impressive facts into conversation whilst visiting; I was even able to use my new knowledge as an excuse to justify buying a bottle or two of well aged local wine and acquiring some Armagnac that's only on sale in France. This aside, it's also a suitable read for anyone who likes good travel writing and I can't help paralleling the work to another well known predecessor's, who might be accused of laying on the gastronomic excesses and politics too thick by comparison. This book has a similar feel but comes from less of an ex-pat' stance, it favours more academic content and does this in an almost seamless manner with being romantic and charismatic. It's clear our author really understands and fits in to France in a way that most Brits can only aspire to but this is never overbearing, the premise being that we are receiving generous pointers to share in a genuine affection for the place.

You could be really critical and suggest that some readers might glaze over on some of the historical parts; I have to admit to flailing a bit on one of the later chapters, probably due to reading on a particularly hot August afternoon there. I don't think the author would throw his black board rubber at me in this instance though, as overall my attention was fairly constant. Many of the facts do stick in your mind, which is an admirable achievement in my case; it is fair to say that the book is never too serious and always remembers to have fun. It is more refined than Talk to the Snail, which I read just after. The latter is a good read but far less atmospheric, although this doesn't deter me from reading more from this author when visiting Paris later in the year; the second course offered a more urbanite view and a grittier Parisian vibe. This is an issue covered by both authors but A Summer in Gascony was better for my particular circumstances and perfect as a dreamy holiday read. It is probably worth saying that visiting the area is not a pre-requisite for enjoying the book though, like many people I've never been to Provence but still enjoyed reading about the region, for me this book has taken the yellow jersey for now.