A Summer in Gascony : Discovering the Other South of France

A Summer in Gascony: Discovering the Other South of France evokes the sights and sounds of the other South of France-its strong spirit of independence, its love of the land, and the simple pleasures in which it revels-with this charming fish out of water tale about a young Englishman who spends an extraordinary summer working at a Ferme-Auberge in a remote hilltop village in Gascony, one of the most rural parts of Southwest France. It is an idyllic land of rolling hills and wide horizons, swathed with vineyards, sunflowers, and pastures. In the tiny hamlet of Peguilhan, Martin Calder is introduced to the Gascon way of life, working the fields and shepherding sheep. It is in Peguilhan that Calder discovers a unique and fiercely independent people. Full of colorful characters and sun-drenched landscapes, this is a tale of two love affairs: a summer romance with Calder's fellow stagiere, Anja, and the beginning of a lifelong love affair with Gascony. Along the way you will meet the charismatic and convivial Jacques-Henri, the hardworking farmer whose family takes Calder into their home and hearts; Pattes, the mischievous and lovable stray dog who leaves havoc in his wake; Madame Parle-Beaucoup, the town gossip who has a secret of her own; and the memorable Monsieur Fustignac, whose pride in his Gascon heritage is unforgettable. Almost as good as a weekend getaway, A Summer in Gascony: Discovering the Other South of France is an adventure you won't want to miss!

A Summer in Gascony: Discovering the Other South of France evokes the sights and sounds of the other South of France-its strong spirit of independence, its love of the land, and the simple pleasures in which it revels-with this charming fish out of water tale about a young Englishman who spends an extraordinary summer working at a Ferme-Auberge in a remote hilltop village in Gascony, one of the most rural parts of Southwest France. It is an idyllic land of rolling hills and wide horizons, swathed with vineyards, sunflowers, and pastures. In the tiny hamlet of Peguilhan, Martin Calder is introduced to the Gascon way of life, working the fields and shepherding sheep. It is in Peguilhan that Calder discovers a unique and fiercely independent people. Full of colorful characters and sun-drenched landscapes, this is a tale of two love affairs: a summer romance with Calder's fellow stagiere, Anja, and the beginning of a lifelong love affair with Gascony.

With charm and gentle humor, Martin Calder describes one extraordinary summer spent working on a family farm in a remote hilltop village on southwest France's Gascony coast. A Summer in Gascony is a tale of village festivals, dusty roads, and sun-baked wine country, all dotted with lively and colorful characters. It evokes the spirit of a place, all told in sensuous detail by a man who understands the Gascon way of life.--From B & N