Peter Mayle – författare

The bestselling, much-loved classic account of an English couple escaping to enjoy the fruits of French rural summer living - an irresistible feast of humour and heart.Peter Mayle and his wife did what most of us only imagine doing when they made their long-cherished dream of a life abroad a reality: throwing caution to the wind, they bought a glorious two hundred year-old farmhouse in the Lubéron Valley and began a new life.In a year that begins with a marathon lunch and continues with a host of gastronomic delights, they also survive the unexpected and often hilarious curiosities of rural life. From mastering the local accent and enduring invasion by bumbling builders, to discovering the finer points of boules and goat-racing, all the earthy pleasures of Provençal life are conjured up in this enchanting portrait.'One of the most successful travel books of all time... Mayle created a new travel genre' Guardian'Delightful' Washington Post'Engaging, funny and richly appreciative' New York Times Book Review'Stylish, witty, delightfully readable' Sunday Times'I really loved this book' Julia Child

The third spellbinding volume in the series begun by A Year in Provence, ENCORE PROVENCE continues the account of an English couple's life abroad. Among other curiosities, explore a school for noses in Haute Provence, the mysterious death of an oversexed butcher, the quest for the finest bouillabaisse and an assortment of the characters who lie in wait in bars and on boules courts. And, of course, the essential importance of lunch. BON APPETIT!'One of the most successful travel books of all time... Mayle created anew travel genre' GuardianDelightful' Washington Post'Engaging, funny and richlyappreciative' New York Times Book Review'Stylish, witty, delightfully readable' SundayTimes

A second idyllic helping of rural life in France from the bestselling author of the classic A YEAR IN PROVENCE. Skulking through customs with a suitcase full of truffles, toads singing the Marseillaise, taking pastis lessons and finding gold at the bottom of the garden, you might think there is little time left for pleasures of the table.TOUJOURS PROVENCE proves that while you might not be able to get away from it all, you can have fun trying.'Peter Mayle's idyllic portrait makes you almost taste the wonderful food and wine, feel the sun and balmy breezes' Sunday Express'Anyone with any feel for the land and the people who lead their lives close to it will be enchanted' Yorkshire Evening Post'Splendidly amusing... filled with things which will help you to understand, at least in part, the glory of this wonderful place' Dirk Bogarde

Gastronomy is a wonderful starting point to study France and the French. As the retired schoolmaster from Provence says 'The religion of France is food. And wine, of course.' And they put their money where their mouth is, spending a greater proportion of their income on food and drink than any other nation in the world. Literally hundreds of gastronomic fairs and festivals take place throughout the year all over France - a frog fair, an hommage to the sausage, to the turnip, to the quiche and the noble Camembert. What kind of person is a snail-fancier? Is there a brotherhood of sausage connoisseurs? How can you devote an entire weekend to the French fry? Peter Mayle finds out and brings hilariously and affectionately to life the people who can get passionate about a frog's leg or a well-turned omelette. Over ten years ago he transformed our feelings about Provence, now he captures the irresistible essence of France herself - and her food.

Max Skinner is a man at the heart of London's financial universe until his employers embark on a little asset-stripping of their own. Himself. Amid the grey London drizzle, there is one potential ray of sunshine: Max's Uncle Harry has left him his estate in his will - an eighteenth-century chateau and vineyard an hour's drive from Avignon. Out of a job, and encouraged by his friend Charlie about the money in modern wine, he heads for France.What Max discovers is a beautiful house, wonderful weather and a bustling village. The downside is the quality of the wine in his vineyard, but when Max suggests calling in an expert, Roussel, a former employee of his uncle's, is resistant. Help is at hand, however, when a beautiful blonde Californian arrives unexpectedly at the chateau. Peter Mayle's delightful novel will enchant the audiences who bought A YEAR IN PROVENCE and TOUJOURS PROVENCE in their millions.

Hollywood lawyer Danny Roth is the victim of a world-class wine heist - and he is devastated. Enter Sam Levitt: former corporate lawyer, wine connoisseur, and expert on cultivated crime. He is called in by Roth's insurance company, now saddled with a multi-million-dollar claim. His leads take him first to Bordeaux's magnificent vineyards and then to glorious Provence.Along the way, bien sûr, he's joined by a beautiful French colleague, Sophie. In their quest to discover the truth, Sam and Sophie must explore many a château and its contents.The unravelling of this ingenious crime is threaded through with Mayle's seductive rendering of France's sensory delights. From the fine wines of Bordeaux to the bouillabaisse of Marseille, this is pure vintage Mayle.

'A REAL PAGE-TURNER' DAILY EXPRESS'WRITTEN WITH THE EASE AND ASSURANCE OF AN EXPERT' DAILY MAILLovable rogue and sleuth extraordinaire Sam Levitt is back.Former corporate lawyer, wine connoisseur and expert on cultivated crime, Sam has returned to Marseilles for both work and pleasure - the lure of excitement and the pleasures of the region proving too tempting to resist.But surrounded by gangsters and cut-throat developers, Sam finds himself far closer to danger than he had planned...This is a charming, brilliantly plotted mystery that will delight readers of Martin Walker, Georges Simenon and Stephen Clarke.