In pre-World War II France, a father is torn between his sense of honor and his deep love for his saintly daughter when she gets in trouble with a dashing air force pilot.

Peter Mayle and his wife had been to Provence as tourists. They had dreamed of one day trading the long, gray winters and damp summers of England for the blue skies and sunshine of the coast of southern France. And then they made it happen. They moved into an old farmhouse at the foot of the Luberon mountains and embarked on a wonderful, if at times bewildering, new life. Among their experiences that first year: being inundated with builders and visitors,...

The author describes how she and her husband moved from cosmopolitan Paris to rural Provence after their son was born, the beginning of their adventures as culinary entrepreneurs, and their initiation into classic Provençal cuisine.

Peter Mayle writes about the unique social life and customs he has discovered while living in Provence, France.

There is a moment every morning when the countryside takes a pause. The birds stop singing, the dogs choke back their barks, and cats pause mid-stride. Everything waits. It's in this vacuum that a man working alone has the best chance of finding truffles.The plot of land was perfect, just what they'd been looking for, offering expansive views across the valley and within walking distance of the local village. There was only one small problem - there...

"In these pages, readers will find rich descriptions of warm summer meals, learning to make goat cheese, discovering regional festivals (or fêtes) and more. This evocative and passionate memoir weaves together personal stories of friendship, cooking and living in the Provencal tradition, and will whet the appetite of foodies, travelers and anyone who dreams of packing their bags and taking a delicious romp through the lavender fields and vine-covered...