Toujours Provence

There are people who move to the south of France for the sunshine, the wine, and the gentle pace of life. Then there is Peter Mayle, who moved to Provence and discovered that all three come with complications, neighbours, builders, lunches that last longer than careers, and a firm local belief that time is more of a suggestion than a rule.

Toujours Provence is the sequel to Mayle’s earlier adventures, which means he has now settled in just enough to be properly confused. The book is a series of anecdotes and observations about Provençal life: food, markets, wine, language, customs, eccentric characters, and the small daily negotiations required to exist happily in a place that operates on entirely its own logic.

There are meals here — many, many meals — described with such affection that you may begin to feel underfed by comparison. There are also encounters with tradesmen whose relationship with deadlines is philosophical, neighbours whose advice is plentiful and unavoidable, and a steady stream of moments that make it clear that living abroad is less about escape and more about adaptation (preferably with a glass in hand).

What makes it work is Mayle’s tone: amused, self-aware, and gently ironic. He knows he is the outsider, and he treats the whole experience not as a triumph of relocation but as an ongoing lesson in how little he controls. The result is light, readable, and quietly affectionate without ever becoming sentimental.

This Pan Books edition, in good condition, is a well-handled copy of a modern travel classic. Ideal for readers of memoir, travel writing, food writing, and anyone who suspects that a simpler life in the countryside may involve rather more logistics than advertised.

Toujours Provence is not just about living in France — it is about learning, slowly and often unsuccessfully, how to live like someone who belongs there.

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