Anglik na wsi to wyjątkowo zabawna i inteligentna kontynuacja opowieści Michaela Sadlera o pobycie w Paryżu. Tym razem miłośnik wina, sera livarot i pięknych kobiet podejmuje nowe wyzwanie – pragnie zostać rolnikiem. Łatwo powiedzieć... Trzeba jeszcze wiedzieć, jak – przy pomocy młota pneumatycznego – hodować pory w twardej jak cement francuskiej ziemi. Jak przetrwać siedmiogodzinny lunch, po którym podawana jest jeszcze kolacja, a trawienie ułatwia miejscowy napój ognisty, używany zazwyczaj do rozruchu silnika traktora w mroźne poranki. Jak nie skompromitować się przy degustacji miejscowego wina. Jak nie dać się ustrzelić na polowaniu… Michael Sadler rozbawia czytelnika, zmusza do pokochania francuskiej prowincji. Pisze z sympatią nawet o Donges, które mogłoby zdobyć pierwszą nagrodę w konkursie na najpaskudniejszą wioskę we Francji.
Anglik na wsi został uznany przez francuską gazetę „Le Nouvel Observateur” za najśmieszniejszą książkę sezonu.
Not really being a fan of France and all that is French, I enjoyed this book simply because of the way the author wrote it. It is very humourous, in a clever, witty and wry kind of way. Naturally, there was a fair bit of the French language used in this book, and it got a bit frustrating, as there was often no translation supplied.
A bit dull. You need to be able to speak French to read it (I do, but thought I'd mention it). A few colloquial words that would now be considered slurs.
Michael Sadler's writing about a lone Englishman in France has received praise from sources ranging from Peter Mayle (whose own work seems to me to infinitely surpass Sadler's) to one of the Monty Python troop to King Charles III (when he was Prince of Wales). My own reaction must then be in the minority. "Punch" refers to Sadler's anecdotes as "charming, witty" but I found them to be riddled with heavy-handed whimsy and cutesiness, devoid of much entertainment value. In addition, Sadler's tendency to slobber after any attractive Frenchwoman whom he meets seems creepy rather than humorous.
Unfortunately Michael Sadler died suddenly, late 2022. Didn't particularly enjoy this book. I thought the author wrote in a condescending manner about fellow English who helped him. Then there were the French paysans who accepted him into their community, in return they're at the receiving end of a supercilious, mocking Englishman. Furthermore, some of his behaviours/attitudes are significantly predatory and would not go unquestioned in the 21st Century.
I loved this book from the start, I laughed out loud on many occasions, his clever sharp characterization and self depreciating humour kept me amazed and entertained, wonderful stories from the most rural of areas, just so funny. Read it and enjoy.
Some books are so bad that I chuck them in the box of paper we use to light the fire, to ensure they are never inflicted on anyone else. This is one of those.
O carte draguta ce merita citita dimineata, pe terasa din spatele casei, cu un croissant cu unt si o cafea sau seara alaturi de un pahar de vin rosu si branza maturata.