A Castle in the Backyard: The Dream of a House in France

by Betsy Draine, Michael Hinden

A Castle in the Backyard chronicles the French adventures of American couple Betsy Draine and Michael Hinden, who in 1985 embarked upon a dream. After falling in love with a small stone house set beneath a medieval castle in Perigord, they bought the tranquil getaway located in one of the most beautiful river valleys in Europe. In this delightful memoir Betsy and Michael offer an intimate glimpse of a region little known to Americans - the Dordogne valley, its castles and prehistoric art, its walking trails and earthy cuisine, its people and traditions - and describe the charms and mishaps of setting up housekeeping thousands of miles from home. Insightful and poignant, this memoir chronicles the transformation of Perigord as development poses a challenge to its graceful way of life, and evokes the personal exuberance of starting over, even in mid-life.

Genres: Travel, France, Nonfiction, Memoir

308 pages, Paperback

First published August 15, 2002

Reviews

[Tomomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never taken a French class in my life, never dreamed of one day going to France beyond the natural desire to just go someplace beautiful and different in general. I never would have picked this book up if it wasn't for my librarian who recommended her current favorite to me; which is how I came to pick up A Castle in the Backyard. I've always had a little wanderlust and immediately found myself intrigued, especially since Madison,WI is practically in my own backyard and the authors both taught at the university at one time. Their descriptions of the land, the people, and their underlying emotions through it all were exceedingly lovely. More than once did I have tears in my eyes, almost being able to feel through the writing, the losses they felt. I laughed out loud at some of their expected and unexpected moments of failed communication or missteps. Not everyone will love this book. I did. It's weakness is not that it switches off between author's writing styles (barely noticeable for me), but that it sometimes skips ahead only to go back to another time in the past. Once I got used to it, it was fine. This book is an excellent reminder that all things are possible if we want it enough to make it so, even a Dream House in France.

[Jeanmarie Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not what I expected - thought it would be more about the house itself, but I like how it turned out.
For any French fanatics, it just makes you want to up and join them! Loved the description of the town/villages and the FOOD! With my love of Madison in particular - having lived there twice, I'd go back in a heartbeat if I could - it was nice to see them mention it and their work and the university a bit.

[Blair H · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love France but am less familiar with the Dordogne region, so I loved this couple's very charming account of buying a small house there and becoming ingratiated into the village over 15 summers of visiting. The descriptions of the village, the food, the history in the area (including Josephine Baker's chateau and the many regional cave paintings) and all the people they befriend are delightful. Overall, a very fun read.

A disclaimer that the last couple of chapters where the couple starts to bemoan the village's increasing tourism even though they themselves are tourists, and don't distinguish between themselves (Americans who summer there two months a year) and villagers whose families have lived there for generations when talking about the village's future, become a little entitled and obnoxious. If I read it again, I'd stop reading at p. 250 - the start of the chapter called "The Battle of Castlenaud."

[Marianne Burke · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this for a Book Club so I finished it. An OK story of an American couple purchasing a small summer home in France. The story was good but a little too descriptive. I believe I would have enjoyed it more had there been ANY pictures besides the front cover. So disappointed to not see the views, the homes, the people that were described so completely.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would finish a chapter and "come to" realizing that I was in my air conditioned house in Maryland, not in summertime Castlenaud. And I would feel very disappointed! Very absorbing tale of their adventures living in a small Medieval town.

[Pamela Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. One of the better books about living in France.

[Rob Di · Rating 4 out of 5]

Journaling a couple's romantic experience owning a summer home in rural France in the 1980s and 1990s, this is a nice travel book that moves the reader back in time as well as in space

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was not so much about searching for a home in France, restoring it, etc. The home they found was ready to move into—perfect as a summer home for two English professors from the U.S. It is about everyday life in a small town, Castelnaud. The descriptions of the town, the castle, their neighbors and other townspeople, the surrounding countryside, even the restaurants were charming. The book takes place in an area we have not visited, the Dordogne Valley, but it is now on the list.

[Peggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another in the series of books I am currently reading about Americans who buy houses in Europe.
This couple are English professors at the University of Wisconsin in Madison and they buy a house in the village of Castelnaud, France (recently featured in the New York Times Sunday travel section).
This book is less lyrical than Frances Maye's books and less humorous than Peter Mayle's book but engaging nevertheless.
I am not sure why I enjoy these books so much but I find reading a chapter before bed to be calming and restful. Very odd since I personally can't imagine ever wanting to own & maintain a second home in a foreign country. (All of these authors detail the ongoing expense, frustration, and hard work involved.)
Still it fascinates me!

[David Timms · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended by the landlord of the 500 year old stone house we rented in Beynac-et-Cazenac because it's one of the neighboring villages, it intrigued me. I wanted to get the feeling of the Dordogne Noir and so borrowed this from the local library. As I read it I kept wanting to highlight it, so bought the book. Loved it, (and I did highlight my not-to-be-forgotten parts) and enjoyed sharing it with friends. If you are intrigued with SouthWestern France, the Dordogne region, French food... Enjoy!
UPDATE: We visited the castle, spent a LOT of time wondering exactly was the house in the book title. If our guess is right, it's pretty nicely located. (And NICE!)

[Jeanette Michalets · Rating 5 out of 5]

I greatly enjoyed this memoir as it was well written and I almost always enjoy memoirs by people who have lived in France. This time it was southern France, rather than Paris, so the scenery was different and the people seemed different, as well. The book spurred an interest in me to visit
the south.

The authors are former UW professors of English, so that added to my enjoyment. I appreciated the references to Madison as well as the lush descriptions of the French countryside in the department of the Dordogne. Another bonus: I was able to brush up a bit on my French as the memoir included quite a few French phrases.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

i couldn't put it down. loved reading of how the thought grew, of buying a summer house in france, as they were professors in wisconsin and had their summers somewhat free. the writing is well-done and the stories, interesting. i kept putting it down and picking it back up. i found myself writing down place names to look up on picasa so that i could see the places they were describing. definitely worth reading.

[Carmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Betsy and her husband, Michael, are college professors. They frequently travel to Europe and decide to buy a house in the Dordogne region of France. This book details the experiences they had searching for a house, buying it, and remodeling it. Then the years they enjoyed staying in it, even with all the outside influences. Who knew that having a castle in your backyard could lead to so many problems? Entertaining.

[Kathy El-Assal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wanderlust inducing! Daydreaming right now about a visit to southern France. When Betsy Draine and Michael Hinden wrote this memoir, they were professors at the University of Wisconsin in Madison where I live. So I'd read a review when the book first came out and finally got around to reading it. Their vivid descriptions and alliterative language really make the Dordogne region and its inhabitants come to life.

[Kim Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this for the second time, it's had more meaning as I'm now hoping to retire to France. Unbeknownst to me until this reading, the region I've got my heart set on is the same area the author's summertime home and castle are! I loved every detail of this book and would love to find others in a similar vein but I think it's one of a kind. If anyone has any others to recommend, let me in the comments.

[Davy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't finish this one, but I got what I wanted out of it. A married couple (both American English professors) search for, find, and refurbish an authentic stone house under the ruins of a castle in the Dordogne Valley of France. The search, purchase, and renovations of the house made for an entertaining read, but when the narrative turned towards the townspeople, I lost interest.

[Gypsy Madre · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Mayes Under the Tuscan Sun (book, not movie so much) and thought this couldn't compete -- so wrong. Completely engaging. I felt like I was there and fell in love with the townspeople, the community, and the adventure. I have never much thought of going to France; that has changed! And today, I am making the walnut cake! :)

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a retired high school and middle school French teacher, I am pretty keen on all things French, but this book missed the mark. Rich in description, there were still parts that were dry as a bone. They did meet some lively characters, but unless one is somewhat avid about France, I think they will find this book a bit of a chore to read.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

On my Kindle. A fun escape. I'm an armchair ex-pat. Would probably never do anything like this, so it's fun to read about someone else's experiences buying a home in another country. Kind of like House Hunters in print.

[Shawna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful and pleasant read. The authors were down to earth, very real people. They made village life seem peacful and so appealing. It was interesting to learn what owning a summer home entails in France entails.

[Lauri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Given that the part of France where this couple bought their house is one of my favorites, I really liked this book, but I would imagine someone who wasn't as familiar with the region might not like it quite as much. It's not nearly as engaging as "A Year in Provence" for example.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been several years since I read this, but I still have fond memories of what I experienced as I read the couple's account of finding their dream summer home in France and establishing friendships there.

[Dave Pickhardt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A 3 for no pictures! Reading this book preceded 2 trips to France and the Dordogne valley. We visited the neighborhood and think we may have spotted the house, based on the story of the. Catapult, but who knows with NO PICTURES!

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is just okay - somewhat uneven. The first half - when they are concocting a plan to buy a French house, embark upon the search, get settled in, etc. - is far more entertaining than the later parts. But it was amusing enough, I guess.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting introduction to the Perigord region of France. I wish there had been pictures, but I did learn a lot about people there, even though I Suspect that has changed a lot since the book as written. I don't expect to get there in this life, so this was a fun read.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Makes me want to move to France

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful story of summers in southern France, where a couple of professors buy a house and learn to live in a charming village

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. An enjoyable read. Lamenting the loss of what France was and has become.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book! Quite inspiring and thorough in the high points of the region.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

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