The Magic of Provence: Pleasures of Southern France

by Yvone Lenard

When Yvone Lenard returned to her native France and purchased a house in a hilltop village of Provence, an enchanted world of food, wines, and unusual adventures–including chicken rustling, flirtatious advances from neighbors, and a séance–opened up before her. This is her account of the spell cast on her by Provence, from her first morning’s visit by a charming prince bearing a jug of the village’s vin rose to the growth of her friendship with a duchess in the local chateau. Lenard shares tales of travels to St. Tropez and visits from American friends who find unexpected romance and magic in Provence. Told with verve, wit, and Lenard’s deep understanding of the French language and culture, this memoir includes tales of others who have been drawn to the region, including Vincent van Gogh, Brigitte Bardot, and Princess Caroline of Monaco. Ways to re-create the magic of the region’s sensuous way of life include recipes for food and drinks, as well as tips for entertaining in the Provençal style.

Genres: France, Travel, Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, Biography Memoir

320 pages, Paperback

First published May 8, 2001

Reviews

[✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very lovely read! Being French, I always feel quite skeptical before reading books such as this one (but I rarely can resist reading them!) but The magic of Provence was absolutely delightful *and* very interesting, too! By the way, it's very dangerous to read the book when hungry: there are fantastic recipes at the end of each chapter;)

I did some research because I wanted to find out what the actual name of the village was and came up with this website: The Magic of Provence. The village is Ansouis and you can take a look at some photos here (including before/after photos of the author's home in the village! Lovely place, when do I move in?!). Sadly enough, it turns out that the castle was sold by auction last summer because of a family dispute originated in 1973, which got worse after the duchess's death in 1988 (click here to read a newspaper article about this sale -sorry, it's in French!). For those interested in learning more about the castle and its history, the name of the family is Sabran-Pontevès.

[Toni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let's see... American couple buys a wreck of a house in (fill in the blank), a charming European village, transforms it into their dream home. Then they turn their adventures into a delightful story, regaling us with the wit and wisdom of their neighbors, and also, of course, mentioning the glorious food and wine of the region.

Okay, so it's been done before, and will no doubt be done again. Regardless, this was a pleasant little book, one guaranteed to bring envy to any reader for the magical life the author has been fortunate enough to adopt.

[Tiffany Manning · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book's most off-putting aspect was the author's constant gushing over neighbors who are minor lapsed royalty.In reality it is more about the author than Provence.

[Dorothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book a few years ago, after being in Provence and the area for a few days. I’ve been back to France a couple more times since then but different areas. This autumn friends and I are spending a fortnight with St. Remy du Provence as a base. So I finally got around to reading The Magic of Provence. Enjoyed it very much, would also love to read the book/remembrance the Duchess wrote. It is a charming read and filled with delicious recipes. Salut!
I can’t help but wonder if the author and husband still own this home.

[Marissa Janeen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Travel writing about a couple’s house in Provencance
I liked this and enjoyed imaging France, but it definitely felt like she ran out of funny stories to tell. Not something I would ever need to reread.

[Amy Weisbrod · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good. Fun to learn about Provence. Don't buy on Kindle. Grammatical and spelling errors were numerous.

[Hannele Pennanen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kivoja tarinoita elämästä Provencessa sekä mukana herkullisia reseptejä. Tein jopa vanhanpojan hilloa eli rommissa säilöttyjä luumuja. Maistui herkulliselta vaniljajäätelön kera :)

[Penny]

Didn't know what to expect from this, but was pleasantly surprised.

[Missi Wendt · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book gives an honest representation of living in Provence as a foreigner! Makes me want to travel there and make all the food!

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think that in a previous life Kevin and I lived in Provence! This book was so descriptive in its setting that you could almost smell the lavender coming off the pages. The author tells the story of how she and her husband bought a ruin of a house in Luberon, restored it by hiring the work done while they lived in California, and how when they returned the house was completed and lovely. She had such a positive experience with the restoration that the book exudes the feeling that everyone should move to Provence. She does mention that not all share her "luck", and that she knew of several people who were taken advantage of in their pursuit of the provencial life. She describes life in Provence in detail from the sights, sounds and smells of the region, and she ends each chapter with a recipe. I will definitely make some of these recipes to bring a touch of Provence to our house.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely little travelogue book of a woman (orginally from France but relocated to the US as a young adult) and her husband who purchase a second home in Provence, France. It depicts the simple charms of this corner of the world and what it is like to live part of the year in a small village where everyone knows everyone. Not so much a tale of woes or things that go wrong, it exemplies the beauty of a simply beautiful place, both in scenery and in its people. Each chapter ends with a receipe for a typical dish or food item from the region that can be replicated at home for a little taste of the local cuisine.

[Jeanne Grunert · Rating 4 out of 5]

J'adore cette livre! A funny, warmly told tale. Yvone and her husband Wayne purchase a dilapidated 1500s house in a tiny village in Provence, France. On her first day there, a prince and a garbage man show up to welcome her. I loved her stories of life in Provence. At first I thought her story "too good to be true" because everything seems magical and the going so smooth, until I got to the chapter about her lying, cheating maid and gardener. Overall though, a beautiful book. I wished she'd write a book just about the duchess; would love to learn more about that grand woman. Recommended memoir.

[L Greyfort]

Leaves a bad taste in the mouth; TO BE AVOIDED.

Having been bitten by the travelogue bug in general, and French travels in particular, I got sucked in by this one after noticing a chapter heading referring to the perils of visiting St. Tropez. I had a messy day trip there once myself, so I thought I might have discovered a soul-mate. No such luck. The coy tone of the writing and and the self-absorbed attitudes would put off permanently anyone who has not had any experience of this exhilarating part of world.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Magic of Provence describes the adventures of a Los Angeles couple in their renovated summer house in Provence. While the wife and author has the advantage of being a native Frenchwoman and a French teacher, the couple's encounters with the inhabitants of the village demonstrate that a grasp of the language alone does not provide the cultural knowledge that time spent developing relationships and friendships provides. These enjoyable stories are peppered with recipes that left me wishing I could go shopping for fresh provisions in Provence.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

In preparation for a trip to the south of France I was frantically looking for something relevant to read. This book would have been perfect I don't know how I overlooked it. Overall it is well worth reading but some of the chapters were not as compelling as others. The recipes were interesting though and her observations about the people, food and even tourists were definitely on point. It was lovely to revisit the region by reading about it. When I was there I think I was too deeply immersed to enjoy it fully.

[Amelia Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for Tea & A Book

I found the stories charming, but struggled with the vagueness of her writing. It bothered me that I didn't know what decade these stories took place in or even really a solid timeline of events. There was also a vagueness in the relationships she writes about, between her and her husband and her and others. I also felt the stories were just a bit too idyllic, even if her story was about something going wrong it always works out in the end.

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice, little book. I loved many of the descriptive chapters, especially the winter scene when the author is alone and the power goes out in this little village. Every sound in the house is amplified and what wouldn't frighten you during the day, could be terrifying in the dark of night. The recipes at the end of each chapter appear doable. There is nothing too fancy or complicated about them. Need to put Provence on my bucket list.

[Annalee]

It was lovely to experience Yvone Lenard's adventures in the Provence of the 1980s-1990s. Some of her tales made me laugh out loud, I just had to read them out to my husband. Others were more poignant, more sad, just like life really. I found myself liking Yvone and her husband Wayne, her narrative style is so warm and lively, I just want to be invited round for dinner now!

[Patsybryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any Book About Provence Will Do

I so enjoyed the dream come true of buying and living in Provence. The experience of life where each person from royalty to tradesman is valued and an integral part of village life. Where all seem to live the ultimate good life of beauty, good food, great wine, a flower, friends, and the joy of just appreciating life. viva Provence!

[Joe Pfeiler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book marked the beginning of a whole new era of reading for me. Loved it.

About six years after reading this, I had the pleasure of meeting Yvone, who's as warm and funny as the stories in her book.

[Denise Grinols · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! Since I can't go to France and have this experience myself I love reading about other peoples. I got a realistic sense of what it feels like to live in the village and make friends and what life might be like there.

[Risley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say? I love everything about Provence!

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of wanting to move to France and cook.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice little story.

[Elisabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dutch title is "Passie voor de Provence" (ISBN 90 274 7194 0)

[Dorothy]

I loved it -- great story plus recipes!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

great insights into life in Provence.