A Castle in the Backyard: The Dream of a House in FranceUniv of Wisconsin Press, 16.09.2002 - 322 Seiten In one of the most beautiful river valleys in Europe, in the region known as Périgord in southwest France, castles crown the hills, and the surrounding villages seem carved all of a piece out of the local stone. In 1985, in the shadow of one of these medieval castles, Betsy Draine and Michael Hinden fell in love with a small stone house that became their summer home. Like any romance, this one has had its ups and downs, and Betsy and Michael chart its course in this delightful memoir. They 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—and describe the charms and mishaps of setting up housekeeping thousands of miles from home. Along with the region’s terrain and culture, A Castle in the Backyard introduces us to the people of Périgord—the castle’s proprietor, the village children, the gossipy real-estate agent, the rascally mason, and the ninety-year-old widow with a tale of heartbreak. A celebration of a place and its people, the book also reflects on the future of historic Périgord as tourism and development pose a challenge to its graceful way of life. |
Inhalt
II Dordogne Days | 77 |
III The Battle of Castelnaud | 231 |
Epilogue | 293 |
Afterword | 299 |
For Further Reading | 305 |
Andere Ausgaben - Alle anzeigen
A Castle in the Backyard: The Dream of a House in France Betsy Draine Keine Leseprobe verfügbar - 2006 |
Häufige Begriffe und Wortgruppen
afternoon agent American Anne-Marie Annie apéritif arrived asked Aveyron Beynac Bordeaux bottle Boucher brought building Cadouin café called Castelnaud castle castle’s Cathars cave château cheese church cliff Cro-Magnon dinner dishes door Dordogne duck floor foie gras Font de Gaume France French friends front garden glass Grande Randonnée hill hour Jean-Louis Josephine Baker kitchen la Roque-Gageac Labastide-Murat Lascaux lauriers les Eyzies living looked lunch Madame Mairie mayor meal menu Meunier Michael Milandes Monsieur morning Najac neighbors night notary owner Paris parking Pasquet pâté path Périgord Périgordian pulled region restaurant rillettes river road roof Rossignol round ruin Sarlat sauce seemed shops shutters side stone stood summer terrace terroir tion took tourist tower town truffles turn valley village walk wall walnut window wine Yvette