As a Brit living in France, I could relate only too well to her language difficulties, and she captures the feelings about the Euro and the Presidential elections very well.

Celia Brayfield has succeeded in putting this little-known region on the map.


Deep France - An absolute joy   July 22, 2004
 7 out of 8 found this review helpful

I read this book during a recent holiday in the Pyrennes and thoroughly enjoyed it. The author gave some interesting information on the culture and history of the Bearnaise people along with some wonderful recipes from Basque and Bearnaise cuisine.Although she tried to keep the ex pat community at arms length, she still gave an insight into how they interacted with the locals, some better than others.I found that I cared about how these people managed in their new ventures in a foreign country and by the end of the book wondered if they stayed or threw in the towel and went home.
As an Irishman, the only disappointment in the book was to discover that there is an Irish bar in Salies de Bearn. Do we not have anything else to offer the world.
All in all, Deep France is a thoroughly enjoyable read for anyone interested in this wonderfully unique region of France, or indeed Francophiles in general.


Deep France a writer's year in the Bearn   July 16, 2004
 2 out of 2 found this review helpful

For a dyslexic with three children to read this book in 6 days is quite good going. Compulsive is the word. A few pages here and there while waiting for the children outside school and wishing I were there rather than here. This book really must be one of the best written of the 'escape to foreign parts' books of which I've read a few. Althought I always thought I knew France very well, this area of France sounds so foreign! This book makes me want to explore the Bearn myself. I hope that Celia Brayfield decides to spend another year in another part of France. My only regret is that I didn't save this book for my next trip to France though I could take it with me just for the wonderful recipes.


Deep France: A writer's Year in the Bearn   July 3, 2004
 6 out of 11 found this review helpful

I found this book quite irritating, Celia Brayfield has a slightly superior way of writing that makes you feel inadequate as a mother, let alone a single mother, she seems to spend a lot of time telling us how clever/ cultured and good at french she is [ that last bit is sour grapes !!] By the time she broke her foot or was it her ankle? I thought, GOOD! Then she wondered when she would ever walk again. OH FOR GOODNESS SAKE.........
The Times review which said we would "marvel" was right.