Much has been written about the South of France, but there is still more to be said, as Escape to Provence amply shows. This true story centers around the lives two women, one American and one British, who lived for some time together in the South of France. It's not quite right to call it a story, more a tapestry of stories about life, love, war, peace, and friendship.
The primary characters in Escape to Provence are an American, Elisabeth Parrish Starr, and a British woman, Winifred (Peggy) Fortescue. Their reasons for moving to France were quite different: Elisabeth was a nurse during World War I, while Peggy and her husband moved to Provence more than a decade later, drawn in large part by the then-favorable exchange rate. After her husband's death, Peggy met Elisabeth and a great friendship was born. The book spans several decades and includes a great deal of background information about the protagonists. In addition, there are stories and anecdotes about many other characters - friends, family, soldiers - which got a little confusing and made me wish I'd kept a list to refer back to as I read. But the heart of the book, the love and friendship and altruism, was well written and inspiring. Set against the backdrop of the South of France, the true stories in Escape to Provence provide a delightful glimpse at the lives of two remarkable women.
The Author
Maureen Emerson, author of Escape to Provence, lived and worked in Provence for 22 years before settling in Sussex with her husband.
