Hi Jodi, I don’t ordinarily comment on Substack. But, I have to tell you how much I like yours. Especially this nifty little one on the south of France.
Many many moons ago I briefly owned a small place in Beaulieu-sur-mer just east of Nice & still often have dreams set there.
I especially appreciate your references to books, films etc & will follow through with them. Am an avid reader of anything involving the Lost Generation & their escapades in France. Regarding the Murphys: look for Sara & Gerald, Villa America & After. It’s a memoir / biography by Honoria Donnelly, their daughter. Terrific read & chock full of photos! I found it in a thrift store years ago.
Thank you for the nice words, I'm so glad you decided to comment! I've just been tracking down Honoria Donnelly's book, it sounds wonderful and I didn't know it existed. It looks a bit hard to find, but I was able to find a copy through interlibrary loan. Thank you for the recommendation! ❤️
What a lovely post, and I had already saved it and decided to buy you a coffee BEFORE I read your kind recommendation. I would like to read Perfume from Provence and Madame, Will You Talk -- I had never heard of them. I've read the others except for the Van Gogh letters. And it was a relief not to see A Year in Provence...
Have you heard of A Village in the Vaucluse by Laurence Wylie? I remember reading that in university as it seemed to be quite the work of reference about life in the Provençal countryside. I should read it again, as well!
There is a place similar to La Carrière des Lumières in Paris, called L'Atelier des Lumières. I'm not sure if they are connected business-wise, but it's the same concept. We often go there when we're up in la capitale, and have seen some fabulous projections.
As for Provence, my south of France is quite different and although I've been there quite a few times, it often doesn't really click with me. I suppose I'll have to find the perfect middle-sized town to duly fall in love with the area.
Thank you Betty! Have you been to Beaucaire or Tarascon? They are two smallish (15,000) cities right across the bridge from each other not far from Nimes. I liked Beaucaire better, because it has a lovely harbor, but both of them might be right up your alley! :) L'Atelier des Lumières looks very much like La Carrière des Lumières - I didn't know about it when I was in Paris. Such an amazing, experience, I think!
I will definitely look up A Village in the Vaucluse, I've not heard of it before!
Thank you, as always, for commenting, and thank you for the coffee. xo
I have heard of both Beaucaire and Tarascon and may have driven through. You are right, they sound like a good destination for France in Between. I want to get to Provence soon as it’s not that far away. I’ve looked at l’Isle-sur- la-Sourgue, where I’ve already been, but feel like it gets a lot of attention as it is.
I appreciate your hunt for the word to describe a curious person, as it would be an apt one for me. Your pocket guide is *just the thing* for anyone about to visit Provence, or anyone (ahem, moi) unable to go soon but still in the mood for a bit of armchair travel. My husband and I spent a week in Sanary-Sur-Mer several years ago, and it lodged deep in my heart. We also spent time in Arles drinking pastis and wandering the Van Gogh trail. Since then, we've born children and mortgaged a home, so France will have to wait for now, but I think about it all the time. Thanks very much for this amuse-bouche of a post.
Everybody Was So Young is one of my favorite books. Also if you get to MoMA they have “ Wasp and Pear” painted by Murphy in 1929. Last time I checked though the curators hung it on a hallway wall going into the bathrooms 🤣
Lol! Well, something's got to go there, I guess. 😂 I really like the few paintings I've seen by Gerald Murphy - I wish he had been more prolific. His painting on the cover of the Modern Library edition of Living Well is the Best Revenge is what drew me to the book in the first place, and introduced me to the Murphys!
Also, I now have Sur le Pont d’Avignon in my brain (resurrected from high school French class). 😆 This is one song (along with Scotland the Brave, the A-Team theme, and others) that does occasionally pop in the ol’ noodle to be on repeat play. 🎶
Hi Jodi, I don’t ordinarily comment on Substack. But, I have to tell you how much I like yours. Especially this nifty little one on the south of France.
Many many moons ago I briefly owned a small place in Beaulieu-sur-mer just east of Nice & still often have dreams set there.
I especially appreciate your references to books, films etc & will follow through with them. Am an avid reader of anything involving the Lost Generation & their escapades in France. Regarding the Murphys: look for Sara & Gerald, Villa America & After. It’s a memoir / biography by Honoria Donnelly, their daughter. Terrific read & chock full of photos! I found it in a thrift store years ago.
Thank you for the nice words, I'm so glad you decided to comment! I've just been tracking down Honoria Donnelly's book, it sounds wonderful and I didn't know it existed. It looks a bit hard to find, but I was able to find a copy through interlibrary loan. Thank you for the recommendation! ❤️
What a lovely post, and I had already saved it and decided to buy you a coffee BEFORE I read your kind recommendation. I would like to read Perfume from Provence and Madame, Will You Talk -- I had never heard of them. I've read the others except for the Van Gogh letters. And it was a relief not to see A Year in Provence...
Have you heard of A Village in the Vaucluse by Laurence Wylie? I remember reading that in university as it seemed to be quite the work of reference about life in the Provençal countryside. I should read it again, as well!
There is a place similar to La Carrière des Lumières in Paris, called L'Atelier des Lumières. I'm not sure if they are connected business-wise, but it's the same concept. We often go there when we're up in la capitale, and have seen some fabulous projections.
As for Provence, my south of France is quite different and although I've been there quite a few times, it often doesn't really click with me. I suppose I'll have to find the perfect middle-sized town to duly fall in love with the area.
Once again, thank you for the recommendation!
Thank you Betty! Have you been to Beaucaire or Tarascon? They are two smallish (15,000) cities right across the bridge from each other not far from Nimes. I liked Beaucaire better, because it has a lovely harbor, but both of them might be right up your alley! :) L'Atelier des Lumières looks very much like La Carrière des Lumières - I didn't know about it when I was in Paris. Such an amazing, experience, I think!
I will definitely look up A Village in the Vaucluse, I've not heard of it before!
Thank you, as always, for commenting, and thank you for the coffee. xo
I have heard of both Beaucaire and Tarascon and may have driven through. You are right, they sound like a good destination for France in Between. I want to get to Provence soon as it’s not that far away. I’ve looked at l’Isle-sur- la-Sourgue, where I’ve already been, but feel like it gets a lot of attention as it is.
I appreciate your hunt for the word to describe a curious person, as it would be an apt one for me. Your pocket guide is *just the thing* for anyone about to visit Provence, or anyone (ahem, moi) unable to go soon but still in the mood for a bit of armchair travel. My husband and I spent a week in Sanary-Sur-Mer several years ago, and it lodged deep in my heart. We also spent time in Arles drinking pastis and wandering the Van Gogh trail. Since then, we've born children and mortgaged a home, so France will have to wait for now, but I think about it all the time. Thanks very much for this amuse-bouche of a post.
Thank you so much for the nice words! Here's hoping that *both* of us will get a chance to return some time soon. 🤞🏻
Love this.
great article ! I would love so much to discover Gordes !
Love any stories about the French Riviera in that era, Jodi. Great photos! Neat to know how art imitates life w/ Fitzgerald's Tender is the Night.
Thank you Jeanine - how I wish I could have visited back then!!
A wonderful guide to bookmark! I too have the Vence chapel on my list— to look forward to!
Fingers crossed both of us make it there soon, Victoria!
Everybody Was So Young is one of my favorite books. Also if you get to MoMA they have “ Wasp and Pear” painted by Murphy in 1929. Last time I checked though the curators hung it on a hallway wall going into the bathrooms 🤣
Lol! Well, something's got to go there, I guess. 😂 I really like the few paintings I've seen by Gerald Murphy - I wish he had been more prolific. His painting on the cover of the Modern Library edition of Living Well is the Best Revenge is what drew me to the book in the first place, and introduced me to the Murphys!
Super interesting, informative and fun read!
Also, I now have Sur le Pont d’Avignon in my brain (resurrected from high school French class). 😆 This is one song (along with Scotland the Brave, the A-Team theme, and others) that does occasionally pop in the ol’ noodle to be on repeat play. 🎶
I know, it's hard to fight it, isn't it? 😂