Books we’re reading this summer
Discovering some of South-West France’s hidden history
Here’s one I produced earlier: the summer bookshelf. Lofty reading targets for the summer, some not yet achieved. To write my blogs – and become better informed – I’m reading various books about the region and about historical figures connected to this area (le coin) such as fashion icon Coco Chanel and the legendary musketeer D’Artagnan.
Sheltering from the excess of this year’s heat under the large leaf canopy in the wood has been a great way to spend downtime this summer, although not for very long unfortunately.
Here’s a lowdown of some of the books of summer 2026.
Notre Chanel (Our Chanel)
Starting with « Notre Chanel », this is a charming book/travelogue about Coco Chanel, the fashion icon, which is full of fascinating information about her local connections, because she lived very close to here. It’s an association that I’d heard in passing, but never really explored in-depth.
Thankfully, this treasure chest of a book has revealed wonderful insights into Chanel and this rather hidden local history.
I’m now on page 231 – which equals nearly there.😊 There is no index in the book, hence all the placeholders. Not having an index is particularly tricky when you are reading a book that is not in your native language, and you will eventually write about it.
I’m absolutely loving this book though. There’s so much to include that it might take a couple of blogs. If you come to stay, I am very happy to share this fascinating intel…
Watch this space for the blog though as well…
D’Artagnan
The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas is a book you could read while visiting here. Not only is it fun, but this part of the world is also the home of D’Artagnan.
At several times in the year, there are quaint festivals celebrating this historical and fictional character at two towns associated with him and his family.
There is a permanent museum as well that you can visit.
Wine history of the Madiran and Saint-Mont
Madiran and Saint-Mont are two of the local wine regions, along with Cote de Gascogne and Armagnac a little further north.
To understand more about the history of the Madiran in particular, this book is excellent. I’ve been dipping into it for a while and must return it soon to the lovely vigneron (winegrower) who lent it to me. I think I need to purchase my own copy.
Citizens
I’ve written one blog about the history of the house and undertook quite a lot of research to do that, but as I get closer to the events of 1789, I want to understand more about the foundations of the revolution and the birth of the Republic. Also, to help me understand this country more, its exceptionalism and its politics.
It always feels like history is always around us here. Simon Schama’s Citizens should hopefully stand me in good stead.
N.B. This chunky and serious tome was way too ambitious for this summer’s reading targets. Roll on autumn and winter evenings.
Gussie Fink-nottle, newts and friends
And, lastly, something that has absolutely nothing to do with understanding this region: Jeeves and Wooster. Life on a renovation project and living in another country is not all tutti fruitti. The good days are great; the bad days can be very difficult.
I love farce and this makes me laugh out loud. I’m working my way through this Jeeves and Wooster doorstopper, picking up a chapter here and there in an odd spare moment and delighting in its glorious silliness – it’s a sop to badness.
The French link, however, is not completely lost here as author P.G. Wodehouse did have a connection to France, moving here in 1934. Unfortunately, in 1940 he became a prisoner of war and was interned for nearly a year. Later, in 1947, he moved to the USA. He never returned to England.
“What Ho! Jeeves.”
Happy reading.