Firelight and Woodsmoke, Applewood, Scent of Herbs by Claude Michelet
Written from personal experience by French writer Claude Michelet this is a wonderful epic of one family – the Vialhe Family – set in rural France from the turn of the twentieth century up to the 1980s. It follows the fortunes of the family as they live out their lives in the village of Saint Libéral in the southern Corrèze region, close to the Dordogne. As an example of a social history written in narrative style it is first class. The first book sees the family begin to fall apart as the younger generation rebel against the ‘old ways’ and the terror of WW1 takes its toll.
The second book continues from the 1930’s through to the early 70’s taking in the horrors and after-effects of WW2. The final book in the trilogy shows how the Vialhe family and the villagers have to move with the times if they are to survive in modern day France. This comes highly recommended.
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