This novel-cum-memoire by
Peter Mayle was published in 1989. The author was named "Travel Writer of the Year" at the British Book Awards of that year.
A Year in Provence is an account of the first year Mayle and his wife spent in their old farmhouse in rural France. We read how the couple found, bought, and renovated their dream home situated in the Luberon mountains between Avignon and Aix.
The novel makes attempts at humour, but largely fails, despite the easy subject-matter (French builders, English guests, learning the language etc). For many, A Year in Provence presented, at the time of its publication, some kind of dream existence. The English ideal of the 1990s - getting away from it all - has been fuelled by this account of life in France.
There was also a mini-seies based on the book (broadcast on ITV?). John Thaw (Inspector Morse) played the Peter Mayle character well, considering what poor material he had to work with.