C'est La Folie

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Editorial reviews

Book Description
The true story of an urban man's search for a deeper, richer, simpler life (not to mention a dishy copine) in the heart of rural France...

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Synopsis
One day in late summer, Michael Wright gave up his comfortable South London existence and, with only his long-suffering cat for company, set out to begin a new life. His destination was 'La Folie', a dilapidated 15th century farmhouse in need of love and renovation in the heart of rural France...Inspired by the success of his column in the "Daily Telegraph" about La Folie, this book is his winningly honest account of his struggle to fulfil a childhood dream and become a Real Man - to make the journey from social townie to rugged, solitary paysan. And in chronicling his enthusiastic attempts at looking after livestock and coming to terms with the concept of living Abroad Alone, the author discovers what it takes to be a man at the beginning of the 21st century, especially if one is short sighted, flat footed and not very good at games.

Life-affirming, laugh out loud funny (and boasting more than its fair share of larger-than-life locals, bilingual chickens, diminutive but over-sexed sheep, invisible rodents, manly power tools with unpronounceable names, plus the occasional femmes fatale), this tale of a new-found life in France with a cat, a piano and an aeroplane, is both an elegy for a world that's fast disappearing as a hymn to the simple pleasures of being alive.

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From the Back Cover
What do you do if you reach your thirties and still don’t feel grown-up?
Why fritter away your life in front of a computer when you could be wielding manly power-tools?
How do you learn to be a hero if you suspect you may be a wimp?

These and other pressing questions are what drove Michael Wright to give up his comfortable South London existence and set out, with just his long-suffering cat for company, for La Folie – a dilapidated fifteenth-century farmhouse in need of love and renovation in the heart of rural France.

Inspired by his much-loved newspaper column, C’est La Folie is the gloriously entertaining account of his struggle to make the transition from chattering townie to solitary paysan at one with the livestock, the locals and the landscape of his adopted home.

Witty and winningly honest, this tale of a new life abroad with a cat, a piano and an aeroplane is as much an elegy for rural France as a hymn to the simple pleasures of being alive.

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About the Author
Born in Surrey in 1966, Michael Wright enjoyed an unfashionably happy education at Windlesham House and Sherborne and graduated from Edinburgh University with a degree in English Literature. He spent several years working as a theatre critic, arts columnist and literary diarist in London whilst wondering what to do when he grew up. The answer turned out to lie in rural France, where he now lives.

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2008-07-31 rating:
C'est La Folie
I chose this book along with several others about France having just bought a place in the South. What a lovely light hearted read. I laughed out loud on several occasions and will never look at a Renault Espace again without thinking about those naughty rams! I also found the book very informative. I'd recommend it.
Carrie Gillies

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review by: date: 2008-05-01 rating:
Perfect escapism
My mum and dad had read Michael Wright's columns in the Telegraph and recommended this book to distract me when I was waiting for my 10 day late first baby. I throughly enjoyed it and spent lots of what could otherwise have been uncomfortable hours reading in the April sunshine.

I have lived in France myself and his portrayal of rural French life was full of touching, warm and funny moments, reminding me of everything that is good about France.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone wanting some quality escapism. If Michael Wright isn't careful his books will have us all buying up our own little piece of "folie".

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review by: thisfrenchlife.com date: 2008-04-15 rating:
He's not crazy is Michael
Daily Telegraph columnist Michael Wright left behind the easy life of London to `toughen-up' in Limousin, and this is his story.

The book charts his progress from theatre critic to rugged paysan, as he shepherds his sheep, chats with his chickens and tackles the renovation of his dilapidated home.

From his first days in France he has to take the initiative to ensure he becomes part of the local community, even if this means taking a beating in a local tennis tournament and drowning out the congregation with the church organ.

The journalistic skills of Michael come to the fore with his fun descriptions and passages of dialogue - his trip to the pharmacy to track down medication for one of his chickens is very funny.

Underlying the book is Michael's desire to change the life he was leading in London, which he has done not only by moving to France but also in expanding his writing.

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review by: Penny date: 2008-02-12 rating:
Formidable!
My husband and I love Michael Wright's Telegraph column and so I bought him this book and he loved it and kept laughing out loud and then I read it and loved it too. It is beautifully written and full of humour and humanity and one laughs and cries with the characters both human and animal that are so well drawn and real. I would strongly recommend it to anyone and we can't wait for the sequel. Thank you Michael.


review by: date: 2008-01-26 rating:
Superbe!
I had never heard of Michael Wright prior to reading this book as 'one doesn't take the Telegraph'! However, it is a gorgeous little book about upping sticks and going for a complete change of life in France. It is warm, sad, funny and makes me want to get on a ferry right now! I am very much looking forward to a sequel which I believe is in the pipeline.

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