Tales From French Catalonia

About the Book

Flanked to the south by Spain, French Catalonia extends northwards to just beyond Perpignan and westwards to the Principality of Andorra. Tiny though it is on the map of Europe, and indeed of France, it embraces within its confines a remarkable diversity of landscape and climate, ranging from the palms and bougainvillea of the coast through the vineyards and peach orchards of the river valleys to the snowy peaks and crystal lakes of the Pyrenees. It is the home of medieval walled towns and romantic hill villages, deserted castles and thriving abbeys, colorful fishing ports and ancient smugglers' trails.

In his latest book Peter Foulkes takes his readers on an enchanting tour of the region, introducing them to a lively and unforgettable succession of characters, stories, places and historical events. Personal experience and humor mingle with cultural and social commentary to produce a rich and irresistible portrait of a land he describes as "stamped with the sadnesses and glories of two thousand years of European civilization."

Readers familiar with this part of France will delight in the descriptive detail and the vividly narrated episodes of local history and politics, some of them long forgotten but all of them fascinating. Armchair travelers, and those readers considering a move to French Catalonia, either to live or for a vacation, will enjoy the lively and often hilarious accounts of the reality of everyday life, with its bureaucracy and frustrations as well as its rewards and little miracles.

Here you can explore the mountain villages which cling like bird's nests to the slopes of the majestic Canigou massif, discover some of the secrets of Catalan cuisine, and read how a group of determined local people are doing their bit to break down ethnic and racial barriers, Europe's persistent problem and troublesome legacy.  But you can also smile at some of the more bizarre examples of local red tape, like the official permit required for home improvements 'not in need of a permit,'  and marvel at the abundant fauna and flora of the Pyrenees, western Europe's most unspoiled region.  Read about the resistance movements which sprang up here during the Second World War, and the brutal Nazi response, including the burning of the village of Valmanya.  And above all, dip into the strange and sometimes tragic tales of earlier centuries, like the doomed love of the young priest of Nohèdes, or the savage exploits of the infamous Blunderbuss gang and their leader, Scarface Simon.

The present volume is adapted from a series of articles which were originally published in the UK as Letters from French Catalonia. One of the readers of that earlier version was kind enough to describe the Letters as 'a lovely and heart-warming introduction to the other South of France,'  words with which the author is more than happy to launch the present volume of Tales.

About the Author

After studying modern languages and philosophy in Sheffield and Cologne, Peter Foulkes moved to the US, where he taught at Ole Miss for two years while finishing his doctorate at Tulane. He later taught at Stanford for 10 years (Professor of German Studies, Dean of Humanities), before returning to Europe. After brief periods in Scotland, Germany, and Wales, he moved to French Catalonia in order to try his hand at 'being a Mediterranean peasant.' This ambition was fulfilled only in part, since he felt compelled to write about his experiences. The present volume is adapted from a series of essays originally published in the UK as Letters from French Catalonia. His earlier publications include books on Kafka, literary theory, propaganda, and drama. Peter Foulkes is married and has two daughters.