When I want to do some seriously relaxing armchair travelling I turn to Peter Mayle, who has written some of the best books on what life is really like in the Provence region of France, as well as its wonderful food and drink!

Born in 1939 in Brighton, England, Mayle spent 15 years of his career in the cut-throat world of advertising before becoming a writer in the mid-seventies. He started off writing educational books for children on useful topics such as sex education.

In 1989 his most famous book, “A Year In Provence” detailing his life in Provence was published and became an international bestseller. More books followed, as well as contributions to numerous magazines and newspapers around the world.

According to sources, Mr.Mayle and his wife left the home in Provence he so aptly described in “A Year..” to return to the New York rat race. However, after 4 years, he and his wife Jennie have since returned to Provence, where they keep their location a secret.

Most recently, Mr.Mayle’s work has gotten the attention of Hollywood, where a film staring Russel Crowe and directed by Ridley Scott was created, apparently based on Mayle’s work – about a British expatriate who settles in the village of Monerbes.