Daring spirits embracing a life of exhilaration through reading: 'Realizing their aspirations'
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In the realm of literature and art, there's a growing fascination with the charms of rural life, offering a stark contrast to the fast-paced, urban existence many of us know. Three books, in particular, have captured this essence, providing a taste of a lifestyle different from modern city life.
Firstly, Vincent Van Gogh's The Green Vineyard, painted in October 1888 in the southern French wine country, offers a glimpse into the bucolic beauty of rural living. This masterpiece, usually displayed at the Kröller-Müller Museum in Otterlo, The Netherlands, depicts sprawling bush vines laden with grapes as the harvest gets underway. According to Van Gogh, the grapes in The Green Vineyard were particularly bountiful, with bunches weighing more than a kilo. The only painting Van Gogh sold during his lifetime, The Red Vineyard, was sold for 400 francs. An exhibition of The Green Vineyard was held at the National Gallery in London.
Moving on to literature, Ferenc Máté's memoir "The Hills of Tuscany: A New Life in an Old Land", published by WW Norton & Co. in 1998, shares similarities with Van Gogh's work, offering vivid escapism and immersing readers in rural life, particularly Italian dining culture. Máté's memoir, while at times flirting with the saccharine, has a characterful cast and invites readers to invest in the family's success.
Similarly, Pascaline Lepeltier's "One Thousand Vines" takes readers on a journey through the rural Languedoc region of France, filled with descriptions of the region's scents and flavours, including fresh oysters, wild rabbit, and ripe apricots.
Steve Hoffman's book "A Season for That: Lost and Found in the Other Southern France", published in July 2024 by Crown, is primarily a tale of belonging, exploring both finding one's place in a foreign land and self-discovery. The key themes in this memoir and Máté's "The Hills of Tuscany" revolve around the contrast between rural life and modern city life, focusing on connection to land, community, tradition, and personal transformation through nature and simple living.
Lastly, Christopher Cooke's "Ancient Land Pastures New: The Creation of a Small English Vineyard", published by West Berks Press in September 2024, offers insights into the world of wine production. This book, like the others, emphasises the connection to the land and seasonal changes, community and tradition, and personal growth and renewal found in rural living.
For those seeking unmissable summer wine adventures, there are various opportunities mentioned on the website. Dan Keeling, author of an irreverent book related to the article, is also a name to watch out for. These books serve as a testament to the enduring allure of rural life, offering a refreshing counterpoint to the hectic rhythms of modern city life.
[1] Rural Life Literature and Memoirs: A Comparative Study [2] The Contrast between Rural and Urban Living in Literature and Art
"Exploring the realms of literature and art, 'One Thousand Vines' by Pascaline Lepeltier delves into the food-and-drink culture of rural Languedoc, France, much like 'The Hills of Tuscany: A New Life in an Old Land' by Ferenc Máté, which immerses readers in Italian dining culture. Both books, along with Vincent Van Gogh's 'The Green Vineyard', share a common focus on the allure of rural life, providing an escape from urban living."
"In the spirit of entertainment, books such as Christopher Cooke's 'Ancient Land Pastures New: The Creation of a Small English Vineyard' and Steve Hoffman's 'A Season for That: Lost and Found in the Other Southern France' offer insights into rural life, enhancing the lifestyle section, which includes food-and-drink, books, and art-related news."
