The Spirit of Auvergne
Paperback only
- Date of publication: 10 August 2015
- Paperback ISBN-13: 978 1 85341 152 6
- Pages: 94
- Dimensions: A5 (210 x 148 mm)
- Weight: 250 grammes unwrapped
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Synopsis
Auvergne conjures up many images. Its immense and strange landscapes, shaped by the largest concentration of volcanoes in mainland Europe, are an outdoor paradise. It is France’s ‘water capital’, for its mineral drinking water and thermal springs have been known for over 2000 years. Its heartland of the old Massif Central is ancient Celtic territory, whose hero, the warrior Vercingétorix, led the Gallic revolt against the colonizing Romans, and is a French national legend. Here there is a mythical ‘deep France’, which injects a fantasized past into its picture-book medieval towns, villages and castles, venerable crafts and the earthy flavours of its cheeses, meats or Puy lentils.
This harsh and austere land suffered isolation and massive emigration to Paris at the turn of the twentieth century, but nevertheless retained its strong identity. Among its native citizens, it counts three French Presidents – Doumer, Pompidou and Giscard d’Estaing - the Marquis de La Fayette of American fame, and the philosopher/mathematician Blaise Pascal; you can add to them exceptional breeds of cattle and the Michelin rubber and mapping empire! Today, having unlocked and capitalized on its traditional values, Auvergne welcomes newcomers with a promise of a greener, more fulfilling life.
This book has a strong educational slant to it since it was inspired by the curiosity of the Author’s former students of French, which resulted in providing many different insights into the character of Auvergne. It also lets real-life Auvergnats, from the past or present, speak about their land through a selection of original extracts offered with their English translation.
Contents
Of volcanoes and wide-open spaces: How the Auvergne crater lakes came to be, Rent a donkey! Attitudes towards the region, Parisian Auvergnats - the value of work and solidarity, Die-hard prejudices against Auvergnats, Songs of Auvergne, Auvèrnha, an Occitan land. L’Auvergne, land of cows: The great Auvergne cheese tray, An old buronnier’s memories. Modern Auvergne: Town and country in Clermont-Ferrand - thumbs up or down? Ready for a change of life? A proud and fearless land: Germaine Tillion, La Fayette - symbol of Franco-American friendship, Angelique Le Boursier du Coudray, the first teacher-midwife. L’Allier: Historic healing waters in Bourbon-L’Archambault, What is a ‘lapalissade’? Meat production. Le Puy-de-Dôme: Clermont-Ferrand, Bibendum - the most popular fat ‘man’, The all-Auvergnat haka of ASM Clermont-Auvergne, Geographical features, Volvic mineral water — no worry, Ambert past and present, Fourme d’Ambert cheese, Thiers - the cutlery capital. Le Cantal: Geographical features, Aurillac, A fine umbrella tradition – Piganiol, The saints of Cantal, Cantal, a fisherman’s paradise. La Haute-Loire: Geographical and historic features, Le Puy-en-Velay, Via podiensis - the routes to Santiago de Compostela, ‘Terre des Justes’- Le Chambon-sur-Lignon, La Fête du Roi de l’Oiseau in Le Puy-en-Velay. Voices of Auvergne: Blaise Pascal - Pensées (extract); Jules Vallès - L’Enfant (extract); Antoine Sylvère - Toinou, le cri d’un enfant Auvergnat (extract); Jules Romains - Knock ou le Triomphe de la Médecine (extract); Jean Anglade - Un cœur étranger (extracts). Bibliographic references; Not to be missed: Villes & pays d’Art & d’Histoire, beaux villages, nature parks, UNESCO World Heritage Sites; Regional websites; Regional newspapers; Universities; Regional acknowledgements; Appendices: The Cathar Occitan-speaking territory, The regional languages of France; Index; Author’s biography.
Readership
Visitors to Auvergne; students at advanced levels at school or in evening or extension classes needing regional French background,
Author / Compiler
Catherine Pinchetti
Catherine Pinchetti is a graduate of the Ecole Nationale des Chartes, a French Grande Ecole for historians and curators of heritage subjects in Paris. She has taught French as a foreign language in the USA and England in prep schools, universities, Alliances Francaises and Chambers of Commerce, and has written articles widely in journals for learners of both French and English. She has been active in fostering cross-Channel language and cultural exchanges, notably through twinning associations and summer job-placements for students. She now divides her time between Cambridge and Fontainebleau, and has embarked on a new career as a writer.
Distribution
From the Publisher or via Lightning Source/Ingram Content Group worldwide; Foyles, Charing Cross Road, London; European Bookshop, London; Gardners Books, Eastbourne (wholesaler).
