Maureen Emerson, from an
Irish-Austrian background, grew up in London - for which she is
eternally grateful. Marrying young, she brought up her family in
North Africa, Lebanon, Dallas and Singapore, before settling in
Provence for twenty-two years. There she worked as a local
co-ordinator for CBS and NBC news during the media festivals at
Cannes and Monte Carlo. While still harbouring a strong affection
for Provence, Maureen has now settled in Sussex with her husband.
The
true story of Winifred Fortescue and Elisabeth Starr, two remarkable
women and their quest for a new life in an idyllic Provence of the
early 1900s. An evocative description
of how the Second World War brought both selfless courage and tragedy
and would change their lives for ever.
This
exciting new publication, the culmination of 8 years work, is available direct
from 'Chapter and Verse Books'.
Price £10.99 (plus £2 p&p U.K.)
(The photograph depicts Elisabeth Starr at her home the Castello in 1934)
Picture -
with kind permission of the owner
Escape to Provence
is the true story of two remarkable women who, with style and energy, carved out
new lives for themselves in the South of France in the first part of the last
century. An American, Elisabeth Parrish Starr, and an Englishwoman, Winifred
(Peggy) Fortescue, the author of the best-selling Perfume From Provence,
both escaped to Provence for quite different reasons. Elisabeth as the result of
a personal tragedy, coupled with a need to live her life without censure, and
Peggy because she and her husband felt that in Provence ‘one could be poor with
dignity’.
After dangerous aid work on the
Somme during the Great War, Elisabeth bought an ancient house in the hills above
Cannes, drew other expatriate friends around her and, with a now widowed Peggy,
lived a bucolic existence in their Provençal village until the threat of another
conflict changed their lives for ever. Peggy raced to safety in England, while
Elisabeth fell under the oppressive Vichy regime that affected everyone in the
region during the dark years of war. When the South of France was liberated by
American and French forces, Peggy returned to a Provence that would never be the
same again.
Over the years their lives
became involved with those of Consuelo, Duchess of Marlborough; the poet John
Betjeman, the dashing Spitfire pilot Richard Hillary, the artist Rex Whistler
and the families of President Theodore Roosevelt and Charles, 6th Marquess of
Anglesey. As well as the story of two unusual women, Escape to Provence
is also a portrait of an era.
Watch a video of Maureen talking about her book!
Kindly provided by Anna Fill of The
Riviera Woman.
If you cannot see this video
click here
to download Adobe Flash Player - free
‘An account of expatriate lives in Provence: Maureen
Emerson has produced a remarkable book which will captivate any
reader with a genuine interest in the history of the Cote d'Azur and
of its English-speaking expatriate community’. Patrick Middleton,The Riviera Reporter.
‘The impact of the
war makes for some of the book's most compelling reading. The author
has thoroughly researched her subject and the book paints vivid
portraits not just of a beguiling place and a tumultuous era, but of
two plucky and unusual women ... whose love of Provence changed the
course of their lives’. Vivian Thomas,France Today.
‘Remarkable
women's lives the subject of a fascinating book’. Dianne Jones, The Mid-Sussex Times.
‘By patiently
piecing together the lives of these two women, Maureen Emerson has
produced a fascinating portrait of a bygone era and reveals an
expatriate community far different from the one that could be seen
in the luxury hotels of the French Riviera’. Nicole Benazeth, LMS News, The Magazine
of Sophia Antipolis.
‘Maureen
settled back in England eight years ago to be closer to her family
but Winifred and Elisabeth were never far from her mind and she has
just completed her fascinating book on their lives after eight years
of research’. West Sussex County Times.
‘This is a
captivating and sometimes poignant description of a pivotal time.
Maureen Emerson, whose French home was in a neighbouring village to
the one where Elisabeth and Peggy lived, has researched her subject
meticulously. A fascinating history set in a fascinating time.’ Destination France Magazine.
‘Fans of the
writings of Winifred Fortescue, whose book Perfume from Provence
can perhaps be said to have started the cavalcade of British
residents, will be fascinated to read the new biography of her by
Maureen Emerson. Var Village Voice. 5-star
review on Amazon.
‘The reader is
given an incredible insight into the two women’s lives together and
apart. Their somewhat eccentric lifestyles are a blaze of colour
in the already colourful Provence.’ The Riviera WomanWebsite.
‘I
turned to her book and was soon unable to put it down. Elisabeth and
Peggy are the main characters in the book, but there is a supporting
cast of many other fascinating personalities.’ Canon Roger Greenacre, St Michael’s
Messenger, Beaulieu-sur-Mer.
There are at least two
"Provences". The French Riviera may, geographically, be a part of
Provence, but in the period covered by this nostalgic book, "la Côte
d'Azur" - that 120-mile stretch of manicured beaches, pristine
marinas and mock "fin de siècle" casinos so familiar from glossy
brochures and travel magazines, was a world apart from the "arrière-pays"
- the "back country", whose 30 miles or so of undulating terrain lay
between the traffic-clogged coastal roads and the sparsely-populated
foothills of the Maritime Alps.
It is this latter
Provence that is the setting for "Escape to Provence", which tells
the true story of the lives of two women, one American and one
English, from widely differing backgrounds, who, in the early part
of the last century, settled in the village of Opio, on olive-groved,
lavender-scented slopes on the rural outskirts of Grasse, and over
many years, gathered together an expatriate community that became
known locally as "La Colline des Anglais" - English Hill. The
Englishwoman, Lady Margaret "Peggy" Fortescue, in straitened
circumstances following the fall of the pound and, later, the death
of her husband, started to write about the region in the hope of
subsidising their small income. Her first book, "Perfume from
Provence", became a best-seller, establishing both a new career for
Peggy and a fertile literary genre that would be harvested by many
later writers, including Kipling, H. G. Wells, Dirk Bogarde, Peter
Mayle - and this reviewer.
Although my
interest in "Escape to Provence" was originally aroused by the works
of Peggy Fortescue - in particular "Perfume from Provence" - it was
reinforced by the realisation that the unnamed Provençal village she
described in the book was the one to which I too had come to live
many years later.
This should not be
taken to imply that residence in Opio, or even Provence, is a
pre-requisite for the enjoyment of "Escape to Provence". On the
contrary: the author's evident love for this fortunate region and
its fascinating cast of characters shines through every page. It is
scrupulously researched, copiously illustrated and should be
required reading for anyone visiting the "arrière-pays".
Ted Jones, The Literary Riviera.
The two chief protagonists of this
book only knew each other for about seven years. It is therefore
less a dual biography, more a portrait of an era seen largely
through their eyes. As well as the differing personalities of each
woman and their closest friends, there are evocative portrayals,
rich in detail, of life during one major conflict, then the more
relaxed setting of 'the back country', followed by the outbreak of
another war. There have been many books about life in Britain during
the same age, and I for one found it fascinating to read about a
group of English people (and those of other nationalities) who chose
to live elsewhere at such a time. The illustrations, of persons and
also watercolour paintings, complement the text well too. The Bookbag
Escape to Provence by Maureen Emerson was
officially launched on Saturday 14th June 2008 at the English Book
Centre, Valbonne, France, courtesy of the proprietor Jill Shepperd
who had provided an excellent backdrop for the event. Maureen gave a
short talk of about 15 minutes covering firstly the writing of the
book and then a brief description of the contents. Speaking
perfectly, despite claiming she had never done it before, the
audience in the packed bookshop were enthralled. Afterwards she
happily chatted with the visitors outside and signed numerous
copies. Maureen has to be congratulated on a splendid publication.
The depth of her research and the ends to which she has gone, (and
places), to obtain it is quite staggering. The venue and the weather
were perfect and made for a delightful day.
EVENTS
Maureen
Emerson has confirmed that she will be at the following
venues:
May 2011
'Victoria', Sunny Bank Retirement Home,
Mouans-Sartoux, Nr. Cannes On Friday 27 May
Maureen will be giving a talk, on the life of Winifred Fortescue and her circle,
at The Victoria, a retirement home near Cannes which has risen from the demise
of the Anglo-American Hospital of Cannes.
While in the south of France she
will be continuing research on her new book Living and Loving on the Riviera
– The Story of the Architect Barry Dierks.
There is now an excellent page
on Facebook ‘Barry Dierks Architect’ showing many pictures of his stunning
Riviera houses.”
February 2011
In French: 'La Fuite Vers La Provence.' Franco British Society,
Haywards Heath, West Sussex, U.K.
Wednesday 9th February 2011.
January 2011
The France Show 2011, Earls Court, London, Jan 14th - 16th The book will be on sale in the French book shop at the show.
Actress & author Carol Drinkwater
with Maureen and Peter, the webmaster
at The France Show 2011
November 2010
'The
Story Of The Author Winifred, Lady Fortescue,
and The Expatriates Of Provence Between The Two World Wars.'
University Of The 3rd Age, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, U.K.
Thursday 18th November 2010, 2.00pm,
Methodist Church Centre, Priory Rd, Kenilworth, Warwickshire.
Visitors are welcome £1 admission.
October 2010
The re-scheduled Literary Lunch is to be held
at
Brittain’s Restaurant, Valbonne, Alpes Maritimes on Monday, 4 October 2010.
Maureen will speak about the creation of the Riviera
by the British, Americans and Russians and the
making of her book Escape to Provence. There will be much opportunity for general discussion.
'Escape
To Provence –The Making Of
The Colline Des Anglais At Opio.'
Beaulieu -
Bibliotheque Pour Tous, Beaulieu Sur Mer, France. Tuesday, 5th October 2010.
International Women's Club of Provence
Illustrated talk at coffee morning at the
Maison du Midi, Lorgues, Var, France.
Thursday, 14th October 2010.
kirstenogpalle@gmail.com
ILLUSTRATED TALKS Maureen has delivered a number of talks about her book and its subjects.
Each one is accompanied by slides and
illustrations and is adjusted to suit the local audience.
Below is an
example.
Escape to Provence:
From Provence to Wartime Sussex
– the story of two remarkable women.
Haywards Heath Public Library, East Sussex.
Author Maureen Emerson gave an illustrated talk
on her book Escape to Provence, the true story of Winifred Fortescue,
(author of the best-selling Perfume from Provence), and the
American Elizabeth Starr, two remarkable women whose idyllic life on their
hillside in Provence was shattered by the outbreak of the Second World War.
Escaping to a woodman’s cottage in Ardingly, Winifred worked tirelessly for the
Free French, befriending the dashing spitfire pilot Richard Hillary and Grace Kimmins, the founder of Chailey Heritage. Maureen also provided tips on
“successful self publishing”.
60 people, the maximum permitted in this library,
enjoyed Maureen's illustrated talk. Questions were taken at the end of the
evening and copies of Escape to Provence, signed by the author, were available
for purchase.
Maureen
delivering one of her excellent talks at Haywards Heath Library
ORDER A COPY DIRECT FROM THE AUTHOR - THE QUICKEST
METHOD!
£10.99 (plus £2 p&p in U.K.)
Order On Line - U.K. and International
Email your contact details to
the author & publisher at 'Chapter and Verse Books'. You will receive an invoice via PayPal
which can be completedon line through their secure payment service. If you have not used PayPal
before just follow the simple instructions that are sent with the invoice.
PayPal
has over 100 million worldwide users and accepts all major credit/debit
cards. If you are ordering
from outside the U.K. please email the publisher first for
details of mailing rates.
Complete an order form
and post it to the author & publisher together with your payment,
full details on the form. Click on the link below and then simply
print it. The order form is in Adobe pdf format. Most
modern computers have Adobe Reader installed but
if
necessary it can be downloaded free of charge at the link
below.
PROJECTS & RESEARCH Hélène
Vagliano was active in the French resistance. Her family had
moved from Ascot in Berkshire to Cannes in the south of
France in the 1920's. The full and very moving story of this
incredibly brave young woman who was tortured and murdered
by the Gestapo has been completed and the article accepted
by the Imperial War Museum. Other projects include Sir
John Fortescue, Royal Librarian and Author of the History
of the British Army and Be Ill in Your Own Language,
the Story of the Anglo-American Hospital of Cannes. Click
here to read the full story of
Hélène
Vagliano.
