Reading Provence: Authors to Discover at Lou Calen Bookstore
The Voices of Provençal Literature
Jean Giono
Writer and filmmaker born in Manosque, Jean Giono (1895–1970) drew on the Provençal peasant world to explore universal questions about the human condition. From Colline to Regain, by way of Un roi sans divertissement and Jean le Bleu, his work delves into landscapes, passions, and great destinies.
LOU CALEN’S FAVOURITES
The Man Who Planted Trees (Gallimard edition)
A great classic of literature, this is a true hymn to nature, which has transcended generations and borders. This edition is enhanced by the paintings of Olivier Desvaux.
Marcel Pagnol
You can’t think about Provence and its literature without mentioning Marcel Pagnol (1895–1974), the Marseilles-born writer, playwright, and filmmaker. His childhood memoirs—My Father’s Glory, My Mother’s Castle, Time of Secrets—remain a essential gateway to our forgotten traditions, the hills, the French family, and the light of the South.
LOU CALEN’S FAVOURITES
My Father’s Glory (graphic novel, published by Bamboo)
Adapted into a graphic novel, this first volume of Marcel Pagnol’s childhood memoirs immerses us in his summers spent in the Garrigue
Frédéric Mistral
Frédéric Mistral (1830–1914) was one of the founders of the Félibrige, a movement dedicated to the rehabilitation and promotion of the Provençal language. Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1904, he dedicated his work to celebrating his region, his language, and his traditions.
In Mireille, he recounts an impossible love between a young woman from the Crau region and a humble basket maker, against a backdrop of the traditions and landscapes of southern France. Published in 1859 in Provençal, this poem in twelve cantos greatly contributed to its author’s renown.
Alphonse Daudet
A 19th-century writer, Alphonse Daudet (1840–1897) often drew upon his southern roots to enrich his work. Blending realism and sensitivity, he depicts scenes of life and characters rooted in everyday existence, with writing that is both accessible and subtle in nature.
With Letters from My Windmill and The Little Thing, he sketches a vibrant Provence, made up of stories, landscapes, and memorable figures. Between fiction and memoir, his writing combines observation, humour, and a keen eye for detail.
Contemporary Perspectives on Provence
René Frégni
Born in Marseille, René Frégni followed an atypical path, from leaving school early to his profession as a psychiatric nurse. It was in this environment that he began to write, nurturing a body of work marked by marginality, solitude, and fragile trajectories, with Provence as its backdrop.
LOU CALEN’S FAVOURITES
Last Stop Before Autumn (Folio edition)
A writer suffering from writer’s block agrees to take up residence in an isolated monastery nestled in the Provençal hills to care for it.
Alone, or almost—accompanied only by a cat named Solex—he gradually rediscovers his passion for writing in the silence of the place. But one evening, while exploring the monks’ old cemetery, an unexpected discovery disturbs his perfect retreat. The narrative then shifts, sliding from introspection to a darker tension, between mystery and aimless wandering.
Jean-Claude Izzo
Jean-Claude Izzo (1945–2000) established himself as a leading figure in Marseilles ‘noir’ fiction. Through his books, he paints a portrait of a city of contrasts, caught between beauty and violence. Marseilles becomes a character in its own right, broken by social tensions and yet pulsating with the force of life.
LOU CALEN’S FAVOURITES
Total Khéops (Gallimard)
From Le Panier to L’Estaque, passing through the Old Port and the northern districts, we follow Fabio Montale, a disillusioned policeman deeply attached to his city.
When his former colleagues are found dead, his investigation leads him back to a troubled past, marked by betrayals and still-open wounds. In a tense atmosphere, the novel sketches a raw and contrasting portrait of Marseille. Also worth discovering: Vivre fatigue, Le Soleil des mourants, Chourmo, Solea.
Peter Mayle
British writer Peter Mayle (1939–2018) settled in Provence in the late 1980s. There, he drew inspiration for his stories, enriched with observation and dry humour. His work has enjoyed widespread international success. His outsider’s perspective accurately captures the customs, contrasts, and quirks of everyday Provençal life, often with a delightfully offbeat touch.
In A Year in Provence, he recounts his adaptation to local life after settling into a Provençal farmhouse, following the changing seasons. Gastronomy, climate, habits, and encounters punctuate this self-deprecating narrative, in which Provence reveals itself through the eyes of someone discovering it for the first time.
Other writings from Provence
François Thomazeau — Marseille, a biography
A vivid portrait of our southern capital city, passing through history and culture, and illuminating the many faces of Marseille.
Bruno Carpentier — Crime novels set in Provence
With The Crypt of Saint-Maximin, The Blue Spring, Arma Christi, and The Skinner of Cadolive, he anchors his plots in the landscapes and villages of the region.
Émile Zola (1840–1902) — The Conquest of Plassans
Born in Aix-en-Provence, Zola drew inspiration from his hometown for this Rougon-Macquart novel, where political ambitions, religious influence, and social tensions intertwine.
Pierre Magnan (1922–2012) — The Murdered House
In a mysterious Haute-Provence, a series of murders revives the secrets of a buried past. A dark novel where the investigation blends with an almost legendary atmosphere.
Olivier Mak-Bouchard — The Tale of the Mistral
A story at the crossroads of novel and folktale, steeped in Provençal influences, that explores friendship, the passing down of traditions, and the memory of places.
Huguette Caren — A Table in Provence: Recipes and Tales from Cotignac
A true tribute to Provence and its culinary heritage, this collection of recipes does more than invite readers into the kitchen — it opens a window onto the fascinating history of Lou Calen.
The Kids’ Selection
The Mr. Men and Little Miss Visit Provence
The famous characters set off to discover the region, from Avignon to the Camargue, passing through Marseille. These are fun and colourful books to introduce Provençal landscapes, traditions, and culture to even the youngest readers.
Gaspard de Besse, the Legend — Behem
This graphic novel recounts the story of Gaspard de Besse, a legendary figure of the 18th century. Blending adventure and historical narrative, it follows the journey of a brigand who became a folk hero, a defender of the humble against the powerful.
Around Cézanne
Cézanne: A Studio of One’s Own
This narrative revisits the creation of one of the artist’s most iconic motifs, blending a fictionalised approach but with plenty of historical research. It explores Cézanne’s working process, his relationship to painting and solitude, and the deep connection he felt with the Provençal sceneries.
Paul Cézanne
An accessible and richly illustrated book that explores this painter’s entire body of work. From his early canvases to the landscapes of Sainte-Victoire, this book offers a clear understanding of his artistic evolution and his major influence on art history.
Reading about Provence is like extending your holiday with us. In these books, landscapes are seen through new eyes, and places will become enriched with these stories. Each book is a joyful invitation to read, whether you live in Cotignac or are just passing through, for a day or a few days.
Lou Calen bookstore is open 7 days a week.
