My Twenty-Five Years in Provence cover art

My Twenty-Five Years in Provence

Reflections on Then and Now

 Preview
Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

My Twenty-Five Years in Provence

By: Peter Mayle
Narrated by: John Lee
Try Premium Plus free

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $16.99

Buy Now for $16.99

About this listen

From the moment Peter Mayle and his wife, Jennie, uprooted their lives in England and crossed the Channel permanently, they never looked back. Here the beloved author of A Year in Provence pays tribute to the most endearing and enduring aspects of his life in France - the charming and indelible parade of village life, the sheer beauty, the ancient history. He celebrates the café and lists some of his favorites; identifies his favorite villages, restaurants, and open-air markets; and recounts his most memorable meals.

A celebration of 25 years of Provençal living - of lessons learned and changes observed - with his final book, Mayle has crafted a lasting love letter to his adopted home, marked by his signature warmth, wit, and humor.

©2018 Peter Mayle (P)2018 Random House Audio Adventure Travel Europe France Travel Writing & Commentary Western Europe Adventure Village Witty Food Writing France Travel

Critic Reviews

"Fans of Mayle (who died in January) will be delighted by this final book from Provence’s most impassioned booster.... Composed in a uniformly bright and jocular voice, this is a breezy valedictory note for a much admired writer." (Publishers Weekly)

"[Mayle’s] keen eye and wit are much on display in this all-new collection of writings on his times in the south of France.” (The Philadelphia Inquirer)

"A bittersweet pleasure... While Mayle can pen a mouthwatering description of bouillabaisse, what has always drawn his readers to his writing are his loving portraits of people, community and the Provencal way of life." (Carla Jean Whitley, BookPage)
All stars
Most relevant  
Simple wonderful story of his experiences in Provenance. A wonderful insight & an escape from the every day.

Simple wonderful story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I almost didn’t buy this because of how short it was, but I’m so glad I did. My 25 Years in Provence is a beautifully told, witty, and charming reflection on expat life in one of the most enchanting regions of France. Peter Mayle’s storytelling is warm, vivid, and filled with the dry humor that made his writing so beloved. It’s rare to get such an authentic and personal insight into life in Provence over decades, and this book captures it perfectly.

The narrator does an excellent job bringing Mayle’s words to life, making the experience even more immersive. I found myself laughing out loud at his keen observations on the quirks of French life. It felt like listening to a dear friend recounting their most cherished—and often hilarious—memories. A must-listen for anyone who dreams of Provence or appreciates well-crafted, funny storytelling!

Fantastic! Short buy oh so sweet

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Good stories of life in Provence. However, rather too short at 4 hours. Narrator a little too clunky in delivery at times, but otherwise a nice insight to life in France

Good, but very short duration!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A delightful reflection and summary of his life in Provence. He will be missed.

Peter Mayle at his best

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
If like me you love Provence but can only aspire to return due to travel bans, this audiobook is for you. The writing is so descriptive, insightful yet not too flowery. You are invited into a personal experience that would make a gourmand’s mouth water. You swear you hear smells! The narrator Lee is masterful in his take in telling of Mayle’s wonderful experience in discovering all the facets of Provence. I love it and play it again & again!

Province in a shot glass. Magnifique!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Was really looking forward to this, having read and re read both a year in Provence and toujour Provence several years ago. Was specifically looking forward to a narration as slow and relaxing as the Provençal sun. Was really disappointed. Whilst not disputing the technical merits of John lee I just found him to be a poor selection for this work, rather than being relaxed and soothed I found it really hard work. And his pronunciation of French is too perfect, more correct than some of the characters Mayle wrote about. Didn’t work for me.

A technically gifted but aurally unpleasant reading

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.