For a time, Francophile extraordinaire Peter Mayle left the South of France and the pleasures and the pastimes he has chronicled to international renown. But not a day passed without a pang of longing for the home he had left behind. And so he returned to France and fell in love all over again with la vie Provencale.

In Encore Provence, Mayle presents his most appealing tribute to date on the joys of Gallic life. Here is a glimpse into the secrets of the truffle trade, a parfumerie lesson on the delicacies of scent, an exploration of the genetic effects of 2,000 years of foie gras, and a small-town murder mystery that reads like the best fiction. Here, too, are Mayle's latest tips on where to find the best honey, cheese, or chambre d'hìte the region has to offer. Lyric, insightful,sparkling with detail, Encore Provence brings us a land where the smell of thyme in the fields or the glory of a leisurely lunch is no less than inspiring.