Ron and I are superfans of the the Bruno book series, which I've praised here several times. Bruno, as you Francophiles probably know, is the chief of police in a small town in the Périgord, as imagined by British author Martin Walker. The author was a journalist who now lives in the Dordogne, and in the series Bruno and his colorful cadre of friends offer up lessons in French. Along with an intriguing mystery, you’ll get a a good dose of France's history, a sprinkling of politics, a generous dollop of current French culture, and a soupçon of romance thrown in. And recipes!
Recently we escaped the Burgundy winter with a little trip to Florida, and imagine our surprise and delight when we were strolling down a street in Sarasota and saw this sign in front of a of independent bookstore:
It was happening the very next day! So at quarter to three we had parked ourselves in the front row, eager for the “chat”. Sitting to my right was a couple who were such big fans that they had booked a gîte in the town where Walker lives, for a week. “We actually met 'Bruno' at the Saturday market!” the wife told me (Bruno is based on the local policeman, named Pierriot). The woman on the other side of us was so enamored with Walker’s books that she’s been “stalking” the author, she told us. As the clock turned three, she said excitedly, “I wonder if he’ll be very late, like a rock star?”
Msr. Walker was every bit as fascinating a speaker as he is a writer. His enthusiam for life in the Perigord was so infectious that Ron and I were painfully missing our own home in France before his talk had ended.
The Walker family's life in the country sounds idyllic. He gathers grapes with his neighbors, and truffles to perfume his cooking. He makes his own vin de noix (walnut wine) as we do in La Bourgogne. His favorite dish is Boeuf Bourguignon, but he makes it with the local Bergerac wine so he has renamed it Boeuf Périgordain (sorry to reveal this, my fellow Burgundians, I know it's a travesty). His secret ingredient is a generous final splash of his own Vin de Noix. He has 30 chickens, so he gives away lots of eggs. In return, a side of wild boar , or a leg of lamb, shows up on his doorstep, or a mess of trout caught that very morning, or a case of wine. The area is poor, but bartering saves the day.
The author said that “There is a traditional German saying that the sum of all happiness is 'to live like God in France.' So we like to say in this region, 'And when God takes a vacation, he come to the Périgord!' ".
He and his wife Julia have written a Bruno cookbook which is only published in Germany (his best market), but is a bestseller there, and in fact received an award for the best French cookbook. But American publishers won’t take it on. His publisher told him: to get a cookbook published in America you must either be an international star chef, have a cooking show, or look like like Nigella Lawson. Which, he said, let’s him out.
One of his cooking tips: if you have to have a scrumptious truffle on hand, put it in a sealed bag with your eggs. It will perfume your omelette. He also puts thin slivers of truffle between a wheel of brie sliced lengthwise, and lets it sit for a few days.
Walker was promoting his latest book, A Taste of Vengence. Don't despair if you're in Bruno withdrawal, the next one will be out in June: The Body in the Castle Well. The Château des Milandes, the former home of famous jazz singer Josephine Baker, figures into the plot (above, the UK cover at the left, US cover on the right. Which do you prefer?).
Walker touched on the Gilets Jaune, which he sees as the French version of the populism that is sweeping the western world, mostly due to economic disparity and ecomonic revolution caused by technology and other factors (see Brexit, Trumpism, etc).
Monsieur Walker closed with advice to would be writers: write every day, and record the little things, for later use: a description of an interesting person, or a great meal, for example. And “read the collected letters of Hemingway to F. Scott Fitzgerald,” he said,in which Hemingway advised that writers should always stop writing for the day, not at the end of a chapter or paragraph, or even a sentence! The theory is, It’s easier to pick it up that way, the next day. And so in my next post….
Of course I asked for a photo! And he kindly obliged:
The US cover of his latest book, which came out at the end of last year:
In the Comments: Merci beaucoup for all your kind comments on the house. Bonnie, your comment really made us laugh--we do wonder what we're doing some days! Maybe it's too early--we'll see.
Great photo Lynn
Posted by: Dee Jackson | 02/15/2019 at 02:18 AM
I’m a huge Bruno fan as well and was excited that maybe Mr. Walker is doing a full book tour. But I can’t find any info about one. Do you know if he’s making the rounds?
Posted by: Janie | 02/15/2019 at 06:08 AM
I too am a fan and have read all of Bruno books. Why doesn’t he self-publish his English version cookbook and sell it either via his website or through amazon? His fans would buy his book. And also Donna Leon who writes the Guido Brunetti series (from Venice) published a cookbook of the recipes from those books. It’s fabulous, one page the excerpt from one of the books mentioning the dish and the next page, the recipe. And Donna Leon while a fabulous writer is no top chef or one with a tv show. There are so many Martin Walker fans that his cookbook would sell (although hold the wild boar for me, once was enough for me!)
Posted by: Jacqueline | 02/15/2019 at 06:24 AM
I love his books, my library is not always lending his latests, so maybe I will break down and buy some.
Posted by: Phyllis | 02/15/2019 at 06:41 AM
Ah ha - how fortunate were you to actually meet Martin Walker. Love his books and can't wait to read A Taste For Vengeance.
Btw also love your house; a great renovation.
Kindest regards.
Posted by: Pejjay | 02/15/2019 at 06:43 AM
Oh how I love this man’s books. Thank you for letting us know that he has a new one and another one on the way. It’s good to know that yet another pièce de résistance is coming out! Have read them all as have many friends and we are thrilled about this new one.
Posted by: Suzanne Dunaway | 02/15/2019 at 07:42 AM
St. Armand's Circle -- one of my favorite places in the world until the 90's when it got so mall-like! It's still lovely, but its heyday was definitely the 80's. The original Lilly Pulitzer store, back before it was megatrendy, featured a Lilly wrapped palm out front. My mom bought all my clothes at a store called The Young Islander, where I sported Norma Kamali in high school. Thanks for the memories -- and the book tip. #FUALLTHETIME
Posted by: Lillie | 02/15/2019 at 09:45 AM
I am so jealous!!! Quelle chance!
Posted by: Candy | 02/15/2019 at 10:16 AM
What a wonderful coincidence, meeting the author in Florida !!
Incidentally, are his books translated into French ? As you know, I am a literary translator from English to French.
Today, I mentioned your amazing renovation work to a friend of mine who is a skilled tradesman living in LA VINEUSE !
Posted by: jean-paul | 02/15/2019 at 12:16 PM
Just yesterday, I told my husband that I was ready for the next book and that I hoped Martin Walker was busy finishing it. Now I'll have to see if it's ready for preordering. (I usually preorder his and Louise Penny's books.) I highly support the suggestion of Jacqueline (above) that he should self-publish his cookbook in English. I'd buy it for sure.
Posted by: Christine Webb-Curtis | 02/15/2019 at 12:20 PM
I agree with the recommendation to self-publish. Amazon's print-on-demand division, CreateSpace, makes it easy.
Oh, and I prefer the cover on the left. Lovely chateau.
Posted by: Michaela Rodeno | 02/15/2019 at 12:52 PM
Lynn, I'm extremely jealous! I'm SO glad you happened to be at the right place at the right time! I'm thinking you had a lovely dinner afterward, preferably French, to celebrate! And a lovely petit vin de noix? Maybe not in Sarasota?) WOW! Just WOW! Regards, Sue Wallace, Frederick MD
Posted by: Sue Wallace | 02/15/2019 at 12:54 PM
Lynn,first of all,what a great picture!
And what a fantastic afternoon!
I am one of the (probably)two people on the planet who is not familar with Martin Walkers's books.
This however,will change within the next few minutes when I order his latest!
Posted by: Natalia | 02/15/2019 at 05:41 PM
You mentioned that "they had booked a gîte in the town where Walker lives" Do you know which town that is? Because that sounds like fun.
Posted by: John Sanders | 02/15/2019 at 08:48 PM
Hadn't heard of this author before but will surely get hold of his novels, based on your excellent recommendation. On a similar note, over the last year or two, I've been devouring the Brunetti novels written by Donna Leon. She's an American author, living in Venice and has written a whole series of books based in the city. The hero is Guido Brunettii, an intellectual police officer with a great love of food. The novels are wonderfully addictive. If you haven't read any, the first in the series is, "Death at La Fenice".
Posted by: Martin | 02/16/2019 at 05:24 PM
Sounds like a fascinating read. I wasn't aware of this author but must check this out. The cover on the right is my choice without a doubt. Thank you for this wonderful post Lynn.
Posted by: Colleen Taylor | 02/16/2019 at 06:30 PM
The Bruno books are set in a fictitious village in the Perigord region of southern France. The village is for all the world like Monpazier where we spent the month of May 2015. We stayed in a charming gite "Aux Portes de la Bastides" where our gracious hosts were Giselle and John Pierre Vidal. It was the most favorite of our 6 visits to France.
Posted by: Page Robertson | 02/19/2019 at 01:53 PM
PS Just finished reading through chapter one of, “Death in the Dordogne “ and loving it already. Thanks for the recommendation!
Posted by: Martin Withington | 02/19/2019 at 04:22 PM
I've never heard of the Bruno novels, but I will check them out.
I have lived in the Sarasota area, for a year, and St. Armands was my favorite venue outside the beach itself. There was a Cafe there, called Cafe New Orleans, I believe. I used to go to poetry readings there, and imagine I was in the French Quarter. They served sandwiches on beignets (not sugared, of course), and they were delicious!
Posted by: Suzanne Hurst | 02/21/2019 at 04:09 PM
I just ordered one of his books which should arrive shortly, so I was extra glad to see your story. What a super coincidence to find him in Florida and for him to discover you! The Dordogne is one of my most favorite places in France, so I will be sure to order his next book.
Posted by: Debbie Ambrous | 02/26/2019 at 05:37 PM
It was a special treat when I discovered Martin Walker's first Bruno, Chief of Police book. I went on to enjoy them all. Haven't seen a new one for awhile, so was glad to hear there's one out, and another to follow shortly. The US cover appeals more to me. I dream of revisiting your corner of Burgundy, and maybe even staying with Nicole, if she is still hosting visitors. Meanwhile, the Mediterranean climate of the Northern California Wine Country where I live is an excellent consolation.
Posted by: Iz Campbell | 03/18/2019 at 07:20 PM