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.
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.
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.
FUTURE EVENTS
Maureen
Emerson has confirmed that she will be at the following
venues:
Escape to Provence:
The true story of two remarkable women.
Bath Royal Literary & Scientific Institution
16 - 18 Queens Square, Bath, BA21 2 HN
visit the website at
www.brlsi.org
Tuesday 23rd February at 7.30 p.m.
Visitors are welcome £4 admission
Click poster to see advert
The France Show 2010
Earls Court, London
Maureen will be on the France Bookshop stand with her book!
1pm to 5pm on the 8th, 9th and 10th January 2010.
Escape to Provence:
From Provence to Wartime Sussex
– the story of two remarkable women.
Wednesday, 21st October 2009 at 7.45
p.m.
West Hoathly History Society, Sharpthorne Village Hall, Sussex
NEUVIEMES ENTRETIENS DE
CABRIS
SAMEDI 26 SEPTEMBRE 2009
0915 hrs MAIRIE DE CABRIS, SALLE ROUMANILLE
ces étrangers qui ont fait la cÔte
Anglais, Russes,
Italiens et bien d’autres aux XIXème et XXème siècles
Escape to Provence:
From Provence to Wartime Sussex
– the story of two remarkable women.
Friday 17 July 2009 at 7.30 p.m.
Haywards Heath Library, 34 Boltro Road RH16 1BN
REVIEW
Escape to Provence:
From Provence to Wartime Sussex
– the story of two remarkable women.
Friday 17 July 2009 at 7.30 p.m.
Haywards Heath Library 34 Boltro Road RH16 1BN
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.
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