In one of the most beautiful river valleys in Europe, in the region
known as Périgord in southwest France, castles crown the hills, and
the surrounding villages seem carved all of a piece out of the local
stone. In 1985, in the shadow of one of these medieval castles, Betsy
Draine and Michael Hinden fell in love with a small stone house that
became their summer home. Like any romance, this one has had its ups
and downs, and Betsy and Michael chart its course in this delightful
memoir. They offer an intimate glimpse of a region little known to
Americans—the Dordogne valley, its castles and prehistoric art, its
walking trails and earthy cuisine—and describe the charms and mishaps
of setting up housekeeping thousands of miles from home. Along with
the region’s terrain and culture, A Castle in the Backyard introduces
us to the people of Périgord—the castle’s proprietor, the village
children, the gossipy real-estate agent, the rascally mason, and the
ninety-year-old widow with a tale of heartbreak. A celebration of a
place and its people, the book also reflects on the future of
historic Périgord as tourism and development pose a challenge to its
graceful way of life.Winner of the 2002 August Derleth Nonfiction
Award, awarded by the Council for Wisconsin Writers
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