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Idle In Provence

A Brief History of Thyme

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Idle In Provence

By: Eric Idle
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In 1971, two years after the launch of Monty Python’s Flying Circus made his comedy troupe global superstars - and made all their lives a little more complicated - Eric Idle decided to buy a ramshackle property in the south of France.

In search of a simpler, quieter life, what followed was a story akin to A Year in Provence, but with more disaster, more heartbreak, more laughs - and much more spam.

A tale spanning a fifty-year quest of home-building, friendship-making and bad-French-learning, Idle in Provence is a hilarious, tender and unforgettable memoir of Eric Idle's very own escape to the country.

'Enchanting and hilarious' Stephen Fry

© Eric Idle 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

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A truly wonderful account of a beautiful place written and read one of the all-time greats. Like a chat with an old friend.

Hilarious and Heartbreaking

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Eric comes across as a genuine and caring person who from a humble beginning in Provence created a bespoke home where he was very happy. I would say the book is more about the people in his orbit than Provence per se but for me that didn’t detract from a book with genuine warmth, pathos and humour.

Happiness in Provence

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Like Michael Caine I could listen to Eric Idle all day long . This wonderful audiobook doesn't disappoint. It's a joyful listen. So many interesting vignettes & stories centred around Eric's life in Provence over 50+ years.
As I reached the end what struck me was it's really a book about friendships and the passing of time. Life is both short and precious - make the most of it.

A warm wonderful read.

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I dreaded it ending as has kept me fascinated and interested throughout. Excellent descriptions of Provence and a life spent between California and Cotignac - with George Harrison visiting to strum on a guitar and much loved Spectator columnist Jeremy Clarke sharing his Low Life with Eric. My book of 2026

Smile and laugh your way through this warm and glorious book

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loved it but then i have loved everything Eric has done and written. A brilliant bool.

you could almost feel the french heat ant atmospher

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