A Northern Light in Provence: A Novel
May 2024 · Sold by Ballantine Books
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352
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About this ebook
A woman leaves her coastal Greenland village to translate the works of a renowned Provençal poet and finds her life irrevocably changed, in this tender and romantic novel set in a French village.
“Big-hearted, whimsical, and enchanting.”—Christina Baker Kline, New York Times bestselling author of The Exiles
Ilse Erlund is a translator who lives in a house on stilts along the west coast of Greenland. Isolated and restless in her world by the sea, she convinces her publisher to pay for a trip to the country she has never visited but whose language she speaks fluently: France. Her mission is to translate the verses of Geoffrey “Po” Labaye, a charismatic poet known as “the last living troubadour of Provence.”
Upon arrival in the medieval hilltop village of Belle Rivière, Ilse falls under the spell of the Provençal way of life, captivated by the air, the sun, the vibrant spring colors, and the dulcet sounds of the dialect. Soon enough, Ilse is captivated by the poet, too, and she and Po develop a daily rhythm and warm camaraderie—which is disrupted by the arrival of the poet’s son, Frey. Though he has a fiancée back in Paris, Frey turns his attentions to Ilse, and suddenly she is forced to learn another language, one her translation skills have not prepared her to decode. Where—and with whom—does her future lie?
With an eye and ear attuned to the sensibilities of French life, Elizabeth Birkelund has created a love story about a woman forced to choose between the security of her quiet northern home and the possibility of the life of her dreams.
“Big-hearted, whimsical, and enchanting.”—Christina Baker Kline, New York Times bestselling author of The Exiles
Ilse Erlund is a translator who lives in a house on stilts along the west coast of Greenland. Isolated and restless in her world by the sea, she convinces her publisher to pay for a trip to the country she has never visited but whose language she speaks fluently: France. Her mission is to translate the verses of Geoffrey “Po” Labaye, a charismatic poet known as “the last living troubadour of Provence.”
Upon arrival in the medieval hilltop village of Belle Rivière, Ilse falls under the spell of the Provençal way of life, captivated by the air, the sun, the vibrant spring colors, and the dulcet sounds of the dialect. Soon enough, Ilse is captivated by the poet, too, and she and Po develop a daily rhythm and warm camaraderie—which is disrupted by the arrival of the poet’s son, Frey. Though he has a fiancée back in Paris, Frey turns his attentions to Ilse, and suddenly she is forced to learn another language, one her translation skills have not prepared her to decode. Where—and with whom—does her future lie?
With an eye and ear attuned to the sensibilities of French life, Elizabeth Birkelund has created a love story about a woman forced to choose between the security of her quiet northern home and the possibility of the life of her dreams.
Ratings and reviews
5.0
1 review
Paula Pugh
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May 22, 2024
The isle Eklund lives in the cold and frozen, isolated Greenland. She translates books from French and Danish to English. She lives in an isolated cabin where she locks herself away with only daily visits to local cafe. It has been her refuge since her brother died. Isle’s one desire is to visit France, to the country of the language she loves. Given the opportunity to translate a Provence troubadour poet’s work, Isle bravely requests two weeks there to learn the nuances of his words. In Provence amid vibrant colors and a more vibrant language, she comes alive, warmed by the sun and the poet. This is the story of a lonely isolated woman seeing life from a truly colorful perspective. The words on the page will draw you into another world as seen through Isle’s eyes. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
About the author
Elizabeth Birkelund is the author of two previous novels, The Runaway Wife and The Dressmaker. She started her career in the editorial department of European Travel and Life magazine, then turned to freelance writing as a monthly personal finance columnist for Cosmopolitan. She has written for numerous national publications, including Glamour, Self, Working Woman, and Victoria. You may follow her work and travels on Instagram and Facebook.
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