Caves of Perigord [Paperback]

Martin Walker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2002

A brilliant novel about the discovery of a fragment of a prehistoric cave painting that leads back to an episode of tragedy and heroism in WWII - and to the creation of the painting itself, 17,000 years ago. A piece of prehistoric stone art from the same period as the famous Lascaux cave paintings - 17,000 years ago - is brought to a London auction house by the son of a British hero of world War II, whose father left it to him. A storm of publicity ensues, which is only increased by the disappearance of the painting. Even the President of France becomes involved. As the story moves to France, both the tale of the stone's discovery, during the War, and its origins, millennia ago, are told in this wonderful novel which evokes both THE CLAN OF THE CAVE BEAR and Ken Follett's THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The discovery of a fragment of a prehistoric cave painting stirs up old passions in modern Europe in this busy, fact-driven fourth novel by commentator and journalist Walker (America Reborn). When Maj. Philip Manners approaches auction house expert Lydia Dean about an object inherited from his father, he expects merely to turn a quick profit. But Lydia is alarmed: the fragment appears to be from an uncharted French cave and was probably obtained illegally. It is stolen from the auction house, prompting an intense reaction from French President Fran‡ois Malrand. Having set up the theft as an elaborate McGuffin, Walker then shifts to the "V‚zere Valley, approximately 15,000 B.C.," and the story of how young cave-dwellers Little Moon and Keeper of the Deer fall tragically in love and defy authorities by painting with unprecedented realism. The story leaps ahead to 1944 France, to describe how Malrand, aided by Manners's father, Jack, and an uncouth American named McPhee trained the French Resistance to fight the Germans and in the process stumbled upon the cave. The shifts from story to story make for a neat gimmick but an awkward package: despite the link of the fragment, the three stories often get in each other's way. Though much of the detail is fascinating, Walker devotes more energy to describing WWII technology and warfare than to developing the characters. In the end, it's the cave painting that is most vivid here. Agent, Ron Goldfarb of Goldfarb & Grayhill. (Mar. 12)Forecast: With several books (both fiction and non) and frequent appearances on CNN and NPR under his belt, Walker's name alone ensures respectable sales. The cover a cave drawing emblazoned with a red swastika will catch browsers' eyes.

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School-Three intertwined stories, stretching from prehistory to the present, center on a rock painting of a menacing bull and draw readers into a mystery buried near the 17,000-year-old caves of Lascaux in southwestern France. Manners, who inherited the fragment from his father, a British army officer helping the French resistance, brings it to Lydia Dean, an expert in prehistoric art in a London auction house. She has it photographed, and circulates the pictures to select colleagues; but before its provenance can be established, the object is stolen. Trying to find out who took it, from what cave it originated, and how Manners's father got it, Dean and Manners journey to the remote caves of the P rigord, and their mutual attraction blossoms. The stories of the creation of the painting; of unlikely allies trying to slow a German panzer division in its effort to reach Normandy; and of present-day interests seeking to acquire and display the stone, deemed a national treasure by the president of France, all make for compelling reading. It's unfortunate that there's no map of the region; nevertheless, following these stories challenges, captivates, and educates teens about the art world, the French resistance effort, and prehistoric cave painting.
Molly Connally, Kings Park Library, Fairfax County, VA
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Books (July 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743430328
• ISBN-13: 978-0743430326
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.6 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,560,030 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Hole in France, May 18, 2002

By 

Denis MacShane (London United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Caves of Perigord : A Novel (Hardcover)

Martin Walker has written more than a fine thriller. He lets the reader into the deeper meaning of France, French legend, French history, the centrality of art in French life, and why this extraordinary country exercises such a hold over the world.
The book is cut into three layers of time. The traditional flip-flop between the current era and WW2 - a standard favourite of thriller writers dealing with wartime themes for decades - is given new depth by a love-story set in pre-historic times when the famous wall paintings of Lascaux created art done by human hand.
Thus the book reads fast but the author's three decades or more of deep knowledge about French politics, attitudes, way of life and priorities in reflected is Walker's book. He was one of the most distinguished of Britain's foreign correspondents of the 1968 generation and like all great reporters he had strong political views - a love for the United States, a passionate belief that Europe must construct itself with his own country, Britain, finally a acknowledging its European destiny and a passion for that adulterous politics of all true Englishmen - a semi-unrequited desire for France.
Walker could have written a standard account of France today - and how many of our shelves groan with those journalist essays that are never worth reading a year or two later. Instead Walker has poured into a novel his affection for France, his cynicism about the twists and lies of French politics, and his understanding that only through its history and its art can anyone even begin to comprehend today's Frenchness.
His portrait of Francois Mitterrand cum Amdre Malraux - as the chief protagonist, Francois Malrand - is magnificent political biography disguised in the novelist's art.
Walker deserves a Legion d'Honneur or as much free wine, confit de canard, and cheese that the Perigord region can bestow on him. He will attract visitors in their thousands to explore this beautiful corner of a beautiful country.
Forget the current betises - stupidities - about France and the USA. France has a history and destiny that every Anglo-Saxon must understand in order to deal with this great but madly frustrating nation. Walker's book is the finest start to that process we have on offer. And since he is still has decades of good writing in front of him we may look forward to more novels though many of us Brits would love to see him writing foreign reports and commentaries again as the press in both Britain and the United States has, with a few notble exceptions, the weakest group of foreign affairs writers seen in generations.
Denis MacShane is the author of a biography of Francois Mitterrand. He is a British Member of Parliament and a Foreign Minister in Tony Blair's government. He speaks and writes French.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The book cover got my interest!, July 3, 2002

By 

Tullio Bertini (Millbrae, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Caves of Perigord : A Novel (Hardcover)

I was intrigued by the book cover showing the head of the bull and swastika. I thought the book might be a WWII story. It turned out that the book was a story about three time periods, including World War II. I was fascinated with the description of the people living in the prehistoric times and their society as described by Walker. The changes in the time period were at times a bit confusing. The book encouraged me to research the the Lascaux Cave, a cradle of world art. An article, using the same title, by Norbert Casteret appeared in the December 1948 National Geographic which describes the discovery of the Lascaux cave and actually shows some of the discovered art work. The article is a must for those reading the book. I found that the description of the resistance work in France was a bit confusing, It would have been helpful if the author included a map of the area for reference. The article in the National Geographic included such a map. Overall the Caves of Perigord kept my attention and prompted me to reasearch the Lascaux Cave.
Tullio Bertini
Author of Trapped in Tuscany

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Made me want to go to Perigord, June 26, 2002

By 

Smallchief - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Caves of Perigord : A Novel (Hardcover)

This is a well done novel that shifts back and forth from the present to the French resistance of World War II and to the Cro-magnon days of 17,000 years ago. That sounds bizarre but it works for the most part. Walker is a better-than-average writer who tells a fascinating -- though not quite compelling -- story.

The centerpiece of the story is a cave painting 17,000 years old. The author creates a rarity -- a plausible pre-historic culture and society -- with one flaw: a liberated female character who belongs to the present rather than the past.

The painting shows up one day on the desk of an art dealer in London and in attempting to trace its origin she journeys to the Dordogne region of France where she becomes immersed in the nearly-forgotten history of the French Resistance of World War II. The best part of the book is Walker's account of the Resistance and the struggles between the Gaullists and the Communists. I could have read a lot more about the Resistance and wish that this part of the novel had been longer.

The book was successful in raising my interest about the cave paintings and the remote region of France where they are located. Had the ending been a little stronger, the mystery a little more mysterious, it would have been an outstanding -- rather than just a very good -- novel.