C'est La Folie [Import] [Paperback]

Michael Wright (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 24, 2007

In 2004, Michael Wright turned his back on Blighty to begin a new life as the owner of a delapidated 15th century farmhouse called ‘La Folie.’ This is a comic memoir about a clinically social bloke rejecting the world of parties and attempting to learn how to become an old-fashioned man.


From the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Born in Surrey in 1966, Michael Wright enjoyed an unfashionably happy education at Windlesham House and Sherborne and graduated from Edinburgh University with a degree in English Literature. He spent several years working as a theatre critic, arts columnist and literary diarist in London whilst wondering what to do when he grew up. The answer turned out to lie in rural France, where he now lives.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (July 24, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553817329
• ISBN-13: 978-0553817324
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 4.9 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,084,309 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars C'est la Folie, May 16, 2008

By 

Robert SCHEDLER (Le Midi, France) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: C'est La Folie (Paperback)

"C'est la Folie" is the story of a Daily Telegraph literary critic/ journalist who threw up his life in the concrete jungle of South London, to take up the challenge of becoming something different, no longer commuting to an office in the City, but with his own hands and spirit, opening up new frontiers for him in a totally new scenario, in a small village in the West of France.

Michael Wright leads us through all stages of his transformation, from the longed-for re-location of his piano and airplane, the painfully slow renovation of his house, from his acquisition of Martha, Mildred, Mary (his hens) to the Breton sheep, all which he transported with the aid of a friend, in his car, to his little though rather primitive haven of La Folie.

Michael introduces us to his local friends, and the acceptance of him after the standard six months, is proven by them even accepting a meal à l'anglaise - a great mark of respect by the Gallic gastronomes.

He relates the occasional tragedies, when one of his young sheep passes away after illness, when Silent Mary the hen, also leaves away. But also more hilarious events such as with his macho cockerels, or his cross-country race to catch Gaston, the little Breton ram who wants to make amorous advances to much too large white and woolly sheep.

And when we finally leave Michael surrounded by his power tools, his cat on his knees, regarding his sheep and the beautiful region of France he has chosen, our initial sadness turns to joy, when we hear that we will meet him again - in his next book.

The book is structured in numerous short stories, told more or less chronologically, each a gem in itself, but they cross-link to the whole picture of his experiences in this beautiful country.
This is a must read for all of us who in our humdrum lives, dream of something else.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars C'est La Folie was my best Christmas present!, January 12, 2009

By 

R. F. B. Jones (Normandy, France) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: C'est La Folie (Paperback)

C'est La Folie

As a Francophile lucky enough to live in France I loved Michael Wright's book for a multitude of reasons. Through my own experience of owning a rural French property and of keeping animals I empathized with Michael's adventures whilst enjoying a sense of sheer escapism in sharing in them. His writing is excellent and kept me turning the pages well into the night as not only did I want to know what happened next but I found it so funny I was laughing out loud! Michael uses brilliantly unique similes and writes with a quirky self-deprecating humour. He is so honest about his tragedies as well as his triumphs that one almost feels 'a fly on the wall' witnessing his daily toil in his quest to live the rewarding life of a Limousin paysan. His sincere appreciation for all that is so good about France and the French makes him an unpaid ambassador for Les Anglais (some of whom are embarrassing 'Rosbifs'). Besides bravely flying small planes he's also an accomplished pianist and organist - and there cannot be many lapsed Anglicans now living in France who support their rural commune by playing the organ for masses in their local church!
C'est La Folie has a wonderful completeness as Michael's story comes full circle which is always a satisfying end for any reader - except that I closed it sad to have finished and now I cannot wait to read his sequel which is being written at the moment. So 'Bon Courage' Michael! To know more about La Folie, Michael, and his menagerie of animals and pets see his excellent website www.lafolie.co.uk

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars loved it, November 25, 2008

By 

emalea (lexington, kentucky) - See all my reviews

This review is from: C'est La Folie (Paperback)

I found myself reading slowly so it wouldn't be over. I love this book.