{"product_id":"learning-to-be-french-and-failing-a-new-zealander-a-tiny-village-an-ancient-stone-house-9781991006073","title":"Learning to Be French (and Failing): A New Zealander, a Tiny Village \u0026 an Ancient Stone House","description":"\u003cb\u003eWhat happens when an art gallery owner from New Zealand buys a dilapidated French house on a whim?\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAnna Bibby owned a successful art gallery in New Zealand until one day, on holiday in France, she bought a falling-down house in a picturesque medieval village. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eSo began the process of renovating her beautiful old house which, of course, wasn't without its issues and roadblocks. Anna didn't speak the language, she didn't know anyone and her understanding of French culture was limited. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eDespite all this she managed to find artisans to help, she survived the brutal winter in the unrenovated house and the locals took her under their wing. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAnna tells her story in a humorous, warm and generous way. She takes a real delight in the place she has found herself in. She has an ongoing relationship with a handsome Portuguese stonemason, doomed attempts at cooking French food and she blithely blunders into local French culture, with amusing results. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBeautifully illustrated with gorgeous photography, this is both an engaging read and also a beautiful book to pore over and dream of your own European adventures.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Allen \u0026amp; Unwin\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 10\/18\/2022\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781991006073\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 264","brand":"Anna Bibby","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42896209674421,"sku":"9781991006073","price":32.29,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/products\/img_a3d180e3-fc64-4f18-9198-318c7c88db50.jpg?v=1686101721","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/learning-to-be-french-and-failing-a-new-zealander-a-tiny-village-an-ancient-stone-house-9781991006073","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}