Set in 1939 South Africa as apartheid emerges, this semi-autobiographical novel follows Peekay, a young boy who endures hardship and abandonment but finds his calling through boxing, music, and the guidance of remarkable mentors. A powerful coming-of-age story about individual resilience and the transformative power of human connection against the backdrop of racial injustice.

First with your head and then with your heart -- the words Peekay carried throughout his life.

A month-by-month memoir by Peter Mayle chronicling his first year living in a 200-year-old stone farmhouse in the Luberon region of Provence with his wife and two large dogs. From battling the mistral to navigating the unhurried pace of local craftsmen, Mayle captures the charms and frustrations of Provençal life with wit and warmth.

Engaging, funny and richly appreciative. -- The New York Times Book Review