A Year in Provence: Miniseries
The 1993 television mini-series A Year in Provence follows the narrative arc of Annie and Peter Mayle as they undergo a significant life transition. After deciding to take the plunge, the couple leaves their respective careers behind. Peter, formerly an advertising executive, and Annie, who worked as a tax investigator, relocate from their previous lives to settle in the region of Provence in the south of France. The
Season 1 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Peter Mayle and Annie Mayle are a married couple who decide to leave their professional lives behind to relocate to the south of France.
- Peter Mayle previously worked as an advertising executive, while Annie Mayle was employed as a tax investigator.
- The series is based on the 1989 best-selling memoir written by Peter Mayle regarding his experiences during his first year living in Provence.
- The narrative stakes involve the couple's attempt to integrate into a new culture while navigating the local customs and social barriers of the region.
Season overview
The 1993 television mini-series A Year in Provence follows the narrative arc of Annie and Peter Mayle as they undergo a significant life transition. After deciding to take the plunge, the couple leaves their respective careers behind. Peter, formerly an advertising executive, and Annie, who worked as a tax investigator, relocate from their previous lives to settle in the region of Provence in the south of France. The series explores their initial experiences during their first month in the new location. As they settle into their surroundings, the narrative focuses on their reactions to the local environment, specifically their appreciation for the regional food and wine. However, the transition is not without its challenges, as the couple encounters various cultural barriers that prove to be both puzzling and amusing. Adapted from the 1989 memoir by Peter Mayle, the series documents their adjustment to local events and customs. Throughout this inaugural season, the Mayles navigate the complexities of their new lifestyle, balancing their enthusiasm for the Provençal way of life with the realities of adapting to a foreign culture and its distinct social landscape.
Episode Guide
Season 1 Progress Shield
Bonne Annee, Mr Mayle
Feb 28, 1993 · 30 min
January, Annie and Peter Mayle decide, in their own words, to take the plunge: they quit their jobs as a tax investigator and an advertising executive and move to Provence in the s
Learning the Language
Mar 7, 1993 · 30 min
Febuary, now into their second month in Provence, the Mayles continue to learn about local customs and culture. They track down Columbani the plumber and electrician and agree on a
Black Gold
Mar 14, 1993 · 30 min
March: Peter enters the mysterious world of truffles when his friend Harry calls from England and asks him to find two kilos of the stuff. He first approaches his neighbor Amédée w
The Tony Awards
Mar 21, 1993 · 30 min
It's April and the weather has turned nice but the Mayles still have their uninvited house guest, the boorish Tony. Annie puts her foot down and says it's either Tony or her. When
Daylight Robbery
Mar 29, 1993 · 30 min
May rolls around and the Mayles get two pieces of bad news. The first is that Tony, their visitor who overstayed his visit, has bought Rivière's property. Thinking the Mayles had s
Breadwinner
Apr 4, 1993 · 30 min
June and Annie gets a letter from an old friend asking if she and Peter would like to write an article on Provence for her magazine. They soon realize that they need an angle or a
Room Service
Apr 11, 1993 · 30 min
It's July and Peter mixes up their visitors schedules. The result is that they suddenly find themselves with a houseful of guests. They are an interesting lot: one fancies himself
Frogbusters
Apr 18, 1993 · 30 min
The heat of August proves to a bit much but in the village on a Sunday afternoon, the Mayles learn there is to be the annual goat race. They get a hot tip and decide to take a bit
Chateau Mayle
Apr 25, 1993 · 30 min
With the arrival of September, Peter's attention is now focused on his vineyard and the upcoming harvest. He has an agreement with Amedee Clement where he will do all of the work a
War of the Worlds
May 2, 1993 · 30 min
October: The Mayle's kitchen remains unfinished and Zanetti the carpenter hasn't returned for a month. It finally dawns on him that the man has probably been snatched by Madame Her
Old Boys
May 9, 1993 · 30 min
November: Annie has been giving English lesson to the local school children twice a week so is distressed when she reads in the local newspaper that the school may be forced to shu
A Year in Provence
May 16, 1993 · 30 min
December arrives and the Mayles are now approaching their first anniversary in Provence. Annie however is fed up at the never finished work in their house.