[Gutenberg 8819] • In Troubadour-Land: A Ramble in Provence and Languedoc

PROVENCE, In Troubadour Land is a traveler's story. The story of a ramble in Provence. If you love  **Provence or the French Riviera** , if you are thinking of visiting or if you

have already planned your trip, you have probably already read many guidebooks on

different aspects of Provence. But there is one book written in 1890 by the wonderful

Sabine Baring Gould which  **you really should not miss**.

From Italy to Bourges, Baring-Gould takes you by the hand and guides you through

the  **mythical cities of the French Riviera**  and Provence.

You will begin your journey in  **Nice, then go through Antibes, Cannes, Fréjus,

Marseille, the Etang de Berre, Crau, Arles, Les Baux, Aix-en-Provence, the

Camargue, Tarascon, Nîmes, Aigues-Mortes, Béziers, Carcassonne,

Narbonne, Avignon and Valence to finish at Vienne and Bourges**.

*Baring Gould*  recounts his journey with a scholarly approach and a keen eye to

history.

His prose evokes the great epics, from the Roman conquests, to the spread of

Christianity in the region. His journal is firmly rooted in his time,  **full of ironic

humor about Provence and interspersed with amusing anecdotes**.

Have times changed? Immersing yourself in another era and seeing  **Provence

** through the prism of a  **Belle Époque traveller** , you will not fail to make comparisons

and often find analogies between past and present in the customs and characters of

the people you will encounter during your journey.

If your aim is to soak up the atmosphere of the area you are visiting, then

“ **In Troubadour Land** ” is the book you need for your hike in  **Provence**. ABOUT THE AUTHOR **Sabine Baring Gould**  (28 January 1834 - 2 January 1924) was born into a middle

class family in St Sidwell, Exeter.

He travelled throughout Europe until he went up to Cambridge University where he

obtained both his BA and MA.

He is known for his work as a composer and lyricist of church anthems and hymns.

His work on popular songs was published as “Songs and Ballads of the West” (1889)

and “A Garland of Country Songs” (1905).

Although he was an Anglican Priest, he was very open-minded and showed great

interest in myths and legends.

**Sabine Baring-Gould**  has been a source of inspiration for both his grandson, William

Stuart Baring-Gould's, and Laurie R. King's novels on Sherlock Holmes.