The title for this blog should really be: The Power of Love, Art and Vicious Medicine.

In 1969 Monica Searle was diagnosed with a rare and virulent form of breast cancer. She undertook a horrendous, experimental course of chemotherapy.

During her treatment, her husband, artist and satirical cartoonist Ronald Searle, created a Mrs. Mole drawing to cheer her through each chemo session.

These tender little drawings were never intended for publication. They evoke a blissful future life in the house in Provence which the Searles had recently purchased and were restoring.

“He was wonderful throughout – a tower of strength and a continual source of pleasure,” wrote Monica. Her harrowing treatments lasted five years and, against all odds, she survived. Ironically, although she survived the treatments so many years ago, she passed away recently before this little book of drawings was published.

Searle’s pictures are full of light and love and hope. The title of the book, Les Très Riches Heures de Mrs Mole, refers to a 15^th Century illuminated manuscript,Très Riches Heures of Jean, Duke of Berry.

If you have forgotten his work – or are too young to remember it – take a look at some of his other books in our collection. Ah yes, I Remember it Well: Paris 1961-1975 contains drawings of Paris where the Searles were living when Monica received her diagnosis.

While humourous, they have a biting edge: lovers entwined on a bench overlooking the Seine are sitting next to a dissolute street person.

And speaking of dissolute, check out Something in the Cellar: Ronald Searle's wonderful world of wine. It’s a hilarious look at wine culture around the world where almost everyone is wasted and no one escapes unscathed.

-Jane

The new book on Japanese printmaker Hiroshige brought back happy memories of Giverny from my trip to France in 2007.

Monet had a personal collection of 231 Japanese prints by Hiroshige, Utamaro and Hokusai. Simply framed in black with grey mats, the prints still hang in his famous dining room. Walls were painted in tones of chrome yellow and gilt which also provided a stunning background for a collection of blue and white china.

Monet was not just a brilliant painter; he was a master decorator too. He brought a painter’s palette to both his home and garden.

There is one precious and well-used copy of Monet’s House (1997) by Heide Michels left in the collection. In her book, she tells the story of his unconventional family life centred on a love of good food, wine and company.

The Japanese art dealer, Tadamasa Hayashi, who was a frequent guest at Giverny, organized the first exhibition of Impressionist paintings in Japan in 1893. The printmakers often depicted the same scene with varying light conditions; Monet adopted the practice with his series of paintings of haystacks and poplars.

To make an armchair visit to the gardens, check out The Magic of Monet’s Garden by Derek Fell.

To recreate his recipes and brush up your French, have a look at Les Carnets de Cuisine de Monet. Unfortunately, the English language version (Monet's Table) is no longer in the collection. But we could help you track it down and bag it from The Alberta Library (TAL) database.

French country style is a sensual exploration of a storied culture. Here is a tantalizing sample of books on country French design from the collection at Central:

French country style at home (2010) by Sébastien Siraudeau reveals the charm of the countryside in homes where rustic simplicity meets modern restraint. Très au courant.

French Country by Philippe Saharoff & Agnes Zamboni (2006) is an evocative look at vignettes of country life and an examination of the elements that make the style so special.

In The Art of French Country Living (2005), Jean Naudin and Colette Gouvion pay homage to the rich cultural and sensual experience of life in France. Along with interior design, the book provides fabulous country vistas and scenes from famous gardens like Giverny –a lovely book for armchair travel.

A French Country Home: Style and Entertaining (2005) reveals the savoir faire of Jocelyne Sibuet, a hostess and hotelier. She shows us chalets in the Alps and guest houses in Provence, in the vineyards of the Luberon and on the Mediterranean coast. As well, her favourite recipes are featured with mouth-watering photos of French fare like plum tarts and Provencal meatballs in vine leaves.

French country style comes to America with The French Inspired Home (2010) by Texas author Carolyn Westbrook. Her French country has frou-frou cottage flavour and traditional settings.

Charles Foudree is another American designer inspired by all things French. French Country Signature (2003) displays lavish attention to detail in extravagantly designed rooms. His style will appeal to those who enjoy magazines like Traditional Home, House Beautiful and Veranda where his work has been frequently featured.

Recently, while working in the collection, I came across a book that I haven’t seen for awhile: New French country: a style and source book by Linda Dannenberg (2004). When I came to the story about a tiny walk-up apartment in Avignon with a bedroom overlooking the Palais des Papes, I almost wept.

The ancient city of Avignon is a world heritage site with the famous bridge of nursery-rhyme song; the ruins today extend only part way across the Rhone River. The papal palace was built in the 14^th century, when the city was the seat of the papacy.

In 2007, I travelled there and stayed in a hotel about a five-minute walk from the Palais – that is, it was five-minute walk once you knew the way. Narrow streets are a tangled maze that radiate out from a central plaza, the Place de l’Horloge. When you go the wrong way – which I frequently did – you literally hit the wall. The old city is surrounded by stone fortifications that made the popes feel secure and now are very handy for the disoriented tourist.

Among the many charms of my trip was finding that the homes and villages in rural France really do look like the pictures in the books and Kodak moments are everywhere you turn.

From Avignon I travelled to a rural writer’s retreat in La Roque-Alric, at the summer home of Canadian author Marianne Ackerman, who is based in Montreal. Her latest novel, Piers Desire (2010), is set in Avignon where she and her husband lived and worked for many years. Piers, the central character, is a sexually repressed, middle-aged Canadian author living with a feisty but elegant landlady and her nubile niece. The plot romps around unresolved family issues, a jealous and scary boyfriend, seething desires and unexpected couplings.

Ackerman's retreat included leisurely evening meals with rambling discussions about story writing, a workshop on food writing and an afternoon’s outing through wine country. We visited the village of cookbook writer Patricia Wells whose memoir includes one of my favourite recipes for eggplant (p. 212).

I’m not alone in my infatuation with all things French. In our catalogue, a search with subject keywords “France decoration” yields about 100 titles. (To say nothing about food, wine, architecture, gardens, etc.) French style has many flavours besides country, so expect future excursions.

Next blog: More books on French country style from the collection.