A Botcher in France

Idly leafing through the Sunday supplements, Trevor Danby spotted an advertisement for what seemed like implausibly cheap properties in the Charante region of France. Intrigued, but without any intention to buy, he contacted the agents and set off. One particular residence offered a superfluity of wardrobes, a dripping cellar occupied by enormous spiders, and a roof in danger of collapse. Against all reason and ignoring his wife's suppressed hysteria, he decided to buy it. In many ways the Danbys were trail-blazers in this yet to be discovered part of France. Getting to grips with the French way of doing things was made smoother by the author's sense of humour and a growing respect for the locals. Filled with memorable, larger than life, characters A Botcher in France is a funny and sometimes moving record of their on-going test of endurance and their encounters with all things Charentais.