Helen Lefkowitz Horowitz

Harvard Book Store welcomes cultural historian HELEN LEFKOWITZ HOROWITZ for a discussion of her latest book, A Taste for Provence.

About A Taste for Provence

Provence today is a state of mind as much as a region of France, promising clear skies and bright sun, gentle breezes scented with lavender and wild herbs, scenery alternately bold and intricate, and delicious foods served alongside heady wines. Yet in the mid-twentieth century, a travel guide called the region a “mostly dry, scrubby, rocky, arid land.” How, then, did Provence become a land of desire—an alluring landscape for the American holiday?

In A Taste for Provence, Helen Lefkowitz Horowitz digs into this question and spins a wonderfully appealing tale of how Provence became Provence. The region had previously been regarded as a backwater and known only for its Roman ruins, but in the postwar era authors, chefs, food writers, visual artists, purveyors of goods, and travel magazines crafted a new, alluring image for Provence. Soon, the travel industry learned that there were many ways to roam—and some even involved sitting still. The promise of longer stays where one cooked fresh food from storied outdoor markets became desirable as American travelers sought new tastes and unadulterated ingredients.

Even as she revels in its atmospheric, cultural, and culinary attractions, Horowitz demystifies Provence and the perpetuation of its image today. Guiding readers through books, magazines, and cookbooks, she takes us on a tour of Provence pitched as a new Eden, and she dives into the records of a wide range of visual media—paintings, photographs, television, and film—demonstrating what fueled American enthusiasm for the region. Beginning in the 1970s, Provence—for a summer, a month, or even just a week or two—became a dream for many Americans. Even today as a road well traveled, Provence continues to enchant travelers, armchair and actual alike.

Praise

“Reading Horowitz’s eloquent and fascinating A Taste for Provence was for me like going to a reunion of the people who had a hand in drawing me that magical region of France. Now I understand more deeply why Provence became and continues to be such an important part of my life.” —Martha Rose Shulman, author of Provençal Light and The Simple Art of Vegetarian Cooking

“Everyone loves Provence, including Horowitz, and luckily for us she was also curious about how it came to be designated as paradise. In this fascinating, evocative book she looks past the olive trees and the lavender to explore culture, commerce, and imagination itself.” —Laura Shapiro, author of Julia Child: A Life