A Northern Light in Provence by Elizabeth Birkelund

A Northern Light in Provence by Elizabeth Birkelund tells the tale of a woman who leaves her coastal Greenland village to translate the works of an elderly Provençal poet and finds her life irrevocably changed in this tender and romantic novel set in a French village.

Ilse Erlund is a translator who lives in a house on stilts along the west coast of Greenland. Isolated and restless in her world by the sea, she convinces her publisher to pay for a trip to the country she has never visited but whose language she speaks fluently: France. Her mission is to translate the verses of Geoffrey “Po” Labaye, a charismatic poet known as “the last living troubadour of Provence.”

Upon arrival in the medieval hilltop village of Belle Rivière, Ilse falls under the spell of the Provençal way of life, captivated by the air, the sun, the vibrant spring colors, and the dulcet sounds of the dialect. Soon enough, Ilse is captivated by the poet, too, and she and Po develop a daily rhythm and warm camaraderie—which is disrupted by the arrival of the poet’s son, Frey. Though he has a fiancée back in Paris, Frey turns his attentions to Ilse, and suddenly she is forced to learn another language, one her translation skills have not prepared her to decode. Where—and with whom—does her future lie?

With an eye and ear attuned to the sensibilities of French life, Elizabeth Birkelund has created a love story about a woman forced to choose between the security of her quiet northern home and the possibility of the life of her dreams.

Review of A Northern Light in Provence

In A Northern Light in Provence, author Elizabeth Birkelund effortlessly takes you to two very different worlds as the main character moves between her homeland, Greenland and sunny Provence. Her very readable writing style carries the you along, immersing you in the story and it’s an absolute treat to read as the author knows how to use language to the best advantage – every page is memorable.

This is one of those can’t put it down books. The characters are wonderfully rounded and realistic, you feel you know them, and more importantly you like the ones you should. The emotional roller coaster story is sublime, not over the top or clichéd.

The descriptions of Provence are wonderful, the words bring to life the warmth and colours, in your head you see the wonderful flowers, the table set for two in a vineyard… The descriptions of Greenland are fabulous, having never been there it was easy for me to imagine the chill pure air, the crunch of snow underfoot, the howling wind and the raging sea. Two very different countries, two very different possibilities.

The author is a master writer, her way with words is outstanding. The book holds your attention on every page, it really is that good. In fact, it’s gone on my best-books list. One to read again. And again.

It’s a beautiful, grown up love story and its beautifully written.

Available on Amazon and all good book stores online and in the high street.