The French House. This item is unavailable.The French House

"On a tiny French island, a couple of American dreamers redefine their lives by restoring a ruin—which in this lovely, shimmering story becomes a parable of a saner, greener, more sustainable path that we all can follow if we will but listen to the wisdom of the villagers the way the Wallaces did. The French House moves to a soulful, very funny rhythm all its own."—Meryl Streep

"A brave, insightful, and very amusing memoir about a fantasy that many of us have had but not dared to attempt."—Jane Smiley

When life hands you lemons, make citron pressé.

Shortly after Don and Mindy Wallace move to Manhattan to jump-start their writing careers, they learn of a house for sale in a village they once visited on a tiny French island off the Brittany coast. Desperate for a life change, the Wallaces bravely (and impulsively) buy it almost sight unseen.

What they find when they arrive is a ruin, and it isn't long before their lives begin to resemble it—with hilarious and heartwarming results.

Redolent with the beauty and flavors of French country life, The French House is a lively, inspiring, and irresistibly charming memoir of a family that rises from the rubble, wins the hearts of a historic village, and finally finds the home they've been seeking off the wild coast of France.

"Don Wallace has crafted a delicious French bonbon of a book...full of humor, hope, and lessons on how to live a life full of meaning."—Dani Shapiro, bestselling author ofDevotion and Still Writing

"The French House isn't a memoir. It's a vacation. Charming, gorgeous, perceptive, it is peppered with unforgettable characters and steeped in the deep red wine of long-term friendship, showing us how a remarkable place can make a life worth living."—Jennie Fields, author of The Age of Desire

Don Wallace was born in Long Beach, California and has spent most of his life as a journalist and editor in New York City and Honolulu--that is, when not in France. He is the author of four books including the novel Hot Water and One Great Game: Two Teams, Two Dreams, in the First-Ever High School Football National Championship Game. His essays, articles and fiction have appeared in such various publications as Harper's, The New York Times, SELF, Fast Company, Wine Spectator and Naval History. You can visit DonWallaceFranceBlog.tumblr.com for updates on Belle Ile-en-Mer.