Thursday, December 30, 2004

"Caves of Périgord" - Book review

A most interesting book that I found on the chuck out table of the newsagent the other day. Set in the French Périgord area which is famous for its prehistoric sites as well as its fois gras, comfit de canard and of course its truffles.

The story is set in one location but over three time periods, 15,000 BC, 1944 and the present. It concerns a section of a wall cave painting that was taken by an SOE operative during the war and taken home to England. When he dies his son takes the piece to an auction house with a view to selling it. It is then stolen and the search is on. While this is happening there are cut backs to the period in which the cave art was created and the period during which it was rediscovered in the 1940s and eventually taken.

The technique of parallel stories in three time periods is well used to enable the reader to visit all three periods and somehow see life and adventure in related picture stories.

What was most relevant for me was the fact that I have visited the area in which the stories are set and am familiar with the towns, villages in which the stories unfold.

Spent a whole day reading the book and can honestly recommend it as an entertaining way to pass the time.

No comments: