The Beekeeper’s Promise by Fiona Valpy
Fiona Valpy expertly takes the reader into two worlds divided by seventy years in her best seller, The Beekeeper's Promise. Through clever narration she is able to set the differences in time and culture from the period of 1938 to present day. At the same time by highlighting the differences Valpy also reveals that over time and space much of what makes up an individual’s humanity remains essentially unaltered.
This book explores many themes; love and loss, loyalty and betrayal even domestic violence. On the face of it, one could be forgiven for thinking Valpy has tried to do too much, to tackle too many issues. However, her writing is skilled and she sensitively explores events by simply telling the story. She resists the temptation to moralise allowing her characters to live out their circumstances with sincerity.
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The Beekeeper's Promise - Essential Storyline
The story is essentially narrated by Sara the present day owner of Chateau Bellevue. Abi quite literally stumbles into Sara’s path. Life has not been kind to Abi. She bears the scars of her own brutal battles. Sara recounts the story to Abi of Eliane’s life during the war when the Chateau was occupied by the German Army. In hearing of Eliane and her family Abi begins to questions the future course of her own life.
The gathering clouds of war in 1938 provide the milieu. Eliane Martin is a young woman living at The Mill House with her beloved family in the village of Coulliac. In reality there is no such village. The narrative has the village situated between Tulle and Sainte-Foy-la-Grande in South Central France.
Eliane works as a house maid for the noble Monsieur Le Comte in his Chateau Bellevue. Eliane tends her beloved bees and the kitchen garden supplying produce to the indomitable cook Madame Boin. Then war breaks out. As time goes on any surplus is put to good use as food shortages, among other trials, create extreme hardship for the civilian population. The newly formed relationship between Eliane and Mathieu is sorely tested. Promises that were made are tested by secrets which must be kept in order to protect loved ones.The very need to keep those secrets gives rise to mistrust.
Seamlessly Mixing Historical Events with Fiction
There is a strong thread of authenticity that ties this book together in an apparently seamless manner. The author describes the historical event of the massacre of Tulle in June 1944, three days after the D-Day Landings. The reader shares in the horror of this event as though a shocked bystander, relieved at having survived and yet at the same time guilty by that very survival. Valpy provides the reader with an insight into how life was lived during these years of desperate uncertainty.
The author skilfully creates complete word pictures. One can readily imagine the Mill House and hear the sound of the water rushing over the weir and smell the aroma of the chestnut trees or see the bees as they dance to and fro ceaselessly gathering and storing in Elaine’s hives. Her humour abounds as we chuckle at Gustav’s (Eliane’s Father) ingenuity redirecting the water at the weir to fool, the German’s into thinking the river would be impossible to cross at that point. At the same time one is astounded at Gustav’s bravery and the risk he takes by this very same action.
"A Novel about the Essence of Humanity, Resistance and Dogged Hope"
At one point Eliane’s Mother Lisette says, ’Whether we win or lose this war, we will have to live with the consequences of our decisions.’’
Lisette’s words ring just as true today in our day to day lives. Ultimately this is a novel about the essence of humanity, resistance and dogged hope despite the circumstances. It is thoroughly recommended.
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- The Little Breton Bistro - an unexpected new life and new friends at an age thought impossible
- The French Photographer - another review by our talented reviewer Lorna Laycock
Thanks to Lorna for her review of The Beekeeper's Promise by Fiona Valpy, it is another great book to read for all Francophiles. Buy this or other books, and beautiful gifts at our A French Collection Storefront on Amazon - there is something for everyone!
