A Northern Light in Provence

A Novel

By: Elizabeth Birkelund

Narrated by: Gilli Messer

A woman leaves her coastal Greenland village to translate the works of a renowned Provençal poet and finds her life irrevocably changed, in this tender and romantic novel set in a French village.

“Big-hearted, whimsical, and enchanting.”—Christina Baker Kline, New York Times bestselling author of The Exiles

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.

©2024 Elizabeth Birkelund (P)2024 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“A gorgeous ice-and-fire romance that will plunge you into both the infinite tundra of Greenland and the color-soaked mountains of Provence . . . an immersive, sensual read that demands a hammock, bare feet, and a well-iced bottle of rosé.”—Helen Simonson, author of The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club

“A charming and beautifully written novel about self-discovery, the power of language and yes, love! All of which left me yearning for my own Provençal adventure. Elizabeth Birkelund reminds us that sometimes we must step out of our comfort zones to pursue our dreams.”—Sara Gruen, author of Water for Elephants and At the Water’s Edge

“Birkelund’s lyrical language transported me to sunny Provence, where I imagined myself sitting amidst a vineyard, wine glass in hand, and to the icy waters of Greenland, where I found myself reaching for a warm wool blanket. The developing bond between the troubadour poet and his French translator moved me deeply.”—Alka Joshi, author of The Jaipur Trilogy

What a wonderful read and listen!

coming-of-age, cultural-assimilation, cultural-differences, cultural-diversity, cultural-exploration, France, Greenland, Icelanders, Inuit, languages, read, romance, translators, travel, women's fiction*****

Before I try to tell what a very good book this is, I'd like to say that (because of vision issues and the TTS just doesn't cut it) I dropped my free temporary EARC and bought the audio to finish reading.
The publisher's blurb is very good as far as it goes, but it can't convey the way the story roped me in and made me want to keep reading for the characters' sake as well as to enjoy more of the countryside and the people.
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

The wonderful descriptions of the locations

Lovely story! Well written and a joy to read. It was lovely to escape to Provence and experience the growth of the characters.

Banal story

Banal story badly written where the writer spends considerable time into giving unimportant never ending details.

Very dull narrator & story.

I seldom leave a dull review but I must here. Sadly, the narrator sounds more like she’s reading & less alive, as most of my audible stories do. She tries to give emphasis, or change her tone, but it’s very bland. Because of this, I found it hard to stay engaged to the story-line. I even started it over again for a fresh start. But by the 3rd chapter I still feel uninspired & not interested. I also think the French sayings should have enticed my interests but it took away from me trying to enjoy the plot.

I’m returning the audio.