The Stones of Balazuc: A French Village Through Time

The village study, whether history or anthropology, is a familiar genre in French studies. Some worthy precursors (E. Le Roy Ladurie, "Montaillou;" L. Wylie, "Village in the Vaucluse") detail local developments and tensions but still cast a vaguely romantic aura around the little community. But Merriman's instructive tale is of poor peasants struggling in a harsh environment with stony, infertile soils (partly human-made problems), and influenced by economic change more than national politics. He shows how Balazuc reflects broader French patterns: cash crop cycles (17-18C chestnuts & wine, 19C silk production), 20C tourism, and chronic hemorrhage of rural youth through outmigration. Such trends characterize rural life around the world, not just in France. His family's residence in Balazuc enriches a warm, insightful but sometimes critical account. BTW, writing a book is a splendid gift to one's adoptive hometown, requiring no justification.

This is the story of a small, isolated town in southern France from shortly before the French Revolution until today. It is a specific example of how the "big events" affected (or not) everyday life. Although the author is not an economic historian, the book is also about how the village becomes increasingly involved in the world economy. As it turns out this has a far greater impact than the political events do. The book is written in an accessible style, but could have used some better editing. In several places two almost identical senteces follow one another. It is well documented and noted, so anyone wishing to follow the research will be able to. If you are interested in how "everyone else" lived in France for the past 300 years, this is a good book.