普罗旺斯的英国人——彼得·梅尔

　　
　　Mayle's unbounded curiosity, his well-honed powers of observation, and his wry sense of humor resonate in his tales and in his detailed portraits of the people he encounters--from the plumber with a penchant for philosophizing to the not-always-welcome guests who arrive from colder climes every summer. The books include plenty of tips and recommendations for those who contemplate visiting Provence. But Mayle's real talent is that he makes it possible to enjoy the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of this special corner of the world without leaving the comfort of one's own reading chair.
　　
　　Peter Mayle's success with the Provence books spawned a new genre in travel writing - books by Englishmen who leave the cold wet island, set up house in sunnier climes and then write about the curious habits of the locals. There's even a phrase for it: "Doing a Peter Mayle".
　　
　　
　　Key words
　　chronicling v. 记载，记事
　　cuisine n. 烹饪，烹调风格
　　copywriter n. 广告文编写人
　　fascination n. 迷恋，强烈爱好
　　caricature n. 漫画，讽刺画
　　Mediterranean adj. 地中海的
　　vineyard n. 葡萄园
　　idiosyncrasy n. 特质，特性
　　wile away v. 消磨，消遣
　　punctuate v. 不时打断
　　glistening adj. 闪耀的，反光的
　　plumber n. 水管工
　　penchant n. （强烈的）倾向，趣味