GOOD YEAR

MAX SKINNER IS A MAN AT THE HEART OF LONDON'S FINANCIAL UNIVERSE UNTIL HIS EMPLOYERS EMBARK ON A LITTLE ASSET- STRIPPING OF THEIR OWN. HIMSELF. AMID THE GREY LONDON DRIZZLE, THERE IS ONE POTENTIAL RAY OF SUNSHINE MAX'S UNCLE HARRY HAS LEFT HIM HIS ESTATE IN HIS WILL - AN EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY CHATEAU AND VINEYARD AN HOUR'S DRIVE FROM AVIGNON. OUT OF A JOB, AND ENCOURAGED BY HIS FRIEND CHARLIE ABOUT THE MONEY IN MODERN WINE, HE HEADS FOR FRANCE. WHAT MAX DISCOVERS IS A BEAUTIFUL HOUSE, WONDERFUL WEATHER AND A BUSTLING VILLAGE. THE DOWNSIDE IS THE QUALITY OF THE WINE IN HIS VINEYARD, BUT WHEN MAX SUGGESTS CALLING IN AN EXPERT, ROUSSEL, A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF HIS UNCLE'S, IS RESISTANT. HELP IS AT HAND, HOWEVER, WHEN A BEAUTIFUL BLONDE CALIFORNIAN ARRIVES UNEXPECTEDLY AT THE CHATEAU. PETER MAYLE'S DELIGHTFUL NOVEL WILL ENCHANT THE AUDIENCES WHO BOUGHT A YEAR IN PROVENCE AND TOUJOURS PROVENCE IN THEIR MILLIONS.