Books to film

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, is resistant. Help is at hand, however, when a beautiful blonde Californian arrives unexpectedly at the chateau.

The film of the book was released in 2006 and directed by Ridley Scott and starred Russell Crowe, Abbie Cornish and Albert Finney.

Peter Mayles other books include A Year in Provence and Toujours Provence, which were both bestsellers.