by Eric Idle
First published 2026
Eric Idle chronicles his decades-long project of rebuilding a dilapidated stone structure in the hills of Provence. Starting in 1971 during the height of Monty Python's success, Idle purchased a ruin without electricity, water, or road access. He documents the physical restoration of what he calls his "shackeau" alongside his personal transformation in the French countryside. The memoir reveals how this remote retreat became the backdrop for writing iconic comedy material and hosting famous friends including George Harrison, Robin Williams, and Paul Simon. Idle weaves together construction stories, creative breakthroughs, and reflections on friendship, love, and mortality. The book combines practical renovation details with behind-the-scenes entertainment industry anecdotes and philosophical musings on finding peace away from Hollywood pressures. Readers gain insight into Idle's creative process, his relationships with fellow comedians and musicians, and his evolving relationship with France itself over multiple decades.
Genres: 20th-century, autobiography, biography-memoir, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: France, Provence
Period: 1971
256 pages · Hardcover · Harper Select