Hello world!
Bonjour to all Bruno readers,
and welcome to this occasional blog about matters concerning Bruno and the Perigord and France, along with food and wine and other matters close to Bruno’s heart.
Readers who enjoyed ‘Bruno – chief of police’ will be encouraged to know that the second novel in the series is almost complete. The title has yet to be decided, but the plot combines fire and wine. A mysterious fire that looks like arson burns out a field growing an experimental crop of genetically-modified plants. At the same time a large international wine corporation is trying to buy land cheaply in the commune of St Denis to restore the Vezere valley to its tradition as one of the premier wine-growing areas of France. But what will such a giant enterprise do to Bruno’s beloved St Denis? And then comes a bizarre death….
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The Dutch edition of ‘Bruno, chief of police’ has now been published, and it looks very different from the rather cosy atmosphjere of the cover on the English edition, depicting a French market and a policeman with a baguette under his arm. This jolly image of French village life also graces the home page of this website.
The Dutch cover is gloomy and menacing. In the lower part of the picture, a small and lonely stone house stands in the middle of a carefully-tended vineyard. But most of the image is taken up and dominated by an ominous and brooding grey sky. There’s not a human face to be seen. It’s very powerful, and somewhat chilling.
The Canadian edition comes out soon and is very like the English edition.
The US edition is very different, a retro kind of image that recalls the 1950s. It depicts a lonely cop in blue, young and slim and bare-headed, standing apart from an anonymous crowd drawn in red and in loose outline, with very geometric but very French buildings in the background. It evokes a certain mood and period of France, when Camus was the revered author and existentialism was the fashionable philosophy. It’s very striking and we’ll try to post it here, technology permitting.
PS – The Dutch and American covers can now be seen on the ‘Bruno in different lands’ section of this website, which may be found in the contents list on the Home page.
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August 14th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Where is Saint Denis? Is it a real place? Because if it is, I want to live there…Or did you make it up?
August 15th, 2008 at 9:38 am
St Denis is a fictional town. If you look at the contents (in red) on the home page of this web site, click on ‘St Denis – Bruno’s home town’ for an explanation.
But if you want to live there, many small Dordogne towns are most beguiling. Some even have their own Bruno! or at least their own municipal policeman.
August 21st, 2008 at 10:56 pm
Dear Martin,
Very much enjoyed your website! You are so right about the gloominess of the Dutch cover! Hope they’ll do that better with the next Bruno. I found two real “coquilles” at your site: Jacque Chirac in stead of Jacques Chirac and atmosphjere in stead of atmosphere. And please, do take care of the French accents (Benoît, lycées, gîte, Périgueux, Hôtel, Vézère, just to name of few that you denuded).
Looking forward to work on the second Bruno!
November 4th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Hello Martin,
I was googling around to see if you had any plans for a book on Obama and discovered that you’re writing fiction now. I don’t know why I’m so surprised. I shall look forward to exploring your lighter side.
Sue Smith, New Delhi
(ex. Manchester)
February 24th, 2009 at 3:42 am
Dear Martin
I got a copy of Bruno from England and loved it. I also enjoyed the Cave of Perigord.
My girl friend and I have just finished purchasing a farm house and grange in St. Avit Senieur. I am a painter and am love the Perigord. A great friend who lives in Besse introduced me to the area. I would love to meet you sometime. Perhaps we will meet some market day. You may google my name if you are curious. I have had over 35 show of my painitngs and am looking forward to working in Perigord.
Thank you for your wonderful books. I am presently lively in Brooklyn,
Best
John Griefen
February 24th, 2009 at 10:59 am
I’m excited to hear that a second Bruno novel is on the way. What can you tell us about it?
March 1st, 2009 at 8:44 am
I enjoyed the book very much and it made my mouth water, as I am situated about 18,000 kms from the country of my childhood meals!
But..
Touche pas à mon pote (not pot, makes it sound as though you want people to keep their hands off your carafe of wine)
Juge magistrat (not magistrate, unless it’s a woman)
tricolore, not tricoleur.
Meanwhile looking forward to the next book.
April 30th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
Grand….Now I’m hooked and very glad to hear that a second story is on the way. Well done Sir – Well done.
May 5th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
I just finished reading ‘Bruno’. I liked the ending and since i know there is another on the way-wonder if it will include a continuation of the story. will the same people be in the new story? Bruno is a very special man-wish i could meet someone like him. keep the books coming. Thank You
June 14th, 2009 at 2:10 am
Hello Mr. Walker!
I just ordered your book because it created quite a stir in my community. You see, I am the Chief of Police in a NJ community and my name is Chief Bruno! Looking forward to reading it and I wish you all the best.
Chief Michael Bruno
June 15th, 2009 at 10:05 am
Martin,
Absolutely loved the book and am ready for the next. Appreciated the snapshots of WWII era history and the contemporary challenges of Europe really on what it is to be French, or Danish, or German etc. As you know from your non-fiction on demographic trends, these issues of identity in Europe are going to only become more pronounced. Was very sorry to miss the launch in DC. Best, Geoff
June 28th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Please write quickly. I am eager to hear more of Bruno. Your book is a break, from so much bad news today. Have you picked a name yet for your second in the series?
June 29th, 2009 at 10:36 am
Bonjour Marge,
the same people will be in the second BRUNO novel, titled ‘The Dark Vineyard.” The Mayor and Isabelle, Jean-Jacques and Pamela, all return, along with the rest of St Denis. And some new characters. But it is the same BRUNO and his dog, and the same mission — to protect his little town and its traditions against the threats to a way of life that BRUNO loves.
best, martin
July 24th, 2009 at 11:27 am
Dear Martin,
As a recent visitor of rural France travelling from New Zealand I found your books a great reminder of the enjoyable times spent in the region. I enjoyed both books and I look forward to the continuation of the ‘Bruno’ serial.
Regards
Dale Daniels
August 23rd, 2009 at 12:13 pm
The second Bruno novel, ‘The Dark Vineyard,’ has now been published in Britain and is currently being translated into German, Dutch and various other languages.
The Bruno novels are now being published in Britain, the USA, Canada, Australia, all naturally in English. They are also being published in German, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese (for Brazil), Finnish and Japanese.
The German edition has been a best seller in Germany, Austria and Switzerland throughout the summer and some 60,000 copes have been sold in German and the wonderful German publishers, Diogenes, are now doing a fourth reprint.
We just welcomed here in Bruno-land Astrid Kahmke, of Bavarian Film and TV, who have bought the rights to produce Bruno for TV, and we have some pleasnt days together looking for locations. Astrid is pretty sure she has found the perfect place to be Bruno’s house and another to be Pamela’s place. She also spent time with Yane Lahaye of the Aquitaine film Commission and Thierry Bordes, of Cine Passion in Perigord who are seeking eays to cooperate with the Bruno film project.
We also just welcomed in Bruno-land Bastian Schweitzer, the Swiss photographer and film-maker, who took hundreds of photos of Bruno’s author and Bruno country for Diogenes and for future editions. Among them was a photographer of one of the local municipal policeman who inspired the Bruno character and me as the author.
August 23rd, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Thank you Dale and I’m delighted that Bruno helped deepen your appreciation of our wonderful region.
I’m currently in the Perigord writing number 3 in the series, and my publishers are asking for more!
September 3rd, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Just got ‘The Dark Vineyard’, great stuff, especially since ‘Le Périgord’ is my favourite holiday region.
‘The caves of Périgord’ is out of print. Any idea of how to get hold of a copy?
Best regards.
September 13th, 2009 at 3:53 am
Hi Martin,
Just finished reading your first two Bruno novels. I really enjoyed your interweaving of French village life with crime, and I look forward to reading more about Bruno as he evolves.
Regards,
John Shrimski
September 17th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
I am really enjoying this series of books having just finished the Dark Vineyard.
It was at our library reading group that I bumped into my senior school French teacher and I think it was her influence that prompted a display of books set in France otherwise I would have missed them.
I am a fan of Fred Vargas too and I think the French countryside is a perfect setting for these novels featuring Bruno.
I think it would make an excellent tv series too, even in French- the new series of Spiral is on BBC TV over here in the UK, subtitled and popular.
Looking forward to book 3!
Helen south west uk