Book Review: A Northern Light in Provence by Elizabeth Birkelund

Cold ocean seascapes, giant icebergs, and barren tundra are far removed from Provence, exactly where Elizabeth Birkelund begins her novel. A Northern Light in Provence is a captivating tale that follows Ilse Erlund, a multilingual translator living in Greenland. Despite never setting foot in France, she embarks on a journey to Provence to translate the poems of Geoffrey Labaye, the ‘last living troubadour.’ This book by Elizabeth Birkelund is a page-turner, balancing wanderlust, romance, and the quest to determine what matters most.

About the Author

Elizabeth Birkelund is the author of two previous novels, The Runaway Wife (2016) and The Dressmaker (2006). She started her career in the editorial department at European Travel and Life magazine, then turned to freelance writing as a monthly personal finance columnist for Cosmopolitan magazine. She has written for numerous national publications, including Glamour, Self, Working Woman, and Victoria.

Book Review

A Northern Light in Provence begins with Ilse Erlund gazing towards the sombre horizon with an iceberg that looks like an escapee. Is her wanderlust entering her vision like an enormous floating ice block? Ilse Erlund lives on the west coast of Greenland in Ilulissat, a small community working as a translator for a French publisher. Erlund has mastered Danish, English, Kalaallisut (Greenlandic language), and French as a multilingual speaker. The last of which is odd given the lack of French speakers where she lives, although there was at one time a schoolteacher.

Although part of the community, Erlund chooses to live in an isolated fisherman’s cabin, reflecting her desire for solitude and independence. However, her isolation is not complete. The tight-knit community in Greenland, where everyone knows everything about each other’s past and present, plays a significant role in Erlund’s life and decisions. Through her translation work, Erlund envisions France’s famous cities and rural landscapes from her secluded surroundings. This job allows her to escape her physical isolation and explore the world through words.

In the close-knit community of Ilulissat, Erlund’s life is an open book. Feeling stifled by her family situation and the limited opportunities, she takes a leap of faith. She approaches her publisher with a bold request to travel to Provence and meet a poet. Her latest task is translating poems written in Provencal by the ‘last living troubadour’—Geoffrey Labaye—into English. This decision marks a significant turning point in Erlund’s life that resonates with anyone who has ever felt the need for change and new experiences.

Ilse Erlund finds herself in Provence, a place she has only dreamt of, on a short assignment with a tight deadline. Her task is translating Labaye’s poems into English, which requires her to stay focused amidst the breathtaking landscapes she has only imagined. A Northern Light in Provence weaves a tale of romance, travel, and self-discovery, inviting readers to reflect on what truly matters in life.

Who Should Buy this Book?

A Northern Light in Provence is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a page-turner with a unique blend of fiction, romance, and travel literature. The book offers a literary escape to Provence’s vibrant landscapes while delving into the complexities of human relationships and the power of language. The book is available on Amazon in paperback, hardcover, kindle, and audio versions.