Alphonse Daudet was born in Nîmes in 1840. He lived in Paris where he published poetry. He became famous in 1866 with the publication of his Letters from my Windmill, tales that have delighted readers ever since and are just as relevant today. This book is a compilation of four of these tales: 'Old Cornille's Secret', 'Mr Seguin's Goat', 'The Vicar of Cucugnan' and 'The Three Low Masses'. His works sing the praises of Provence and southern France. Daudet had an ability to explore life's dramas and tender moments with a touching irony, plenty of humour, and a great poetic talent. Honed to perfection, his style complemented his extraordinary gift for observation. He described with humour the tenderness of the human spirit and the simple things in everyday life, never hesitating to wrap these themes in dreams and fantasy. Daudet had a flair for casting enchanting spells: every time the reader plunges into these perfect tales, they are captivated with emotion.
