The Displaced Nation

Given that Joanne Harris was born in her grandparents’ sweet shop and has a French mother, it is perhaps fitting that she is best known for her third novel, Chocolat.

Fitting, yes — but, it seems, a little irritating as far as the author is concerned.

Since Chocolat‘s 1999 publication and Oscar-nominated movie adaptation starring Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp, Harris has published eight more novels and a collection of short stories, plus two cookbooks (The French Kitchen and The French Market) co-written with cookery writer Fran Warde.

Despite this literary output of a book every year, however, Harris’s name is all too often followed by the phrase “Of Chocolat fame” —  to which she says:

“If you have to explain why you’re famous, then clearly, you’re not famous enough”

and

“Seven Top 5 bestsellers after Chocolat, I think we can do better than this. Just plain ‘author’ will do fine.”

Straight speaking from an author who usually enchants us with her lyrical prose, such as this gem from Chocolat:

“I sell dreams, small comforts, sweet harmless temptations to bring down a multitude of saints crashing among the hazels and nougatines.”

Plain Chocolat?

Because of Harris’s references to fine French food and her novels’ picturesque French settings,   a common assumption is that she was either born in France or lived there during her early childhood.  After all, her first language was French, her nickname at school was “The Frog”, and she has only ever read Agatha Christie in French. But as for being born there:

No. Not unless by “France”, you mean “Barnsley”.

Or plain speaking?

Barnsley, an industrial town in South Yorkshire, England; more associated with coal mining and brass bands than croissants and brioches. 

It’s hardly Lansquenet-sous-Tannes, the fictional village in Chocolat.

It’s important, however, not to be swept away by the fact that Harris’s mother is French. Her father’s family is English, and this cultural mix is evident in her writing, although, in my opinion, never more so than in Blackberry Wine — my own favorite Harris novel –  set in both France and Yorkshire.

The way to anyone’s heart…

As in many of her novels, food and drink play a large part in Blackberry Wine. On this, she says:

“Readers understand food; in our increasingly diverse and multicultural society, eating remains one of the very few experiences we all have in common; a pleasure, a comfort and a means of expression.

 And what about the chocolate? Is she a chocoholic?

I don’t like chocolate ice cream or cakes…I’d much rather munch on anchovy toasts.

Mais non! My illusions are shattered. But never mind. To keep things culturally fair, she goes on to say:

“I’ve never eaten Yorkshire pudding.

 

Quotes by Joanne Harris courtesy of www.joanne-harris.co.uk

STAY TUNED for tomorrow’s interview with bestselling author Elizabeth Bard!

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Img: Chocolaterie, Lincoln by kev747/flickr