This memoir tells the true coming-of-age story of Dominique, growing up in 1950s France. It follows her childhood in the Beaujolais and on the French Riviera, her experiences in a strict convent school, family turmoil, her first heartbreaks, and her eventual move to Bristol, England, where she builds a new life.

It is an authentic, first-person memoir written by Dominique herself on a typewriter prior to her passing in 2012. Her granddaughter discovered the manuscript years later and edited it for publication, adding a Prologue and Epilogue to share how Dominique’s story concluded. English was Dominique’s second language, and yet she writes with a clarity that makes the reader feel like they are truly there, in the dark corners of an old church in the French countryside, or by the sparkling sea on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice.

Yes. The Book Clubs page on this site has themes, discussion questions, and French-inspired pairing ideas for your meeting.

The memoir is available from Amazon worldwide, in Paperback and eBook editions.

Dominique typed her childhood memories encouraged by her friend Toni. In 2025, her granddaughter decided to edit, frame, and publish the text to preserve her Nannan's legacy and share her vivid descriptions of 1950s Europe with readers worldwide.

Yes. Dominique wrote three charming children’s books about a cat called Madame Cherie, as yet unpublished.