Title: The Return to the Trade Winds - Martine Delomme - book
Summary :
The story of Juliette, owner of a wine estate, and her struggles within the small Blayais vineyard society whose centuries-old traditions attempt to stand up to the onslaught of the contemporary world. Anchored in the landscapes of the Gironde estuary, The Return to the Trade Winds is the novel of a generation of women who believed they had won their freedom but must, at the age of maturity, come to terms with the torments of the heart and the imperatives of duty.
Juliette Leroux, an expatriate in Canada for three years, returns to Les Alizés, the family winery, to attend her ex-husband's funeral. Her daughter, Isabelle, expertly manages the vineyard she entrusted to her before her departure. But Isabelle welcomes her with mixed feelings, while Juliette finds more comfort with her childhood friend, Nicolas Frémont, mayor of the town of Saint-Louis and an entrepreneur and partner of her ex-husband. He confides in her that the company is in catastrophic financial straits, as the deceased had committed significant funds to acquire land. But to what end? While sorting through her papers, Juliette makes an extraordinary discovery that forces her to delay her return to Montreal, where the man she loves awaits. The land actually contains a treasure: thermal springs from the Roman era. Nicolas and Juliette decide to take on the project of creating a thermal spa, a project that could well revive the economy of a region hit by the crisis. Very quickly, the enterprise arouses fierce opposition from some locals who defend the promotion of their vineyard. From then on, the lives of Juliette and her loved ones risk being turned upside down...
Anchored in the sumptuous landscapes of the Gironde estuary, in the heart of Blayais, The Return to the Trade Winds is the novel of a generation of women who believed they had won their freedom but must, at the age of maturity, come to terms with the torments of the heart and the imperatives of duty.
