WINGS:
Gifts of Art, Life, & Travel in France

wings.banner.png
Erin Bryne


Listen to Erin’s presentation of Wings to the Commonwealth Club of California.

Listen to Erin’s presentation of Wings to the Commonwealth Club of California.

Offering a feast of discoveries, tastes, feelings and surprises... France through the eyes of an ever-curious and affectionate friend.
— Alan Riding, author of And the Show Went On: Cultural Life in Nazi-Occupied Paris

Writer Erin Byrne was changed by traveling around France with the ghosts of artists and historical figures who shared with her their guides to living. Wings offers readers a visceral experience of the refined traditions, rich history, exquisite art, robust culture, and varied cuisine of France.

Published by Travelers’ Tales Solas House. WINGS: Gifts of Art, Life, and Travel in France is a collection of essays drawn from Byrne's travels across the country. From Cézanne's studio in Aix-en-Provence to a tiny village in the Jura Mountains, from a traditional bistro on the Left Bank of Paris to a plain high above the Normandy beaches, she travels through France collecting stories, characters, tastes and secrets that act as ingredients for change, then takes those experiences and digs deeper to uncover meaning.

Henri Cartier-Bresson issues a challenge, Sainte Geneviéve offers resilience, Salvador Dalí seduces, Picasso entertains, and a wrought iron sign portends the future. WINGS is about the gifts that we all glean from our travels. This book will inspire readers to unwrap their own images and impressions in a new way.

Includes more than 100 illustrations by Anna Elkins.

Press release for Wings here.

Buy now:

Bookshop.org | Amazon | Book Passage

I found myself re-reading this book with growing delight. As a writer, Erin Byrne has a graceful touch and a knack for telling captivating stories. She doesn’t just see, she feels and that makes all the difference.
— Tim Cahill, author of Hold the Enlightenment