A Week in the Country
with Michael Cunningham
June 2-8, 2025
Join us for a very special week in Provence with Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, Michael Cunningham. Together with a small group of guests and La Gonette founder — and acclaimed author, Alice Nelson — you will spend the week exploring a range of literary works and discussing how they came to be. How, for instance, did Virginia Woolf pick up a dictionary and find To the Lighthouse in it and then, about 60 years later, Toni Morrison picked up essentially the same dictionary and found Beloved in it?
Based on Michael’s course The Craft of Fiction, taught at Yale, this retreat offers an opportunity for lovers of fiction to understand the narrative process through an entirely new lens, all while surrounded by the exquisite, sunstruck beauty of summer in Provence. You will read, write, and spend languorous afternoons by the pool, in our sprawling gardens, or enjoying games and art activities on our terrace. Food creatives and collaborators, Jeni Glasgow and Harriet Davidson, a unity of flair and finesse with an eye for detail and a hunger to satiate, and who are well-versed in the flavours of Provence, will ensure that your week in the country is an unforgettable one.
To learn more about the retreat, please download the Program Brochure here.
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Please read the Program Brochure and complete the Application Form.
Shortlisted applicants will be invited for a brief interview for us to learn more about each other and for you to ask any further questions you might have about the program.
Following the interview, successful applicants will have one week to pay to secure their place in the program.
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Is this program only for writers?
No, the program is open to anyone who has a love of books and reading.
Are scholarships available?
As with all our programs at La Gonette we are committed to making this program as accessible and inclusive as possible. We are offering two scholarships for attendees who may have financial barriers to attending. Please respond to the relevant question on the application form if you wish to apply for a scholarship.
Will I have the opportunity for 1:1 time with Michael?
Our program is intentionally limited to a small group in order to maximise the amount of time that Michael and Alice have with the guests. Michael will be present for all aspects of the program. He, and Alice, will also be available for 1:1 conferences with each guest. We will organise this once all applicants have been finalised. Please note that neither Michael or Alice are available to provide feedback on manuscripts.
Where is La Gonette located?
The estate sits at the base of the medieval village of Simiane-la-Rotonde in the Haute-Alpes of Provence in the south of France. A traditional farming region, it is surrounded by lavender fields and olive groves.
How do I get there?
The nearest major train stations to La Gonette are Avignon and Aix-en-Provence (approximately 90 minutes drive). High-speed trains from Paris run regularly to these stations, and the journey takes around three hours. You can also fly into Marseille, which has an international airport. We will arrange group transfers from both locations.
What facilities will I have access to?
Guests have access to the house and grounds of La Gonette, including gardens, terraces, pool and hammam. All utilities, including wifi, are provided.
Do I need to speak French?
While it is useful if you can speak any French, it is not necessary. Our program is run in English and fluency in English is needed to participate.
