Chateau Reawakening: One Couples Wild And Wonderful Journey To Restore A Crumbling French Masterpiece

(Hardback)

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Chateau Reawakening is an architectural adventure and compelling diary that captures the highs and lows of restoring an 18th century chateau in regional France, published in full-sized hardback.

Former Australian politician Tim Holding and his fiance Felicity Selkirk admit their decision to purchase the 105-room Chateau de Purnon near the French town of Verrue (French for 'wart') might be considered a fools errand. Built in 1771 but in a state of ruin after years of neglect, they signed up for a vast financial commitment, years of physical labour and ongoing run-ins with French bureaucracy as they work to restore Purnon to its former glory.

Presented in Tims pithy diary entries over the course of 18 months, this stunning hardback explores the storied history of the chateau and meets a cast of bemused but intrigued locals the couple encounter on their journey.

Featuring breathtaking photography by Laura Edwards, its both a compelling read and visually arresting tribute to a truly unique restoration. Chateau Reawakening is about daring to dream on the grandest possible scale.

Author Bio

Tim Holding is a former Victorian state MP who in gave up years of factional politics to move to France with his fiance Felicity Selkirk. Their decision to purchase an 18th century chateau in 2020 was unexpected and set them on a complicated and ongoing restoration process. He posts regular updates about the Chateau's refurbishment on Instagram, @chateaudepurnon. Tim holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Melbourne and a Masters in Advanced Global Studies from SciencesPo in France. He is learning to drive his broken tractor slowly.