A Week in the Country
with Michael Cunningham and Alice Nelson
May 18 — May 24, 2026
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 spring in Provence. You will read, write, and spend languorous afternoons by the pool, in our sprawling gardens, or partake in a game of Bananagrams on the 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 along with local chef and sommelier Arie Teerink.
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. Applications close on October 12, 2025.
Shortlisted applicants will be invited over the month of October, 2025 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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Wander into the country for a week with us here to explore writing, reading and words in a most nourishing environment. But that’s only the beginning.
It’s an all inclusive week. What, exactly, is included?
Six nights accommodation in the historical home, La Gonette
Six breakfasts, lunches, apéros and dinners prepared by in-house cooks
Wine, cocktails, after dinner whiskey (all alcohol)Daily writing and reading course, based on Yale’s The Craft of Fiction, and discussions with Michael Cunningham and Alice Nelson, including printed booklet of all readings
Individual consultation with Michael and Alice (please note, they are unavailable to read manuscripts, but are delighted to talk all things writing and about any aspect of the practice)
Events with special guests, including an In Conversation event with Farrah Storr, Head of Writer Partnerships Substack in UK and Europe
Excursions to local producers, villages and restaurants
Transfers to and from Marseille (airport or train station)
Time to relax, to write, to be
For more details, please download the Program Brochure here.
Please note that we encourage that you have travel insurance as the places are non-refundable given our limited spaces.
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Is this program only for writers?
No, the program is open to anyone who has a love of books, reading and words, however it is based off a course that Michael teaches at Yale that focuses on writing. It is particularly beneficial for anyone wanting to reignite their passion for writing, or to dive deeper into the craft.
Will I have the opportunity for one on one 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 Marseille (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 Marseille airport and train station, which is included in the program cost.
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.How do meals work over the week?
Our in-house team of creatives and cooks will take care of all culinary needs. Breakfast, lunch, apéro and dinner are provided each day at La Gonette, as well as two lunch excursions in the area. All food is included in the program cost.
