《浓情巧克力》原著小说
Chocolat
(1999)
Awards
Whitbread Prize (nominee)
故事发生在离我们有些久远的50年代末。
1959年的冬天，美丽的薇安带着她6岁的小女儿来到一个平静而闭塞法国小镇，打算在此落地生根。淳朴的小镇居民马上对这个有几分神秘的年轻单身妈妈产生了几分好奇，谁也想象不到她和她的活泼女儿会给这个传统的小镇子带来深刻的影响。
不久，薇安在小镇教堂的街对面开了一家风味独特的巧克力店，她店里供应的甜品好吃得让居民们垂涎欲滴。而且，薇安还特别善于发现和记住每一个客人的特殊口味，并尽可能地以自己的手艺满足客人们对美味的欲求。渐渐的，薇安用她可口的巧克力和鲜活的思想打动了小镇上的居民，长期被老一套传统思想禁锢的人们开始蠢蠢欲动了。
小镇居民的变化引起了镇上传统势力——神父大人的不满。为了巩固自己对人们思想的控制，神父用各种方法阻止居民光顾薇安的小店，并企图把她永远赶出小镇。这时，英俊的吉普塞流浪汉洛克斯充当了薇安的护花使者，带领着她和其他向往新的生活方式的居民们向旧势力发起了挑战。
Try me...Test me...Taste me...
When an exotic stranger, Vianne Rocher, arrives in the French village of Lansquenet and opens a chocolate boutique directly opposite the church, Father Reynaud identifies her as a serious danger to his flock - especially as it is the beginning of Lent, the traditional season of self-denial. War is declared as the priest denounces the newcomer's wares as the ultimate sin.
Suddenly Vianne's shop-cum-café means that there is somewhere for secrets to be whispered, grievances to be aired, dreams to be tested. But Vianne's plans for an Easter Chocolate Festival divide the whole community in a conflict that escalates into a 'Church not Chocolate' battle. As mouths water in anticipation, can the solemnity of the Church compare with the pagan passion of a chocolate éclair?
For the first time here is a novel in which chocolate enjoys its true importance. Rich, clever and mischievious, Chocolat is a literary feast for all senses.