Fisher's memoir of the French provincial capital of Aix-en-Provence is, as the author tells us, 'my picture, my map, of a place and therefore of myself,' and a vibrant and perceptive profile of the kinship between a person and a place.

I was a brash newcomer to it, and yet when I first felt the rhythm of its streets and smelled its ancient smells, I said, 'Of course,' for I was once more in my own place, an invader of what was already mine.

M.F.K. Fisher moved to Aix-en-Provence with her daughters after the Second World War. In Map of Another Town, she traces the history of this ancient and famous town, known for its tree-lined avenues, pretty fountains and ornate facades.

Beyond the tourist sights, Fisher introduces us to its inhabitants: the waiters and landladies, down-and-outs and local characters - all recovering from the affects of the war in a drastically new France.

A companion piece to The Gastronomical Me, in this memoir Fisher finds herself alone, older and with two small children to care for, while at the same time discovering a sense of belonging and acceptance.

This is an intimate portrait of a place, which is also a self-portrait. As Fisher writes: 'Here before me now is my picture, my map, of a place and therefore myself.'