Ferenc Máté
Encyclopedia
Ferenc Máté escaped Hungary
after the revolution
with his mother to Vancouver
, British Columbia
. He has lived in British Columbia, California
, New York
, Paris
, and Rome
, and now resides on a wine estate in Tuscany
with his wife, painter and winemaker Candace Máté, and their son, Peter. For much of their first twenty years together, Máté and his wife lived on sailboats, traveling the world, photographing and occasionally publishing books and calendars on sailboats. His first book, From a Bare Hull, 1970, is still considered one of the best books on boat-building ever written. In addition to sailing books, Máté has written a memoir about adjusting to Italian life, an international bestsellerThe Hills of Tuscany, and a book-length essay on the environmental impact of the excesses of modern lifestyles, A Reasonable Life. His first novel, Ghost Sea (W. W. Norton, 2006) is the first of a series of anthropological thrillers involving an outlaw sea captain, Dugger. He is now writing the next volume, Sea of Lost Dreams, set in Tahiti. In 2007, he published A Vineyard in Tuscany, which tells the Máté's story of renovating a 13th century house and starting a now world-renowned winery.
His newest book, The Wisdom of Tuscany: Simplicity, Security and the Good Life—Making the Tuscan Lifestyle Your Own (W.W. Norton & Company; October 20, 2009) examines our chaotic, crises-driven society and offers the best alternatives based on centuries-old Tuscan tradition. Máté emphasizes the importance of small communities, independence, closeness to nature, and cuisine as important factors in a healthy and happy lifestyle.
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
after the revolution
1956 Hungarian Revolution
The Hungarian Revolution or Uprising of 1956 was a spontaneous nationwide revolt against the government of the People's Republic of Hungary and its Soviet-imposed policies, lasting from 23 October until 10 November 1956....
with his mother to Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. He has lived in British Columbia, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, and now resides on a wine estate in Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
with his wife, painter and winemaker Candace Máté, and their son, Peter. For much of their first twenty years together, Máté and his wife lived on sailboats, traveling the world, photographing and occasionally publishing books and calendars on sailboats. His first book, From a Bare Hull, 1970, is still considered one of the best books on boat-building ever written. In addition to sailing books, Máté has written a memoir about adjusting to Italian life, an international bestsellerThe Hills of Tuscany, and a book-length essay on the environmental impact of the excesses of modern lifestyles, A Reasonable Life. His first novel, Ghost Sea (W. W. Norton, 2006) is the first of a series of anthropological thrillers involving an outlaw sea captain, Dugger. He is now writing the next volume, Sea of Lost Dreams, set in Tahiti. In 2007, he published A Vineyard in Tuscany, which tells the Máté's story of renovating a 13th century house and starting a now world-renowned winery.
His newest book, The Wisdom of Tuscany: Simplicity, Security and the Good Life—Making the Tuscan Lifestyle Your Own (W.W. Norton & Company; October 20, 2009) examines our chaotic, crises-driven society and offers the best alternatives based on centuries-old Tuscan tradition. Máté emphasizes the importance of small communities, independence, closeness to nature, and cuisine as important factors in a healthy and happy lifestyle.
Books by Ferenc Máté
- Seven Seas Sailors' Calendars, published annually
- From A Bare Hull: How To Build A Sailboat (1975)
- The Finely Fitted Yacht: The Boat Improvement Manual, Volumes 1 and 2 (1978)
- Shipshape: Art of Sailboat Maintenance (1982)
- The World's Best Sailboats: Volume 1 (1987, Volume 2 (2003)
- Best Boats (1990)
- The Hills of Tuscany (1999)
- A Reasonable Life: Toward a Simpler, Secure, More Humane Existence (1992)
- Autumn: A New England Journey (2001)
- Ghost Sea: A Novel (2006)
- A New England Autumn (2007)
- A Vineyard in Tuscany: A Wine Lover's Dream (2007)
- The Wisdom of Tuscany: Simplicity, Security and the Good Life—Making the Tuscan Lifestyle Your Own (2009)
- A New England Autumn: A Sentimental Journey (2010 W.W. Norton)