In this enchanting book, Andrew Merrifield sets out on a journey of the soul with a friends donkey, through the crumbling ruins and spectacular vistas of southern Frances Haute-Auvergne. Along the way the understated nobility of Gribouille, his humble donkey companion, allows him to confront himself as well as to consider the larger mysteries of life. As Merrifield contemplates literature, science, truth, beauty, and the universality of nature amid the French countryside, Gribouille surprises him with his subtle wisdom, reminding him time and again that enlightenment is all around us if we but seek it. Traveling with Merrifield and Gribouille, were reminded of the exquisite benefits of nature, passive adventuring, and wild spaces.