What are the motifs in A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle?

Man Versus man is a recurring idea. The bureaucracy in France pits man against man in an effort to get things accomplished. From buying a home to buying a vehicle, the Mayles run into this bureaucracy at every stage of their settling-in process.

First, there is all of the paper gathering that must take place to purchase their home and their vehicle. The Mayles overcome this by carrying with them every piece of paper they could possibly need for any future purchases; documents such as their birth certificates, drivers' licenses, and electricity bills.