Writers and intellectuals traditionally enjoy high prestige in France. One of the most august of French institutions is the Academie francaise, whose 40 members, most of them writers, have pronounced on national events and, on occasion, held public office. The work of many French novelists is deeply rooted in their native area, ranging from the Normandy of Gustave Flaubert to Jean Giono's Provence. In addition to their literary merit, these novels provide a unique guide to France's regional identities.