A Valley in Italy - by Lisa St Aubin de Teran (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Of all the romantic obsessions in novelist Lisa St Aubin de Teran's life, the search for a castle occupied her the longest--until she saw the magnificent Villa Orsola deep in the Umbrian hills. Only after eagerly signing the ownership papers did she and her husband, painter Robbie Duff-Scott, discover they were the owners of a vast ruin lacking windowpanes, parts of the roof, and other essentials. A Valley in Italy recounts its restoration in the grand style of impossible house and the charms of bohemian family life. It also offers a rare portrait of the life of a. Italian village, where "all things are made to be as enjoyable as possible." " Lisa St Aubin de Teran's intuitive sense of place, her affection for the people around her, and her appreciation for native Italian grace make this a memorable book that can stand beside the best accounts of Italian life.

From the Back Cover

A Valley in Italy recounts the restoration in the grand style of an impossible house and the charms of bohemian family life. It also offers a rare portrait of the life of an Italian village where 'all things are made to be as enjoyable as possible.'

Review Quotes

"St Aubin de Teran gets it right. . . . She has patience andimagination and a wonderful sense of humor. . . . After visiting this long with her, it was hard to leave."-- Susan Salter Reynolds, "Los Angeles Times Book Review"Exotically entertaining. . . . The luscious descriptions of wood smells, rustic scenes, and delicious foodstuffs make you want to go immediately into the kitchen and boil up tomatoes and basil plants in an old pot.... A huge success."-- Helen Fielding, "Sunday Times "(London)"Authentic. . . . Her next book should prove worth waiting for."-- William Weaver, "Washington Post Book World""There should be more people in the world like Lisa St Aubin de Teran."-- Michael Thompson-Noel, " Financial Times" (London)