Dreaming of Tuscany: Where to Find the Best There Is: Perfect Hilltowns; Splendid Palazzos; Rustic Farmhouses; Glorious Gardens; Authentic Cuisine; Great Wines; Intriguing Shops;

Dreaming of Tuscany: Where to Find the Best There Is: Perfect Hilltowns; Splendid Palazzos; Rustic Farmhouses; Glorious Gardens; Authentic Cuisine; Great Wines; Intriguing Shops;
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Dreaming of Tuscany: Where to Find the Best There Is: Perfect Hilltowns; Splendid Palazzos; Rustic Farmhouses; Glorious Gardens; Authentic Cuisine; Great Wines; Intriguing Shops;
Barbara Milo Ohrbach
Manufacturer: Rizzoli
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Europe | Travel | Subjects | Books
General | Italy | Europe | Travel | Subjects | Books
Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books
Pictorial | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books
General | Travel | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

A Culinary Traveller in Tuscany

The Most Beautiful Villages of Tuscany (Most Beautiful Villages)

Authentic Tuscany (Authentic Italy)

Walking and Eating in Tuscany and Umbria: Revised Edition (Walking and Eating in Tuscany and Umbria)

Rick Steves' Florence and Tuscany 2007 (Rick Steves)

ASIN: 0847828565
Release Date: 2006-10-10

Book Description

No country inspires as much fascination as Italy, and no region in Italy inspires as much adoration as Tuscanyâfor its interior design, art and architecture, fashion, artisans and crafts, food and wine. In Dreaming of Tuscany you'll experience the essence of a place that dreams are made of, ensuring you'll get the most out of your experience. Sharing her recommendations of favorite insider places and word-of-mouth gems, best-selling lifestyle author Barbara Milo Ohrbach acts as a guide to food markets, exquisite shops, overflowing antiques markets, not to mention cooking courses, outdoor painting classes, ancient palazzos and small museums. And you can live like a Tuscan once you return home, with this book providing sources for everything from luscious bed linens to peppery olive oil. Dreaming of Tuscany is illustrated with three hundred sumptuous images by photographer Simon Upton. Don't dream of visiting Tuscany without first reading this book.

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Great Book
Too Primitive!
Ótimo livro sobre casa toscanas
Tuscan Elements
Tuscan Style

Tuscan Elements (Decor Best-Sellers)
Alexandra Black
Manufacturer: Watson-Guptill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Decorating | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Style | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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Private Tuscany
Bringing Tuscany Home: Sensuous Style From the Heart of Italy
Tuscan & Andalusian Reflections
Villa Decor: Decidedly French and Italian Style
Mediterranean Style: Relaxed Living Inspired by Strong Colors and Natural Materials

ASIN: 0823054802

Book Description

The Tuscan house, whether a simple homestead or expansive villa, has become one of the most sought-after living environments. Its design is virtually unchanged since the Middle Ages, when landowners in the golden hills of Tuscany built country retreats with gardens, porticoes, and loggias. The landowners often drew upon the natural resources of the region-and it is these materials that give the Tuscan house its unique character. Tuscan Elements brings to life the colors, textures, and aesthetics of the Tuscan house-the magnificent stone and marble work; the hardwoods like chestnut, oak, and elm; earthy terra-cotta and brick; and the all-important water feature, used in ponds, fountains, and pools. This unique, visual sourcebook deconstructs the typical Tuscan home and examines its basic components in dazzling detail, from the tiled roof and floor, thick stone exterior walls, and vine-covered loggia to the exposed wooden beams, luminous frescoes, and the sunny courtyard garden with an ancient well or exquisite swimming pool. Filled with extraordinary photos by world-famous interiors photographer Simon McBride, Tuscan Elements emphasizes living life well with a home that nurtures and comforts, accentuates the importance of family and friends, and entertains with good food and drink. For anyone interested in infusing their present home and garden with a little bit of Tuscany, here is a delightful source of never- ending inspiration.

Customer Reviews:

Great Book.......2007-05-06

This book is filled to the top with great quality pictures. Wonderful inspiration for me and our new home which we are doing a Tuscan Theme. Will make a good coffee table book as well :)

Too Primitive!.......2006-07-11

The disigns elements were too rustic for my taste. I was looking for more of a casual elegence.

Ótimo livro sobre casa toscanas.......2006-03-17

Recomendo esse livro para quem, como eu, pretende construir no estilo toscano. Claro está que não se encontra mais tijolos de 300 anos, porém, pode-se ter completa idéia de como é o ar de uma propriedade toscana. Ótimas fotos e boas dicas.

Tuscan Elements.......2005-08-19

This is the best book of its kind that I have seen on basic Tuscan home design elements. Concise descriptions, beautiful photgraphy. I would heartily recommend this book.

Tuscan Style.......2004-12-24

I normally don't buy tabletop table books because I don't feel that they represent a value or add much to my understanding of a subject. Tabletop books full of incredible pictures just do not fully capture my imagination or attention. Consequently, most tabletop books get a cursory flipping through before I put them down.

However, `Tuscan Elements' is more than a book of pretty pictures and it is worth more than just a cursory flipping through. The author, Alexandra Black, has organized her effort to capture the elements of Tuscany. The four elements are stone, wood, earth, and water. These four elements are expressed in the homes, furniture, terracotta, and ponds, respectively, of Tuscany. To stand alongside the pictures of these four elements, Ms. Black takes the time to build a supporting story from a historical and literary point of view. Quoting D.H. Lawrence and Pliny the Younger, the story of how these elements have been woven into the ebb and flow of Tuscan life since before the Roman Empire emerges with an impressive clarity and vividness.

As a lover of Tuscany I am drawn to images of Tuscany and its way of life. The seductive beauty of the Tuscan landscape and the romance of the Tuscan lifestyle as expressed in the prose and images of this tabletop book is the stuff of dreams. This tabletop book provided me the fodder for those dreams and never once disappointed me.

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One of my Favorites!
Pleasantly surprised!
Labor-intensive recipes, with stunning results
More food porn than "cookbook"
not very good

The Babbo Cookbook
Mario Batali
Manufacturer: Clarkson Potter
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0609607758
Release Date: 2002-04-30

Amazon.com

One of the most coveted reservations to have in New York City is at Babbo, Mario Batali's flagship restaurant in Greenwich Village. In The Babbo Cookbook, Batali (author of Mario Batali Simple Italian Food and Mario Batali Holiday Food) takes readers behind the scenes of his popular restaurant--from the kitchen to the front of house--sharing 150 recipes for his innovative Italian fare and offering tips on menu selection, service, and presentation. Along the way, Batali expertly captures the intimate buzz, the warm hospitality, and the generous attention to detail that makes Babbo a singular dining experience.

Before digging into any of the dozen-plus featured antipasti, Batali offers several specialty aperitivi, including the refreshing Blood Orange Bellini. Two of Babbo's signature dishes, Mint Love Letters with Spicy Lamb Sausage (little ravioli stuffed with a filling of sweet peas, mint, heavy cream, and Parmigiano-Reggiano) and Beef Cheek Ravioli (so good the book recommends doubling the filling and freezing a batch), are broken down and made more than accessible to the home cook. Other exceptional pasta options include Pumpkin Lune with Butter and Sage (finished with a dusting of Parmigiano-Reggiano and amaretti cookie crumbs) and Gnocchi with Oxtail Ragù (a reinterpretation of a Batali family classic, still served at Salumi, his father's must-visit Seattle shop). Chapters "Mare (From the Sea)" and "Terra e Bosco (From the Earth and Forest)" offer Crispy Black Bass with Endive Marmellata and Saffron Vinaigrette ("'crispy' sells more food than a barrage of adjectives," Batali reveals) and a succulent Osso Buco with Toasted Pine Nut Gremolata. There's a wonderful section on pre-desserts and cheese, and in "Dolci" pastry chef Gina DePalma wraps things up with Maple and Mascarpone Cheesecake, Meyer Lemon Semifreddo, and a tempting cookie plate.

The Babbo Cookbook is a gorgeous affair--nearly every recipe is accompanied by a color photo of the finished dish. Batali is an intelligent and inspiring guide throughout the book, and Babbo co-owner Joseph Bastianich (who cowrote the terrific Vino Italiano with Babbo wine director David Lynch) provides detailed notes on their topnotch table and wine service. Some of the recipes may seem daunting to tentative home cooks (the recipe for Warm Testa with Waxy Potatoes opens with "Place the pig's head in a large pot with water"), but Batali recognizes that readers don't have the benefit of being backed by a kitchen staff and offers tips and modifications to turn out a version of the dish as close as possible to the real deal. Whether you choose to cook your way through one recipe at a time or attempt to turn out an entire tasting menu for a special occasion, Batali's Babbo Cookbook is a keeper--a book you'll turn to again and again. --Brad Thomas Parsons

Book Description

Some of the most inspired (and acclaimed) Italian food in the country is served at Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca, Mario Batali’s flagship restaurant in the heart of New York City’s Greenwich Village. Diners in this converted town house have come to expect innovative flavors and artful presentations that make the most of seasonal, local, and artisanal ingredients—all with a sensibility that is distinctly Italian. Now home cooks can re-create these showstopping dishes, just as they are served at the restaurant, to win raves of their own.

The Babbo Cookbook is Mario’s biggest yet, filled with 150 recipes that have redefined contemporary Italian cooking. Here for the first time he shares such signature dishes as Mint Love Letters with Spicy Lamb Sausage and Beef Cheek Ravioli, all showcasing his unparalleled ability to reinterpret the Italian culinary tradition in a completely original way. Recipes for dozens of Babbo’s renowned antipasti, many based on fresh seasonal produce, are followed by an alluring collection of pastas; fish, fowl, and meat entrées; and a selection of Babbo’s irresistible dessert offerings. From Grilled Pork Chops with Peaches and Balsamic Vinegar to Spicy Lamb Tartare with Mint Crostini and a Quail Egg and Wild Striped Bass with Charred Leeks and Squid Vinaigrette, The Babbo Cookbook is filled with vibrant, complex flavors that belie their straightforward preparations. Even classic recipes like Bollito Misto and Pappardelle Bolognese come alive again in bright new renditions that delight the palate.

Also included are notes on the unique touches that make a meal at Babbo such a singular dining experience, from suggestions on wine service to recipes for “predesserts” that smooth the transition from savory to sweet—all representing the distinctive brand of Italian hospitality that has become the Batali trademark.

The Babbo Cookbook is that rarity in the world of restaurant cookbooks: a collection of accessible, appetizing recipes that brings the spirit of a remarkable restaurant into the home kitchen without losing an iota of tantalizing flavor in the translation.

Customer Reviews:

One of my Favorites!.......2007-09-22

I love this book! Since it arrived (about a month ago) I have made 3 dishes, which really means I have made about 6. Most of the dishes in this cookbook require several other recipes which are also found in the book. For instance, the classic Osso Buco requires you to make a basic tomato sauce as well as a brown chicken stock. Could you go out and buy a good tomato sauce and chicken stock? Yes, but then your finished product wouldn't be the same.

Another aspect that I love about all Batali books are the stories. There are little introductions to each section and recipe as well as general guide lines to service.

If you have eaten at Babbo or any of Batali's restauraunts and are looking to recreate that experience at home, you should really own this book. It doesn't come with the ambience or the service, but you will get all the recipes! Even the weird ones (to Americans at least) like Warm Testa and Warm Tripe. I encourage you to make those as well as they are truly delicious! Enjoy!

Pleasantly surprised!.......2007-07-07

I ordered this along with Harry Potter: Book Seven and asked that they ship together to save costs. They shipped this separately anyway at no additional charge! I was psyched! Highly recommended! The book's great, too!

Labor-intensive recipes, with stunning results.......2006-12-07

Love him or hate him, Molto Mario's more than just a Food Network pretty boy. Unlike a lot of so-called "star chefs", he actually puts his money where his mouth is. In a city full of fabulous restaurants, Babbo's known as a no-compromises joint -- and this cookbook will help you recreate many of the restaurant's signature dishes. Set aside an afternoon for prep (and maybe a morning for shopping, while you're at it), and you'll be cooking up dishes that will make your Nonna weep with happiness.

More food porn than "cookbook".......2006-10-27

I think some of these reviews miss the point that this isn't really a book aimed at the casual home cook; the dishes are restaurant quality, which requires restaurant skill or something approaching it, and the book itself is ideal for poring and drooling over, planning (or just fantasizing about) your trip to Babbo. As for whether the recipes work, all I can say is that my husband has successfully prepared several of them, but he's a chef and has been cooking professionally for 25 years. I've not attempted any of the recipes myself and would frankly rather wait until I can eat at Babbo ... but I've still gotten a lot of enjoyment from this book.

not very good.......2006-09-29

I know Batali has become an American icon for Italian cooking, but this book is poorly written and assembled. It is boring to thumb through with recipies that invite you to close the book and go to another.

I love Italy and both Northern and Southern cuisine, but this just doesn't work for me.

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Morgantina Studies
Claire L. Lyons
Manufacturer: Princeton University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Rome | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

Garden Design | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Penology | Crime & Criminals | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

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Morgantina Studies

ASIN: 0691040168

Book Description

Excavations on the slopes of the Cittadella settlement at Morgantina in eastern Sicily have revealed nearly seventy tombs dating from the late eighth to the mid-fifth century B.C. In this volume, Claire Lyons presents a full publication of these Archaic cemeteries, examining the structure of the tombs, their rich range of grave furnishings, and the evidence for funerary ritual that they preserve. Often reused for multiple inhumation and cremation burials, these tombs provide significant documentation of the critical period when immigrant Greeks interacted with the substantial indigenous community, introducing foreign objects and practices that modified the local Iron Age funerary rite.

Detailed reconstructions of all of the burial contexts are presented in an illustrated catalog of the more than 1,350 artifacts found in the tombs. The author's close typological analysis of these grave goods--Attic, Corinthian, Lakonian, East Greek, colonial, and local pottery, as well as terracottas, jewelry, and metal objects--brings new evidence to bear on questions of chronology, production, trade, and function. A particularly intriguing chapter focuses on the meaning of the objects deposited with the dead in Archaic Morgantina, extracting from them information on class, social identity, gender, age, and ethnicity, as well as evidence for the process of transculturation that gradually transformed both the native and the colonial populations. The volume also contains an appendix on the human skeletal material, prepared by Marshall J. Becker.

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Edith Wharton's Italian Gardens
Vivian Russell
Manufacturer: Frances Lincoln
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Garden Design | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Travel | Writing | Reference | Subjects | Books

Gardens of Italy
Sun-Drenched Gardens: The Mediterranean Style
The French Country Garden
Great Gardens of the World: In Search of Paradise
New Gardens in Provence: 30 Contemporary Creations

ASIN: 0711211558

Amazon.com

Though most know her as the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of novels such as The Age of Innocence and The House of Mirth, Edith Wharton was also something of a doyenne of domestic taste, and fortunately neither a nearsighted nor a parochial one. She published the first serious treatment of Italian garden architecture, Italian Villas and Their Gardens, in 1904. A lifelong Italophile as well as a lifelong gardener herself, Wharton had an instinctive attraction to both the clipped precision and the sensuous disarray that characterize an Italian villa garden. Nineteen of the gardens Wharton and her illustrator Maxfield Parrish brought to public attention are virtually unchanged by the passage of the single century since her descriptions were written. Garden photographer and writer Vivian Russell has recaptured both the essence of the gardens themselves and Wharton's experience of them in a series of luscious photographs and historical summaries of each garden. The Villa Cetinale, pictured on the cover from the vantage point of its lemon garden, was singled out by Wharton for its charm and its long green park, marked by a 15th-century gateway at one end and a romitorio, or hermitage, at the other.

The book's considerable charm lies in the historical perspective it affords of Wharton and her Victorian colleagues as well as the many centuries borne so gracefully by the beautiful land they loved. It's a marvelous homage to Wharton and a must-read for all lovers of things Italian.

Book Description

One hundred years ago, Edith Wharton wrote of her love of Italy which was the first to treat the sub ject of Italian garden architecture seriously. It became a groundbreaking work that influenced a generation of garden writers and landscape architects. In this book, photographer Vivian Russell retraces Edith Wharton's steps to photo

Average customer rating:

Beautifully illustrated

Gardens of Italy
Ann Laras
Manufacturer: Frances Lincoln
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Landscape | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Garden Design | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Agricultural Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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Edith Wharton's Italian Gardens
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The French Country Garden
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The Garden Lover's Guide to Italy (Garden Lover's Guides to)

ASIN: 0711224900

Book Description

This inspirational book is a lavishly illustrated survey of more than sixty major gardens in every part of Italy, from the lakes north of Milan down to Ravello in the south.

Customer Reviews:

Beautifully illustrated.......2005-11-22

Sixty gardens is of course a personal selection of gardens by the author. And I miss quite a few of historic and design-wise interesting places. Le Marche is not represented at all and Villa Barbarigo is also missing, along with some smaller, but exquisite gardens scattered over the peninsula. That said, the photos are great and most of the more famous places are well illustrated. The text is not that of a deep-probing and exploring academic, it's simply describing the place with some impressions and a few facts well known from previously published books. The best book on the subject is still Georgina Massons 'Italian Gardens' from the 1950's. Very strange...

Average customer rating:

Gorgeous!
Wonderful behind the scenes look

Venetian Gardens
Mariagrazia Dammicco
Manufacturer: Flammarion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Nature & Wildlife | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Garden Design | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

California Mediterranean
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Living In Venice (New Edition) (Living In...)

ASIN: 2080305484
Release Date: 2007-03-06

Book Description

Tucked away in the heart of Venice, hidden from the public eye, lie unexpected oases of calm and beauty. Venetian Gardens offers an exclusive view of the splendor and charm of these secret gardens, undiscovered by the vast majority of visitors to the magical city known as la Serenissima. Whether strolling through the narrow streets or riding on a gondola, most passers-by would miss the rows of trees running alongside ancient city walls, massive climbing vines, flower-covered terraces, and the luxurious gardens of grand palaces. Professional tour guide Mariagrazia Dammicco unlocks Venice's garden gates, allowing us access to hidden oases usually closed to the general public. This book invites the reader to explore twenty of Venice's secret gardens, ranging from private family havens to convent sanctuaries, and including all styles and shapes, contemporary and medieval alike. Marianne Majerus's splendid photography and Dammicco's informative text give the reader a peek behind the closed doors of exclusive residences and quiet convents. This lavish volume is sure to inspire gardeners and lovers of Venice with its spotlight on the unusual and stunning floral combinations that are proven winners in the featured gardens.

Customer Reviews:

Gorgeous!.......2007-10-01

I'm a huge fan of all things Venetian - art, architecture, gardens & more. Having been to Venice, there are many parts of it that are private or hidden and you'd never find them. This book shows you the most beautiful private gardens overlooking waterways and internal streets that no tourist would ever see or find. I have it sitting on top of my many stacks of coffee table books and each time I walk by and see the cover I want to sit down and look through it again.

Wonderful behind the scenes look.......2007-05-13

This is by far and away the best of books that looks at private Venetian gardens. It covers 27 gardens both historic and contemporary - almost all of them in private hands. Originally published in French, the translation has only a few flaws and is well written with a good deal of both historic and current information. The photographs are really lush and beautiful and the entire publication is beautifully designed and finished. I highly recomend it for lovers of Venice as well as anyone who loves gardening.

Average customer rating:

Bravo Italian Designers!

Italian Designers at Home
Alessandra Burigana
Manufacturer: Verba Volant
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1905216033

Book Description

Italian Designers at Home offers an unprecedented look at more than twenty homes styled by the hand of celebrated Italian design professionals.

Customer Reviews:

Bravo Italian Designers!.......2007-03-19

This book is packed with good taste and eclectic décor. If you like modernism with a passion for history this is for you. It features older and established designers who use their homes/studios as working laboratories. The spaces are multi-layered and housed in residences that may have been homes to royalty, or clergy. The book is filled with fabulously designed furniture, art, and architecture. A privilege to have a glimpse into places I would never otherwise be allowed. This is time travel, but I am not sure if it is past, present or future. Good Lighting and photography, informative and well written.

A true keeper for your library or coffee table.

Average customer rating:

NOT FOR WEEKEND GARDENERS

Gardens of Tuscany
Rizzoli
Manufacturer: Rizzoli
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Landscape | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Landscape | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0847812286
Release Date: 1990-08-15

Customer Reviews:

NOT FOR WEEKEND GARDENERS.......2001-06-16

This magnificent book takes the reader/viewer on a magical trip to the majestic gardens of Tuscany. Divided into three distinct sections: Siena, Lucca and Florence, this is definitely not a book for getting "how to" tips on gardening in the U.S.A. These so-called gardens are perfect for imagination day dreams or movie settings. These are not your marigold and petunia gardens. Instead you will be transported to another time and another place where semi-circular pools, hillside terraces, lime and ilez shade trees, sunflower fields and espaliered vines share space with secret gardens of peach, olive and magnolia trees underplanted with crocuses, daffodills, irises, lilies and roses or box-edged flower gardens, bowling greens and fountains.

Each wonderful photograph is fully explained as to where it is and how it relates to the buildings which share the acreage and to the families who own the villas.

Not one of those cumbersome, oversized books, it is easily held and easily read. Historian, Sir Harold Acton, has written a lovely introduction and one feature that I found fascinating was a listing of the public gardens in the book, since most of the Tuscan gardens are, naturally, private. Recommended.

Notes from an Italian Garden
Average customer rating:

Delightful

Enchanting!

A Work of Great Beauty

Notes from an Italian Garden
Joan Marble
Manufacturer: William Morrow & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Essays | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Europe | Travel | Subjects | Books
General | Italy | Europe | Travel | Subjects | Books
General | Travel | Subjects | Books
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Notes from a Roman Terrace

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ASIN: 0060185740
Release Date: 2001-04-10

Book Description

Thirty years ago journalist Joan Marble and her sculptor husband, Robert Cook, bought an unpromising piece of land near the little hamlet of Canale, north of Rome where the ancient Etruscans once lived. Here they built a house and, more important, set out to start a wonderful garden.

All was not easy, however. They faced blank incomprehension from the local inhabitants. "Why do you want to have a garden here?" they were asked. "There's no water, the ground is like cement, it's too cold in winter and too hot in summer, it never rains. . . ." But Joan and Robert's enthusiasm for the land, their ignorance of the obstacles that faced them, their downright obstinacy and the unexpected friends who helped them -- all served to conquer the intransigent terrain.

"I fell in love with Etruria one chilly evening in the middle of winter," says Joan. "They were having a New Year's Eve festival in a little town near Campagnano, and a group of local boys dressed in Renaissance costumes were marching in a torchlight parade down the main street. As I stood there in the cold watching the flames lurching to the sky, I realized that I felt very much at home in this ancient place. If ever we should decide to move to the country, this was the kind of place I would choose....."

Inspirational, aspirational, enchanting -- this is an account of a passion for a place and an obsession with a garden that will charm all who love Italy, gardening, and life.

Customer Reviews:

Delightful.......2001-07-16

A truly delightful book about Italians, human behavior, history, travel, and gardening. The author paints a picture with her words, captures your imagination, and makes you chuckle at the unique Italian way of living. From buying land and building a house to sinister business deals, to marriage contracting, gardening fetes and disasters, this book will charm and delight you on many different levels. I enjoyed this book so much more than "Under the Tuscan Sun." This is truly a gem of a book.

Enchanting!.......2001-05-10

I love to travel but I have never added to the sales of those memoirs of hapless outsiders who renovate a barn or farmhouse in Provence, Tuscany or Umbria. No matter how well-written, most are self-conscious narratives recycling the same ingredients: coping, making friends--and enemies--and eating well. Joan Marble's book is refreshingly different. She and her husband built rather than renovated, and in Etruria, off the touristic track; they nurtured unforgiving soil producing delights for the table. But it is the delight of armchair gardening that makes this book such a good read. There is humor and pathos in how this couple celebrate life. Highly recommended.

A Work of Great Beauty.......2001-05-07

Joan Marble has created a work of great beauty in "Notes from an Italian Garden." She has a profound knowledge of gardening and the countryside of central Italy, of Italian history and the Italians of today, and all this is reflected in her book. From my own years in Italy I can testify to the book's accuracy; far beyond that, it reflects a rare sort of felicity and civility. I want to believe that in future centuries people will come back to this book to read how two Americans led such pleasant and productive lives in the Italy of our time.

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