Italy’s Paradise
A History of Tuscany
by Alistair Moffat
£7.99
- Paperback
- E-Book
Reviews
A delicious trip through the geography, history and culture of the region
Sunday Telegraph
A sun-drenched meditation on the character of the place and its people
The Scotsman
A cavalcade across some of the most fascinating, intriguing and, yes, brutal episodes of the region’s past written in the fast-paced, involving style of an adventure novel
Italy magazine Book of the Week
If you read the book, you’ll want to travel to the region
The Herald
Moffat's book is never dull . . . like one of the region's fine wines, it doesn't disappoint
Scottish Review of Books
About the Book
'A delicious trip through the geography, history and culture of the region' – Sunday Telegraph
Ever since the days of the Grand Tour, Tuscany has cast its magic spell on foreign vistiors. Attracted by the perfect combination of history, art, architecture, superb natural beauty and weather – not to mention magnificent traditions of food and drink – British visitors and residents have been at times so numerous that the local word for foreigners was simply 'gli inglesi' – 'the English'.
What is it that makes this exquisite part of Italy so seductive? Alistair Moffat embarks on a journey into Tuscany’s past. From the flowering of the Etruscan civilization in the seventh century bc through the rise of the powerful medieval communes of Arezzo, Luca, Pisa and Florence, and the role the area played as the birthplace of the Renaissance, he underlines both the area’s regional uniqueness as well as the vital role it has played in the history of the whole of Italy. Insightful, readable and imbued with the author’s own enthusiasm for Tuscany, this book includes a wealth of information not found in tourist guides.
'A sun-drenched meditation on the character of the place and its people' – The Scotsman
The Author
Alistair Moffat
Alistair Moffat was born and bred in the Scottish Borders. A former Director of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Director of Programmes at Scottish Television and founder of the Borders Book Festival, he is also the author of a number of highly acclaimed books. From 2011 he was Rector of the University of St Andrews. He has written more than thirty books on Scottish history, and lives in the Scottish Borders.
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