A dream house in Tuscany . . . and a dog named Todo.
Todo had been waiting at Poggiolino since his mistress died over two years before. The house lay empty and neglected and yet he wouldn't leave. He seemed to know that someday the right people would come along and make it a home again.
Louise and Lawrence weren't thinking of buying the very first house they looked at in Tuscany. In fact, their plans to move from London were barely formed . . . but there was something enchanting about the dog waiting at the gates. If they were honest, they wanted Todo - the scruffy dog with the huge grin - as much as they wanted the house.
With Todo as their faithful companion they began to restore Poggiolino to life, unlocking her secrets and giving Todo, their beloved dog, a second chance.
A heart-warming memoir of moving country, making a new life and coming home.
Todo in Tuscany: The Dog At The Villa
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'if you love Italy, dogs, or both, this book is a must-read.'
(Bleeding Espresso )'A touching and truthful memoir.'
(Italia! )'a warm, affectionate and inspirational account of an extraordinary dog who broke down cultural barriers and became the key to happiness.' (Lancashire Evening News )
'a touching story'
(Sunday Times )'This was a joy to read and I didn't want to put it down. Full of humour and touching in places it takes you on Louise and Lawrence's journey to new beginnings . . . Loved it, it should be made into a film!'
(What Good To Do (5 stars) )'The story is so vivid and eloquently written that it is impossible not to share the laughter, joy, embarrassment, anxiety, and tears that Louise and Lawrence experience in the first few years of moving to Italy. This enchanting book is worth a place in anyone's library but it is a must for dog lovers and Italiaphiles.'
(London Dog Forum )About the Author
Louise Badger and Lawrence Kershaw were both born in the UK, but Louise spent her childhood in Australia while Lawrence grew up in Liverpool. They met through a shared love of music and were married in 1987. They have run a music agency for over a decade and divide their time between London and a small village near Lucca.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
If you are put off a book which reviewers label as "heart-warming" then turn away now.
'Todo in Tuscany' is a straightforward tale, simply told, but with considerable insights into the nature of folly, frustration and friendship.
Loyalty and perseverance are qualities we normally associate with the best of dogs. They are certainly qualities demonstrated in abundance by the eponymous and engaging hero whose personality persuades the authors to give up their life in London and buy an unsuitable villa in Tuscany. But they are also qualities that Todo (our hero) magically seems to transmit to everyone with whom he comes in contact.
Louise and Lawrence(authors and friends of Todo) let the tale of their Italian resettlement unfold in an uncomplicated style that belies the difficulties of the situations they encounter.
There are the usual strands of 'living-abroad-lit': building disasters, officious officials, glorious food, inspiring gardens,ravishing countryside and a bewilderingly different culture. But these familiar themes are carefully interwoven with an intriguing story of how a smiling dog can provide focus and unity in people's lives - how determination and friends can help triumph over life's vicissitudes.
Sentimental? occasionally; and the dialogue is sometimes a little forced, but it is the heart-warming(you were warned) tale/tail that provides its considerable rewards.
'Todo in Tuscany' is a straightforward tale, simply told, but with considerable insights into the nature of folly, frustration and friendship.
Loyalty and perseverance are qualities we normally associate with the best of dogs. They are certainly qualities demonstrated in abundance by the eponymous and engaging hero whose personality persuades the authors to give up their life in London and buy an unsuitable villa in Tuscany. But they are also qualities that Todo (our hero) magically seems to transmit to everyone with whom he comes in contact.
Louise and Lawrence(authors and friends of Todo) let the tale of their Italian resettlement unfold in an uncomplicated style that belies the difficulties of the situations they encounter.
There are the usual strands of 'living-abroad-lit': building disasters, officious officials, glorious food, inspiring gardens,ravishing countryside and a bewilderingly different culture. But these familiar themes are carefully interwoven with an intriguing story of how a smiling dog can provide focus and unity in people's lives - how determination and friends can help triumph over life's vicissitudes.
Sentimental? occasionally; and the dialogue is sometimes a little forced, but it is the heart-warming(you were warned) tale/tail that provides its considerable rewards.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Woodpecker
Format:Hardcover
This is a delightful book. It's a good, well-told story, about 2 people who took a risk on a new life - seduced by an irresistable dog. Just moving house is challenge enough - but moving to a different country, and re-locating your business, and taking on a house in need of a complete overhaul is - well - off the stress scale. Give yourself a treat - you must read this book - and go on an adventure with L and L -and lose your heart, as they did, to an extraordinarily engaging dog and a beautiful landscape.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Cammeo
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
A delightful and moving story of two people who, like many of us, had a dream of a new life in an idyllic part of the world but, unlike most of us, made that dream happen and moved their home to the beautiful rural slopes of a Tuscan village, while maintaining and running their UK-based business.
The idea of a dog being part of a house sale is something that catches your interest immediately when you start reading this book but you have no idea of just how much and how quickly the dog, Todo, will become a key third protagonist in their early years of adjusting to the demands of a new life in a new country.
I'm not someone who would normally read an animal book of this ilk but I loved this. It made me appreciate for the first time just how much joy and affection a dog can give to his owners and, of course, vice versa. This is all the more poignant here given the new lease of life Todo clearly enjoyed when the writers took on ownership of him and the house. It's hard, even for a relatively impartial dog-lover such as myself, not to imagine that Todo couldn't quite believe his luck!
And if your interest is more in 'How do you make a Big Move like that work?', you'll find that the quickly burgeoning relationship with Todo is cleverly intertwined with the authors' battles with language, Italian officialdom and local hunters; their deepening love affair with Tuscany; and the challenges of running a UK business from their new Tuscan home. Maybe all new ventures such as theirs should come with a local dog as mandatory!
A great read.
The idea of a dog being part of a house sale is something that catches your interest immediately when you start reading this book but you have no idea of just how much and how quickly the dog, Todo, will become a key third protagonist in their early years of adjusting to the demands of a new life in a new country.
I'm not someone who would normally read an animal book of this ilk but I loved this. It made me appreciate for the first time just how much joy and affection a dog can give to his owners and, of course, vice versa. This is all the more poignant here given the new lease of life Todo clearly enjoyed when the writers took on ownership of him and the house. It's hard, even for a relatively impartial dog-lover such as myself, not to imagine that Todo couldn't quite believe his luck!
And if your interest is more in 'How do you make a Big Move like that work?', you'll find that the quickly burgeoning relationship with Todo is cleverly intertwined with the authors' battles with language, Italian officialdom and local hunters; their deepening love affair with Tuscany; and the challenges of running a UK business from their new Tuscan home. Maybe all new ventures such as theirs should come with a local dog as mandatory!
A great read.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Cucci
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
If you love Italy, if you love animals, if you adore good food and wine, if you love life, you will love this book!
My yardstick for a good book is often how much I feel for the characters. If I don't, picking up the book the next day is a chore. But when you love and identify with them you can't wait to get back and putting the book down actually feels like you are leaving them in limbo and they can't continue with their lives until you re open the pages!
Louise, Lawrence and Todo are such people and within the first few pages you're drawn willingly into their world ....... entirely with them on their journey ...... feeling what they feel and living every second!
It is written in a simple yet glorious style that puts you right there in Tuscany with them ..... holding your breath when things go wrong (and boy, they do!) ...... breathing a sigh of relief when near impossible situations resolve themselves ....... laughing with them through their triumphs (they do seem to have limitless good humour) ....... being thrilled by the Italian countryside and history that surrounds them and wishing you could leap into the pages and join them for one of their delicious meals! They are those kind of people!
It does have some very sad moments but the book leaves you on a high note and in total awe of their achievements and the new life that Todo has introduced them to. I have deliberately not mentioned more of the true star of the book, Todo. He is a truly exceptional little chap and I really do recommend reading this book so that you can discover for yourselves what one little dog can achieve in his life and the amazing legacy he leaves.
My yardstick for a good book is often how much I feel for the characters. If I don't, picking up the book the next day is a chore. But when you love and identify with them you can't wait to get back and putting the book down actually feels like you are leaving them in limbo and they can't continue with their lives until you re open the pages!
Louise, Lawrence and Todo are such people and within the first few pages you're drawn willingly into their world ....... entirely with them on their journey ...... feeling what they feel and living every second!
It is written in a simple yet glorious style that puts you right there in Tuscany with them ..... holding your breath when things go wrong (and boy, they do!) ...... breathing a sigh of relief when near impossible situations resolve themselves ....... laughing with them through their triumphs (they do seem to have limitless good humour) ....... being thrilled by the Italian countryside and history that surrounds them and wishing you could leap into the pages and join them for one of their delicious meals! They are those kind of people!
It does have some very sad moments but the book leaves you on a high note and in total awe of their achievements and the new life that Todo has introduced them to. I have deliberately not mentioned more of the true star of the book, Todo. He is a truly exceptional little chap and I really do recommend reading this book so that you can discover for yourselves what one little dog can achieve in his life and the amazing legacy he leaves.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
a lovely book about a lovely chap
i thoroughly enjoyed this, Todo was clearly a charmer, and hats off to Louise and lawrence for befriending him and seeing him through hise final years. Read more
Published 3 days ago by numptydad349
5.0 out of 5 stars
Todo in Tuscany
What a great book. The story of Todo the little dog was very well told and had me in tears, it was so moving. I recommend this as a very moving story for dog lovers everywhere.
Published 1 month ago by Mrs P. Cameron
5.0 out of 5 stars
I so fell in love with this little dog
I lived in Tuscany many years ago and have wonderfully fond memories of the place and people, so this book reminded me of all I loved and now miss. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Annie
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book !
A lovely book. Great story. Easy to read. I found it quite emotional even though I'm not a dog lover as such.
Published 6 months ago by Stephen Fry
4.0 out of 5 stars
Devoted dog
The story of Todo brings tears to your eyes. What a devoted little dog. Pity he had to wait 2 years for new owners. Read more
Published 8 months ago by grangran
5.0 out of 5 stars
La Dolce Vita - Tuscany and a smiling dog!!!
It is wonderful that Louise and Lawrence persevered with the time and effort it took to record their story. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Mary Langford
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lovely, gentle read
'Questa è Todo - lui è il cane della casa. Sta aspettando da molto tempo ...'
When Louise Badger and Lawrence Kershaw started searching for a house in... Read more
When Louise Badger and Lawrence Kershaw started searching for a house in... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Kate B
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lived and written with love
I read this on my kindle, whilst we were on holiday in France with our dog. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and didn't want it to end. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Jersey Girl
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best book
Wonderful book all animal lovers should read it. It is written with love, fun and sadness by people who loved their dog
Published 11 months ago by Stratford
5.0 out of 5 stars
Heart Touching and Fun
I began the story of Todo and couldn't put the book down. It's heart warming and full of wonder. It's amazing how this dog touched so many lives and brought so many people... Read more
Published 11 months ago by vjb
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