or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
 
More Buying Choices
255 used & new from £0.01
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
Under the Tuscan Sun
 
See larger image 

See 1 customer image
Share your own customer images
Publisher: learn how customers can search inside this book.

Under the Tuscan Sun (Paperback)

by Frances Mayes (Author)
3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
RRP: £7.99
Price: £5.90 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
You Save: £2.09 (26%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In stock.
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk. Gift-wrap available.

Want guaranteed delivery by Thursday, February 11? Choose Express delivery at checkout. See Details
19 new from £2.69 233 used from £0.01 3 collectible from £3.25
Other Editions: RRP: Our Price: Other Offers:
Hardcover 3 used & new from £14.36
Paperback (1st Broadw) 3 used & new from £8.99
Audio CD (Abridged) 4 used & new from £6.21
Audio Cassette 3 used & new from £0.01
Calendar (Egmt Spi) 4 used & new from £1.50

Frequently Bought Together

Under the Tuscan Sun + Under The Tuscan Sun [DVD] [2004] + A Good Year [DVD] [2006]
Total RRP: £43.97
Price For All Three: £14.85

Show availability and delivery details

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Bella Tuscany: The Sweet Life in Italy

Bella Tuscany: The Sweet Life in Italy

by Frances Mayes
3.5 out of 5 stars (11)  £5.99
Under The Tuscan Sun [DVD] [2004]

Under The Tuscan Sun [DVD] [2004]

DVD ~ Diane Lane
4.2 out of 5 stars (40)  £3.98
Vanilla Beans and Brodo: Real Life in the Hills of Tuscany

Vanilla Beans and Brodo: Real Life in the Hills of Tuscany

by Isabella Dusi
4.1 out of 5 stars (26)  £5.77
A Year in the World: Journeys of a Passionate Traveller

A Year in the World: Journeys of a Passionate Traveller

by Frances Mayes
2.0 out of 5 stars (3)  £5.99
Extra Virgin: Amongst the Olive Groves of Liguria

Extra Virgin: Amongst the Olive Groves of Liguria

by Annie Hawes
4.4 out of 5 stars (59)  £6.40
› Explore similar items

Product details

  • Paperback: 287 pages
  • Publisher: Bantam Books; READING CREASES, EDGE CORNER WEAR, edition (1 May 1998)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0553506676
  • ISBN-13: 978-0553506679
  • Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 12.8 x 2 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 21,452 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories:

    #70 in  Books > Travel & Holiday > Countries & Regions > Europe > Italy
    #76 in  Books > Travel & Holiday > Countries & Regions > Europe > France

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Customers Viewing This Page May Be Interested in These Sponsored Links

  (What is this?)
   Under The Tuscan Sun DVD opens new browser window
woolworthsentertainment.co.uk/DVD  -  Find a Great Selection of DVDs at Woolworths. Free UK Delivery!
  
 

Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review

In this memoir of her buying, renovating and living in an abandoned villa in Tuscany, Frances Mayes reveals the sensual pleasure she found living in rural Italy and the generous spirit she brought with her. She revels in the sunlight and the colour, the long view of her valley, the warm homey architecture, the languor of the slow paced days, the vigor of working her garden and the intimacy of her dealings with the locals. Cooking, gardening, tiling and painting are never chores, but skills to be learned, arts to be practiced and above all to be enjoyed. At the same time Mayes brings a literary and intellectual mind to bear on the experience, adding depth to this account of her enticing rural idyll. --Amazon.com

Product Description

Frances Mayes - widely published poet, gourmet cook and travel writer - opens the door on a wondrous new world when she buys and restores an abandoned villa in the spectacular Tuscan countryside. She finds faded frescoes beneath the whitewash in the dining room, a vineyard under wildly overgrown brambles - and even a wayward scorpion under her pillow. And from her traditional kitchen and simple garden, she creates dozens of delicious seasonal recipes, all included in this book. In the vibrant local markets and neighbouring hill towns, the author explores the nuances of the Italian landscape, history and cuisine. Each adventure yields delightful surprises - the perfect panettone, an unforgettable wine, or painted Etruscan tombs. Doing for Tuscany what Peter Mayle did for Provence, Mayes writes about the tastes and pleasures of a foreign country with gusto and passion. A celebration of the extraordinary quality of life in Tuscany, "Under The Tuscan Sun" is a feast for all the senses.
See all Product Description

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
 
(1)

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Under the Tuscan Sun
72% buy the item featured on this page:
Under the Tuscan Sun 3.5 out of 5 stars (26)
£5.90
Bella Tuscany: The Sweet Life in Italy
2% buy
Bella Tuscany: The Sweet Life in Italy 3.5 out of 5 stars (11)
£5.99
Explore similar items
 

Customer Reviews

26 Reviews
5 star:
 (7)
4 star:
 (7)
3 star:
 (7)
2 star:
 (2)
1 star:
 (3)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.5 out of 5 stars (26 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Evocative and poetic account of the expat life in Italy, 9 Feb 2001
This is the first of now 3 books written about Mayes purchasing, renovation and living in an old villa in Tuscany. There are plenty of these sorts of books around at the moment but this is probably one of the better ones.

First of all it should be made clear that this book is about privileged expats living in Italy, it is not about life in Italy at all. Mayes does write with a lovely lyrical style, it is very poetic; strained at times, a bit forced and trite in places, but overall the writing is very pleasing to read. Mayes cleverly evokes delightful scenes and is particularly expert at bringing incredible meals wafting off the pages.

I talked about this book with my brother and he mentioned that he found Mayes too smug. I think he is right, she is smug, but oddly enough I didn't mind that at all. If I ever fulfil my dream to own a house in Italy (Umbria not Tuscany!) I think I will allow myself to be a little smug too.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


 
18 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars Joyless and very American, 5 Aug 2001
By L. Day "Bookworm" (Scotland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
I would only buy this if you have already read Driving over lemons, the Mayle books and the Peter Kerr books - all are far more fun however if you are desperate for a tale of the sunshine and have read the good ones ...

It's unusual for me to care so little about the main people in a book - but frankly I wouldn't have cared if the roof had fallen in on her!

It would be a long way down my list of recommendations. And it is very rare that I put a 'don't buy' review up -this I think is my first!

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


 
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A Delightful Journey -- An Inspriation, 6 Sep 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Under the Tuscan Sun: 2000 Engagement Calendar (Calendar)
Instantly I felt transported to a wonderful countryside. The descriptives had me aching to be in Tuscany and enjoying the delights of the people, foods, history, churches, homes, beaches... Thank you, Frances Mayes, for sharing such an intimate part of your life, not to mention the recipes! I bought herb plants and a mini food processor during my reading -- the pesto is exquisite! Many thanks...
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars satisfied customer!
How pleasing that choosing and ordering the products on amazon's user-friendly site is so quick and easy; the book arrived promptly and was exactly as described.
Published 5 days ago by Alison M. Shields

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reading and great film to watch
I saw the film first on tv and had to go and buy the book and dvd immediately, thank goodness for Amazon on line. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Morticia DeCat

3.0 out of 5 stars Tuscany to be seen..
Someone wrote that se's smug.Exactly what I thought myself.The typical American career woman that just brags about her success. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Miranda

5.0 out of 5 stars Escape with Frances Mayes
Frances Mayes, an American professor in her late 40's, buys a derelict house near the Tuscan village of Cortona. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Kittycat

3.0 out of 5 stars A Good Start!
I found this book quite funny at the beginning. As a foreigner living in Italy for these last 12 years I laughed out loud reading those everyday life incidents and lets call them... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Acquafortis

4.0 out of 5 stars Very evocative
I can't imagine why anyone would not have liked this book, I found that it made me absolutely LONG to be in Italy, and was so very evocative and beautifully written. Read more
Published on 15 Jan 2007 by Beryl Baird

1.0 out of 5 stars Is there more to this than meets the eye?
What a great subject... this has got to be a good read. But no I am afraid not. I tried really hard, Frances, but had to give up at about page 50 before my brain turned to mush. Read more
Published on 25 Mar 2006 by Alta Vista

5.0 out of 5 stars Constructing a dream
A classic in its genre, this calm and soothing read is a chamomile tonic for a stressed out life. Frances and her partner Ed live a dual life re-building a ruin in Tuscany with... Read more
Published on 6 Mar 2006 by Joe Smart

2.0 out of 5 stars Is it just me, or is this book hard work?!
I found this book really hard going. It was a tremendous effort to keep reading, but I had to give up halfway through. Read more
Published on 11 Feb 2006 by Avid Reader

5.0 out of 5 stars A book to make you slow down and count your blessings
I've been listening to a CD version of this book recently, and have been quite charmed by it. The reader's (Barbara Caruso)mellifluous and precise voice coupled with the fairly... Read more
Published on 23 Sep 2005 by FIONA STOW

Only search this product's reviews


Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 

   

Listmania!

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Look for similar items by subject













i.e., each product must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ...

Feedback


Your Recent History

 (What's this?)

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.