Under the Tuscan Sun

Now in paperback, the #1San Francisco Chroniclebestseller that is an enchanting and lyrical look at the life, the traditions, and the cuisine of Tuscany, in the spirit of Peter Mayle'sA Year in Provence. Frances Mayes entered a wondrous new world when she began restoring an abandoned villa in the spectacular Tuscan countryside. There were unexpected treasures at every turn: faded frescos beneath the whitewash in her dining room, a vineyard under wildly overgrown brambles in the garden, and, in the nearby hill towns, vibrant markets and delightful people. InUnder the Tuscan Sun,she brings the lyrical voice of a poet, the eye of a seasoned traveler, and the discerning palate of a cook and food writer to invite readers to explore the pleasures of Italian life and to feast at her table. From the Trade Paperback edition.

Frances Mayes lives in Cortona, Italy and San Francisco, where she teaches creative writing at San Francisco State University.  A widely published poet as well as a prolific food and travel writer, she has written for the <i>New York Times, House Beautiful,</i> and <i>Food and Wine.</i>