Italy’s Paradise: A History of Tuscany

‘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

Reviews of Italy’s Paradise: A History of Tuscany

'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 *