Really the prequel to Under the Tuscan Sun, written by a British man who is a travel writer in London, about his experiences in remote Tuscany in the late 60's. He was an escapee during WWII and wanted to return to the people who hid him, and the part of Italy he came to cherish. He and his wife bought a ramshackle "dwelling" and lived among the people when he could get away for a total of 25 years. Remote Tuscany is the operative word. Slow starting, but compelling at times, a bit too much ancient history of the area for me.