#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The beloved memoir of self-discovery set against the spectacular Tuscan countryside that inspired the major motion picture starring Diane Lane—now in a twentieth-anniversary edition featuring a new afterword “This beautifully written memoir about taking chances, living in Italy, loving a house and, always, the pleasures of food, would make a perfect gift for a loved one. But it’s so delicious, read it first yourself.”—USA Today For more Frances Mayes, including a tour of her now iconic Cortona home, Bramasole, watch PBS’s Dream of Italy: Tuscan Sun Special! More than twenty years ago, Frances Mayes—widely published poet, gourmet cook, and travel writer—introduced readers to a wondrous new world when she bought and restored an abandoned Tuscan villa called Bramasole. Under the Tuscan Sun inspired generations to embark on their own journeys—whether that be flying to a foreign country in search of themselves, savoring one of the book’s dozens of delicious seasonal recipes, or simply being transported by Mayes’s signature evocative, sensory language. Now with a new afterword from Frances Mayes, the twentieth-anniversary edition of Under the Tuscan Sun revisits the book’s most popular characters.
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About the author
Frances Mayes
Author
Frances Mayes is an American writer. Her 1996 memoir Under the Tuscan Sun was on the New York Times Best Seller list for over two years and was the basis for the film Under the Tuscan Sun.
Under the Tuscan Sun
by Frances Mayes
Books Like Under the Tuscan Sun
If you're looking for books similar to Under the Tuscan Sun, here are some recommendations based on themes, tone, and narrative style.
My Life in France
Julia Child
A charming memoir about Julia Child's culinary adventures in France, detailing her love for French cuisine and culture. Like Mayes, Child writes about experiencing a new country through its food and lifestyle. The book captures the joy of cultural immersion and personal transformation through international living. It offers a passionate, sensory-rich narrative of discovering oneself in a foreign environment.
A Year in Provence
Peter Mayle
A delightful memoir about an English couple's experience moving to and restoring a farmhouse in Provence, France. Like Mayes, Mayle captures the charm of rural European life with humor and sensory detail. The book explores local culture, food, and the challenges of renovating an old property in a foreign country. It offers a similar narrative of self-discovery and cultural immersion through a personal relocation story.
A Thousand Days in Venice
Marlena de Blasi
A romantic memoir about an American woman who falls in love with Venice and a Venetian man. The book explores themes of cultural discovery, personal transformation, and unexpected love. Like Mayes, de Blasi writes with sensory detail and passion about Italian life. It offers a deeply personal narrative of finding oneself through international experience.
Eat, Pray, Love
Elizabeth Gilbert
A transformative memoir about a woman's journey of self-discovery across Italy, India, and Indonesia. Gilbert's narrative shares Mayes' theme of personal reinvention and finding oneself through travel. The book explores personal growth, cultural exploration, and the healing power of new experiences. It resonates with readers seeking inspiration and meaningful life changes through international adventures.
The Hills of Tuscany
Ferenc Máté
A memoir about an American couple's experience buying and restoring a farmhouse in Tuscany. Like Mayes, Máté captures the beauty of rural Tuscan life and the process of cultural adaptation. The book explores local traditions, landscape, and the challenges of creating a new life in a foreign country. It offers a romantic and detailed portrayal of Tuscan living.
The Lemon Tree
Sandy Tolan
A non-fiction book exploring cultural understanding through a personal story of friendship. While different in setting, the book shares themes of cross-cultural connection and personal discovery. It offers a nuanced exploration of human relationships and cultural understanding. The narrative provides insights into personal transformation through cultural engagement.
The Tuscan Child
Rhys Bowen
A historical fiction novel set in Tuscany that explores themes of discovery and connection to place. The story weaves between past and present, revealing secrets of a World War II-era love story in the Tuscan countryside. Like Mayes' work, it celebrates the beauty and mystery of Tuscany. The novel offers a rich, atmospheric exploration of Italian landscape and culture.
Paris Letters
Janice MacLeod
A memoir about leaving a corporate job to pursue a creative life in Paris. The book shares themes of personal reinvention and finding joy through international relocation. MacLeod's narrative explores art, love, and cultural discovery, similar to Mayes' transformative journey. It offers inspiration for those seeking meaningful life changes through travel and creativity.
The Tuscan Trilogy
Robert Hellenga
A series of novels set in Tuscany exploring themes of cultural discovery and personal transformation. Like Mayes, Hellenga captures the beauty and complexity of Italian life. The books offer rich, atmospheric narratives about cultural adaptation and personal growth. They provide a deep exploration of Tuscan culture and landscape.
Extra Virgin
Annie Hawes
A memoir about two English sisters who buy and restore an old farmhouse in Liguria, Italy. Similar to Mayes' experience, the book details the challenges and joys of adapting to rural Italian life. It explores local culture, agriculture, and personal transformation through relocation. The narrative is filled with humor, cultural insights, and sensory descriptions of Italian living.
The Olive Farm
Carol Drinkwater
A memoir about an English actress who buys and restores an olive farm in Provence, France. Like Mayes, Drinkwater writes about the challenges and joys of creating a new life in a foreign country. The book explores agricultural life, local culture, and personal transformation. It offers a sensory-rich narrative of discovering oneself through international relocation.
The Italian Way
Douglas Downing
A travel memoir exploring Italian culture, lifestyle, and traditions. The book shares Mayes' appreciation for sensory experiences and cultural nuance. It offers insights into Italian life through personal observations and experiences. The narrative provides a rich, detailed exploration of Italian culture and living.
The Shadow of the Cypress
Thomas Steinbeck
A novel set in Monterey, California, exploring themes of cultural discovery and local history. While not set in Tuscany, the book shares Mayes' appreciation for place and cultural nuance. It offers a rich, atmospheric narrative about community and personal connection to landscape. The story provides insights into cultural exploration and local traditions.
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