Marvellously atmospheric tale of four strangers summoned to a grand but neglected villa on the Italian coast. Each of them has been named in a will, but not one of them knows their benefactress! Four very different people are named in a will. Delia, an opera singer robbed of her voice by illness; George, an idealistic scientist who cannot face what his skills have created; Marjorie, desperately poor and unable to dislodge her writer's block; and Lucius, ostensibly in control but whose personal life is in chaos. All are summoned to the Villa Dante, home of the late Beatrice Malaspina. But who was she? While they wait to find out, the villa begins to work its seductive magic. With its faded frescoes, overgrown garden and magnificent mediaeval tower, it is unlike anywhere they have been before. Slowly, four characters who have gone to great lengths to hide their troubles find that change -- and even hope -- is possible after all. But the mysterious Beatrice has a devastating secret to reveal that will affect them all! A beautiful evocation of Italy in the aftermath of World War Two, the personal consequences of living through such a time, and a celebration of humankind's ability to heal and learn to love again, this most absorbing novel will win Elizabeth Edmondson a host of new fans.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
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'This book's great for escaping the cold UK winter' Closer 'Enthralling!this is an enchanting read from start to finish.' Woman 'Deeply satisfying!rich and compelling. The perfect read' Oxford Times Praise for Voyage of Innocence: 'I loved it.' Woman 'A very interesting book, not only because it gives a flavour of life in the thirties!it's a way of imbibing history.' Oxford Times 'Well written and superbly researched!a thoroughly enjoyable read. A must.' Yours Praise for The Frozen Lake: 'Charming.' The Bookseller 'Dark family secrets, long buried,if not forgotten, bubble to the surface. A novel that is vivid and engrossing.' Choice 'An intriguing read.' Woman The Frozen Lake: 'An excellent read.' Evening Echo 'A great book to curl up with on a cold winter afternoon.' Belfast Evening Telegraph The Villa in Italy 'This well-made tale springs from a classic device!The author has a fine feel for time and place' Nottingham Evening Post 'Must read' Reading Post 'A sweet-tempered and engaging tale!Edmondson's honeyed prose offers the solace of escape from the mundane. She is worth indulging.' Sydney Morning Herald 'Immensely readable and satisfying' Good Reading 'An intriguing story' Australian Women's Weekly
About the Author
Born in Chile, and educated in Calcutta and London before going to Oxford University, Elizabeth Edmondson now divides her time between the countryside north of Rome and the spires of Oxford. She is married to an art historian and has two children.
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More About the Author
Elizabeth Edmondson (who also writes as Elizabeth Aston) was born in Chile to an impeccably English father and a distinctly un-English Argentine mother. Educated by Benedictine nuns in Calcutta, Fabians in London, and Inklings at Oxford, she's lived in India, England, Malta and Italy.
Married, with a grown-up son and daughter, she's always been fascinated by the complexities of family life, especially the secrets, violence and intrigues that lie beneath the smooth façade of twentieth-century upper class English families, which are the subject of her novels.
Married, with a grown-up son and daughter, she's always been fascinated by the complexities of family life, especially the secrets, violence and intrigues that lie beneath the smooth façade of twentieth-century upper class English families, which are the subject of her novels.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Read,
By Little One "littlelinnie" (Australia) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Villa in Italy (Paperback)
This is a very very enjoyable book. The story line is mostexciting and all the Characters are very interesting. I did not want to put the book down and I was very sorry when I got to the last page. A great read for a wet weekend. Makes you feel good.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Worth buying!,
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Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Villa in Italy (Kindle Edition)
Nice holiday read, or for a quiet week-end at home. Lovely images of Italy, makes you want to move there NOW. Family drama and mystery. Great for a casual book club. My Mom, who is 95, also enjoyed it!
5.0 out of 5 stars
Loved It!,
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Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Villa in Italy (Paperback)
I absolutely loved this book. It was a page turner from beginning to end. I just finished it tonight and I can honestly say that I did not want it to end. It's a book that will make you think about your own life and what you can learn from what the characters experience.Absolutely worth buying, reading, and keeping on your shelf!
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