Angela Petch
As the title suggests, the reader delves into rural Tuscany as it is now and as it was back then at the beginning of last century. The reader has the privilege of meeting characters from the different generations and it is satisfying to fit the jigsaw together. Indeed, there is a cleverly crafted narrative, in which there are emotional parallels in the lives of the characters from the past and the present.
Giuseppe is a farrier and a cobbler. Born at the beginning of last century, his naivety leads him down some challenging paths, but this shapes the man, and ‘suffering begins the journey to wisdom.’
Giuseppe’s grandson, Francesco, and his English wife transform the ancient houses into holiday lets. Their son, Davide, encounters some of the emotional challenges of childhood that Giuseppe, his great-grandfather, had to face.
The tenderness between the couples from both generations explores love beautifully.