Vanilla Beans And Brodo: Real Life In The Hills Of Tuscany

Description:
Foreign writers living in Italy frequently treat the local people as an exotic species to provide amusing stories for their readers. Sipping cappuccino and supping pasta, rarely do they perceive what is going on around them, nor understand the complexity of life for today's Italians. Isabella Dusi came from Australia to settle in Montalcino, a Tuscan mountain eyrie famous for its wine. Her acceptance into this close-knit community was a hard-won thing. This text is her account of life there, offering a rare insight into the anxiety, joy, fun and pressure of inhabiting this medieval village. It also tells of the village's bloody history which has left its mark on the character traits of the Montalcinese. In this evocative story of the rivalry between village neighbourhoods, of football fever and festival pageantry, Isabella Dusi destroys the myth that Tuscan villages are tranquil places and instead reveals a life infinitely rich and full of dramas. This moving and often humorous journey changes the cliched image of Tuscany and brings real understanding of the fierce passion of today's Tuscans for their ancient village, their fertile land and their life in Montalcino.

Author Biography:
After many years working in Australia in interior design, Isabella Dusi decided to move to Italy with her husband Luigi. They now run a travel business based in Montalcino. This is her first book.