Under the Tuscan Sun

By: Frances Mayes

Narrated by: Frances Mayes

#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.©1998 Frances Mayes; (P)1998 Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing, Bantam Doubleday Dell, A Division of Random House Inc.

Critic reviews

A New York Times Notable Book

"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

"Irresistible...a sensous book for a sensous countryside."
—Minneapolis Star-Tribune

“An intense celebration of what [Mayes] calls ‘the voluptuousness of Italian life’ . . . appealing and very vivid . . . [The] book seems like the kind of thing you’d tuck into a picnic basket on an August day . . . or better yet, keep handy on the bedside table in the depths of January.”
—New York Times Book Review

"Armchair travel at its most enticing."
—Booklist

“Mayes [has] perfect vision. . . . I do not doubt that centuries form now, whoever lives in Bramasole will one day uncover bits of pottery used at Mayes’ table. She has, by the sweat of her brow and the strength of her vision, become a layer in the history of this place.”
—Los Angeles Times

"After buying a rundown villa in rural Tuscany, the American author Frances Mayes moves to Cortona to renovate the property and learn more about the Italian dolce vita. Her bestselling memoir on her time there paints a vivid description of the town, the people and the lush surrounding countryside of rolling hills and vineyards. A poet and a gourmet cook, Mayes includes a number of chapters on food, replete with classic Italian recipes to further whet the appetite."
—Irish Times

Her Voice

Would you try another book from Frances Mayes and/or Frances Mayes?

I would as the story itself is lovely.

Any additional comments?

The narrators voice is like nails down a chalk board. I love this book but I simple cannot listen to her.

Pretty Good. Worth it

When I first started listening to this book I almost stopped and didn’t finish it. Honestly the author and narrator’s voice was too much for me. Almost a higher mono tone with no emotion. I thought there is no way I’m going to be able to enjoy the book. Also the beginning just starts. I felt like I missed a chapter or an introduction or something. I even restarted it because of the abruptness if it. But I didn’t
I figured I’d just tough it out and by a few chapters in I got “used to” her voice enough to enjoy the story and catch on for how it started.
Overall the story is really good. There are some parts that I noticed I “spaced out” during as I feel it’s rambling on but it’s definitely 4 star quality.
After finishing the book I watched the movie. There are some similarities but the differences are way more obvious. You could almost mistake them as being not the same. I Rarely ever say this but I liked the movie better than the book. Usually the book out weighs the movie. Not in this case for me.
Still it’s worth the listen.

Living in Italy, not the movie

I had read other reviews so knew this would be Frances Mayes personal experiences of buying a home with her husband in Tuscany. As a lover of Italy, foodie, real estate agent with a contractor husband and having lived outside US I found the book easily listenable and relatable. I loved it but may not be for everyone.

High hopes led to high disappointment

Although the first half of the story, the discovery of the house, the remodeling and the hurdles to the finish line was enjoyable, it was a struggle to finish. The narrator read like she was reading bullet points on a monitor rather than having a flow of reading a story. The second half of the story became like reading the highlights of a travel guide. I was looking forward to hearing the story that inspired one of my favorite movies, but I'm left with feelings of disappointment.

Sadly disappointed

This is a horrible thing to say...

I watched the movie and had an image of Frances Mayes in my head. I loved the movie, I fantasized that it could be my life, I had a romanticized view of her. Then I started to listen to the book and her voice totally ruined it. I imagined a soft, non-accented voice and the voice talking to me was completely not that voice.

Like I said, it's a horrible thing to say, but I decided to buy the paper version of the book and just read it instead