Florence has won my Heart: Literary visitors to the Tuscan capital, 1750-1950

FLORENCE HAS WON MY HEART is a delightful vademecum for anyone who wants to understand how and why the city has enchanted the world for centuries.
This book explores the history of Florence through the eyes of English and American writers who have been drawn to the city throughout history. It highlights the city's beauty, art, culture, and cruelty, and the impact these writers have had on its reputation. The book also includes a chapter on Sir Harold Acton, a prominent Englishman who lived in Florence for many years and became a living legend. Overall, the book provides a fascinating insight into the city's appeal and its enduring influence on literature and culture.

Format: Hardback
Publication date: 02 May 2024
Publisher: Mount Orleans Press

Florence, a city renowned for its art, culture, and cruelty, has long captivated writers, including Leonardo da Vinci and Machiavelli. This book explores the experiences of these visitors and their impact on the city's streets and monuments. Florence is incomparable, and its distinguished visitors have added layers of enjoyment to the modern traveler's experience. Jonathan Galassi, Chairman and Executive Editor at Farrar, Straus and Giroux, describes Florence as a delightful vademecum for anyone who wants to understand how and why the city has enchanted the world for centuries. The narrative ends with the death in 1994 of Sir Harold Acton, in his parents' magnificent Villa La Pietra where he had been born. Mark Roberts provides an excellent account of Acton, based on unparalleled knowledge of the Actons' archive and of the man himself. Roberts chose to remain in Florence, becoming the Librarian and a lecturer at the British Institute, where he is a living legend. In the 21st century, he epitomizes the great tradition he describes so well in this book. Edward Chaney, author of The Evolution of the Grand Tour, himself a Florentine who knows the city inside out, tells the stories of over a hundred English and American visitors to Florence. He explores their experiences, including their love affairs, their struggles with the city's culture, and their eventual departures. Florence's beauty and charm have inspired countless writers, and this book provides a fascinating insight into their lives and works.

Weight: 554g
Dimension: 167 x 241 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781912945436