Description

The diary of a bookseller who left Florence to open a tiny bookshop on a Tuscan hill – and in doing so, inspired a nation.
‘Like Chocolat meets Penelop Fitzgerald’s The Bookshop, set in the Tuscan hills . . . Delightful’ Mail on Sunday
‘Pure bliss’ The Times
‘A work of significant beauty . . . Inspiring’ Michael Cunningham, author of The Hours

Alba used to live a hectic life, working as a book publicist in Florence – a life that made her happy. And yet, she always felt like she was a woman on the run. And so one day she decides to stop running and go back to Lucignana, the small village on the Tuscan hills where she was born, to open a tiny bookshop.With a total of only 180 residents, Alba’s enterprise in Lucignana seems doomed from day one but it surprisingly sparks the enthusiasm of many across Tuscany – and beyond. After surviving a fire and the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, the ‘Bookshop on the Hill’ soon becomes a refuge and beacon for an ever-growing community of people: readers who come to visit from afar, safe in the knowledge that Alba will be able to find the perfect book for them.

A tale of resilience and entrepreneurship and a celebration of booksellers everywhere.

Readers love this memoir:
‘All the characters of all ages leap off the page and make you want to recreate this wherever you are’ ‘I could not put it down . . . I felt like I was part of the small community’

‘This book is full of charm’

‘The story is intimate, enjoyable, touching and a real celebration of the community’

Publisher Review

An eccentric and charming little book... It's like Chocolat meets Penelope Fitzgerald's The Bookshop, set in the Tuscan hills, with gardening tips, interior design ideas and gossip woven in... A celebration of writing, words and people.... In luscious language, the book rejoices in all the things that bring people together... Delightful. * Mail on Sunday * Who doesn't want to open up a bookshop in a gorgeous part of Italy? Just add a cosy armchair and a lazy, cold winter's day (each chapter comes with a useful list of books sold). * Stylist, Christmas gift guide for book lovers * Alba Donati's Diary of a Tuscan Bookshop is not only a work of significant beauty, it's inspiring. It's inspiring about the continuing life of books, and about the ways in which our lives can change and our dreams can come true, if only we insist on believing in changes and dreams. * Michael Cunningham, author of THE HOURS *