A House in Sicily

Wonderful story that transports you to Sicily and a bygone era. A glorious perspective on how the post war world slowly infiltrated Sicily to modernise it and bring it more in line with the rest of Europe with most homes having telephones, women driving cars, and everyone having running water. It's a history lesson but delivered in stealth mode through the tales of the characters and events that were part of the writer's life. Glorious in every way!

Why oh why had this book not been made into a fantastic series...???Would be a huge success....

I was directed to this book by  Sicily: A Literary Guide for Travellers  and bought it for my wife and I to read prior to a trip to Sicily we took last week. The author tells the story of how she came to be left a beautiful house on a hillside overlooking the pretty town of Taormina on the east coast of Sicily. Originally intending to immediately sell it, she soon fell under its spell, became fascinated by post-war Sicilian society, and ended up running it as a guest house whose visitors included Tennessee Williams, Bertrand Russell, Roald Dahl and Henry Faulkner. The account of Russell's visit is one I remembered from reading  Ronald Clark's biography  long ago; it contains the memorable scene of the aged and distinguished philosopher sitting on a rock during a riotous midnight fishing expedition off the coast of Taormina and declaring "I'm as drunk as a Lord - but then, I *am* a Lord, so it doesn't matter". Phelps tells a good tale, and the insights into the behaviour of her famous guests are interspersed with more homely accounts of her interactions with members of the local community that highlight her kindness and generosity to the poor and disadvantaged.Phelps died in 2005, but her house is still open to visitors; we enjoyed the book so much that we sought it out when we were in Taormina, and found it just as delightful as her story about it. Recommended.

Just what I needed to escape the pouring rain and gloom. The book arrived promptly and in excellent condition. A gentle, humorous read and a comforting view of post war Sicily that contrasts greatly with some (possibly more realistic) accounts by writers such as Norman Lewis. Just right if you prefer your impoverished expats to be able to afford servants and frequent visits from the great and the good.

This is a lovely book which I also have as an audiobook (also very good).It is well written and tells of life in another time. Have since bought a few copies as gifts

Book was in very good condition as mentioned on advertisement.If it would have arrived anywhere near date shown i would have rated much higher. This is the 3rd book purchased from World of Books and delivery was always considerable late

i absolutely loved this book it was fascinating to read of the various people Daphne encountered during her time at the house, some quite sad, she was an amazing woman and did a lot to help the people who worked there. Also interesting were the quirky visitors to the house! If you like Italy you will like this book.

A charming and delightful book, didn't want it to end. Taken into Daphne Phelps world, who seems far ahead of her time. Much needed escapism in lockdown land.

I am reading this book because it is the monthly selection of my Italian conversation/reading group. We read books in English about Italy. This one is charming as it is a series of entertaining stories about an Englishwoman transplanted to a villa in Sicily by accident after WWII. I am only into it about 100 pages so far but it's hard to put down. Each story is brief but cleverly written. I would highly recommend it to travel junkies and Italophiles.

The author could have been a writer all her life, so eloquent is her prose. The book is part travelogue and part autobiography; it is always about the people of Sicily. Amazing how settling-in trials could be so interesting, and the characters - not just the famous ones - so rich. Ms. Phelps is wildly observant, empathetic, and wonderfully enthusiastic. I wish she were still alive so I could tell her how much I enjoyed this book.

I love this book! It is a great true story!

fun and interesting, very enjoyable