“When people think of Emilio Pucci, it is of his bright, swirling colours and everyone from Sophia Loren to Jackie Kennedy donning the eye-catching dresses that personify La Dolce Vita. What few know is that before creating his world-famous fashions, Pucci  played a critical role in the war against the Nazis, risking his life to smuggle out of Italy one of the most important documents of World War II. This fascinating book explores Italy’s darkest and brightest days, with the extraordinary Emilio Pucci at its centre. At the end of the war  Florence lay in ruins. Pucci returned home from his terrifying war and went on to design some of the most exuberant fashion of all time – helping to usher in a new era of creativity in Italy, which again became a mecca of fashion, art, design, film, and more.

Simon Gammell will discuss their book and Emilio’s astonishing life with his niece Idanna Pucci and her partner Terence Ward”

Where: The British Institute of Florence, Lungarno Guicciardini 9, Firenze

When: Monday, 8th June – 18:30/6:30 pm

If you are in Florence and would like to attend the lecture in person at the British Institute Library, please send an email to bif@britishinstitute.it – or follow the link: https://www.britishinstitute.it/en/events/meet-the-author-terence-ward-and-idanna-pucci.1251

“Francesco I de’ Medici had only two passions in life: alchemy and Bianca Cappello. Which of the two was more precious to him is difficult to say, but what is certain is that both led to his death. The first son of Cosimo I de’ Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, Francesco inherited the title and the political entity, but he was unable to govern it effectively.  Francesco spent much of his time in his laboratories surrounded by scholars and  was blinded  by passion for a shrewd woman who he married against all advice. The empire Cosimo I had built for his family and his city risked ruin and Francesco’s younger brother, Ferdinando, was unwilling to stand by and watch.  Francesco and Bianca’s sudden death in 1587 is a mystery still today — not even modern science has been able to solve the enigma — with Ferdinando, successor to the title of Grand Duke, as the primary and only suspect.

Simon Gammell will explore this intriguing story with the authors of a non-ficton narrative version (Stefano Corazzini: A Medici in Love) and a novel (Gigi Berardi: Bianca’s Cure)  They will explore how the two different approaches contrast in deepening our understanding of the story and its historical context.”

Where: The British Institute of Florence, Lungarno Guicciardini 9, Firenze

When: Monday, 18th May – 18:30/6:30 pm

If you are in Florence and would like to attend the lecture in person at the British Institute Library, please send an email to bif@britishinstitute.it – or follow the link: https://www.britishinstitute.it/en/events/meet-the-author-nicholas-hopton.1211

“Career diplomat, committed italophile and brilliant writer Nicholas Hopton will discuss his new book with Simon Gammell.

Maremma Mia is a warm, witty chronicle of one family’s adventure transforming an old farmhouse and olive grove in a remote corner of the Maremma  into a home.   From the nearby medieval town of Suvereto to the wild hills, fertile valley and coastline steeped in Etruscan mystery, the book weaves together the region’s landscape, food, wines, flora, fauna and traditions with vivid portraits of its people. Along the way, it explores the Maremma’s extraordinary history — from imperial assassinations and Napoleonic upheaval to partisan defiance in World War II.”

Where: The British Institute of Florence, Lungarno Guicciardini 9, Firenze

When: Monday, 13th April – 18:30/6:30 pm

If you are in Florence and would like to attend the lecture in person at the British Institute Library, please send an email to bif@britishinstitute.it – or follow the link: https://www.britishinstitute.it/en/events/meet-the-author-nicholas-hopton.1211

“An uplifting, humorous memoir of a mother building a new life on a beautiful Sicilian island.

Reeling from a broken relationship, Ros Belford decides the best chance she has of healing, while giving her daughters a childhood to remember, is to move to Italy and live by the sea.

After a false start in a town where machismo is ingrained, they find the small, lush, delightful island of Salina. Izzy and Juno grow up playing on the beach, learning to swim over volcanic bubbles, hearing tales of Aeolian witches and watching Stromboli erupt on the horizon. It is not entirely paradise, however. The school is atrocious, there are power cuts and an earthquake, and property speculators threaten the island’s fragile beauty. But an eclectic community of islanders take them to their hearts, friendships are forged and Salina becomes home.

Full of humanity, vitality, honesty and optimism, Children of the Volcano is for anyone unwilling to give up dreams of adventure and excitement simply because of parenthood, lack of money and not getting things right the first time.

Ros Belford is also the author of numerous guidebooks and articles about Italy, Sicily and the Mediterranean. You can find her work in Rough Guides, Fodor’s, DK, Condé Nast Traveller, The Telegraph, The Independent and on Amazon.”

Where: The British Institute of Florence, Lungarno Guicciardini 9, Firenze

When: Monday, 26th January – 18:30/6:30 pm

If you are in Florence and would like to attend the lecture in person at the British Institute Library, please send an email to bif@britishinstitute.it – or follow the link: https://www.britishinstitute.it/en/events/meet-the-author-ros-belford.1182