It has been twenty years since Frances Mayes’ memoir Under the Tuscan Sun was first released, and Broadway Books is releasing a commemorative edition of the title, which includes a new afterword written by Mayes.

The book is an American’s view of Tuscany, so it is obviously going to be from a different perspective than that of an Italian or someone with Italian roots. The strength of the book is Mayes’ beautiful description, which has an elegant, peaceful flow. The downside is that much of Mayes’ description focuses on material items and home repair. Two minor, but interesting aspects of the book were that Mayes mentions many place and city names in the Tuscan region, helping to acquaint the reader with the area, and that Mayes also includes a collection of intriguing Italian recipes.

You can find Under the Tuscan Sun here.