Love and War in the Apennines

Eric Newby Is one of my favorite travel writers. He worked his way into situations that were bizarre, funny, and sometimes dangerous. His wife, Wanda, was often at his side, the sardonic counterpoint to his irrepressible optimism. Love and War in the Apennines is a memoir of the beginning of their love story. During World War II Newby, an escaped British prisoner of war, was kept alive in the Italian mountains by a courageous group of partisan peasants that included the heroic Wanda. Despite ever-present danger, Newby fell in love with Italy and also with the Italians who risked their… show more.

I will keep my copy of this novel forever. It’s not only a wonderful story, but based on Eric’s real-life experience during the Second World War, when he was sheltered by a family of Italian farmers. It’s a fascinating and gripping account of the occupation in the Garfagnana—the mountains where my own novel is also set. Eric writes with passion, and his love for Italy and those who helped him is evident. It is a great insight into how people in this part of the world lived then, the incredibly simple and hard lives they lead, and the enormous risks… show more.