Diary Of A Tuscan Bookshop

How one woman's dream inspired a whole country...

The diary of a publicist-turned poet-turned bookseller who decided to open a tiny bookshop on the hills of the small village of Lucignana, Tuscany.

A personal memoir and an uplifting tale of resilience.

Michael Cunningham, author of The Hours

'Romano, I want to open a bookshop where I live.'
'Great. How many people are we talking about?'
'180.'
'Right, so if 180,000 people live there, then...'
'No, not 180,000, Romano. 180.'
'Alba... Have you lost your mind?'

Conversation between Alba Donati and Romano Montroni, former CEO of Italy's largest bookselling chain

Alba used to live a hectic life, working as a book publicist in Florence - a life that made her happy but also left her feeling like a woman constantly on the run.

So one day she decides go back to the small village in the Tuscan hills where she was born and open a tiny bookshop.

Alba's enterprise seems doomed from day one, but it surprisingly sparks the enthusiasm of many across Tuscany - and beyond. And 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 readers.

Inspiring and deeply moving, this is both an ode to the power reading and a celebration of booksellers everywhere - the true heroes of the literary world.

About the Author

Alba Donati worked for years in publishing before moving back to her home village of Lucignana, near Lucca in Tuscany, and opening the 'Bookshop on the Hill', which has since become a refuge for countless readers from all over Italy. In 2020 the shop was included on a list of the 20 most beautiful bookshops in Europe. An award-winning poet, this is Alba's first work of non-fiction.

Dimensions (cm): 3.5 x 13.6  x 21.5