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Sarah Winman, the internationally acclaimed author of "Still Life", hails "Florence: Ordeal by Water" as an indispensable resource, praising its compelling, first-hand account of the catastrophic 1966 Florence flood. To complement this remarkable work, we've enlisted writer and art historian Vanessa Nicolson to craft a new introduction. Nicolson, who divides her time between Florence and Kent, is the author of the captivating novel "Angels of Mud", set against the backdrop of 1940s London and 1960s Florence, exploring the flood's aftermath.
Kathrine Kressmann Taylor, a retired American residing in Florence in 1966, bore witness to the flood and its harrowing consequences, including days of isolation without essential utilities. On that fateful morning of 4th November 1966, Taylor watched in disbelief from her pensione window as the River Arno, a murky torrent laden with debris, vehicles, and uprooted trees, spilled into the streets. Her poignant diary meticulously chronicles the flood and its aftermath, depicting Florence's citizens' valiant struggle against the suffocating mud that engulfed their homes, possessions, and priceless artworks.
Whilst Taylor is perhaps best known for her 1938 novella "Address Unknown"—an international bestseller that presciently foretold the horrors of Nazism—her trademark concise yet vivid prose shines through in this Florence diary. This intensely personal narrative paints a visceral picture: the thick, chrome-yellow-streaked floodwaters; elderly scholars salvaging artworks; an oil-coated swan fighting for survival; a woman singing as she tackles the devastation; mud heaps glittering with fragments of Christmas ornaments; and citizens sifting through rubble for generational heirlooms.
As one critic aptly noted, "Whilst many accounts of Florence's November 1966 ordeal will emerge, Ms Kressmann Taylor's will undoubtedly stand out as the most vivid and moving."
Book ISBN: | 9781919642185 |
Book Author: | Kathrine Kressmann Taylor |
Book Format: | Hardback |
Book Imprint: | Manderley Press Ltd |
Book Publisher: | Manderley Press Ltd |
Book Dimensions: | 134 x 206 x 21 cm |
Book Publication Date: | 2024-11-04 |
Book Weight: | 318g |
Sherlock & Pages is a little bookshop with a big heart. We are based in Frome, Somerset, England and curate lists of books in the areas we are passionate about – landscape, nature, history, and heritage. In short, the conservation of all we’ve inherited and all we are responsible to pass on. We aim to inspire and be inspired, to form a literary culture of care and passion about this precious planet we call home.
This is a shop where you might find something you haven’t seen before, and we like to think we’ve got something for everyone. We choose each of our books with care and for a reason. This is because our physical store is small but beautifully formed, holding only around 1200 titles at any one time. We try and recreate the feel of the shop wherever we are online, to reflect our niche categories and personality.
We have an active social media presence and aim to share our story with all our friends. The long-term goal is to build a hub for the books and writers we believe in. Who knows where our adventure will lead but by supporting Sherlock & Pages you’re helping us to add a further layer of magic to our little corner of the world. If you haven’t visited our physical store, one day you might just make a literary pilgrimage down to Somerset.
Our tagline is ‘Long Live the Hedgerows’ and our symbol a hibernating dormouse. If you want to support an independent with a unique character and which will share stories with you for years to come, then choose Sherlock & Pages. The world needs bookshops with soul, for they are ‘citadels of light.’
Sherlock & Pages is a little bookshop with a big heart. We are based in Frome, Somerset, England and curate lists of books in the areas we are passionate about – landscape, nature, history, and heritage. In short, the conservation of all we’ve inherited and all we are responsible to pass on. We aim to inspire and be inspired, to form a literary culture of care and passion about this precious planet we call home.
This is a shop where you might find something you haven’t seen before, and we like to think we’ve got something for everyone. We choose each of our books with care and for a reason. This is because our physical store is small but beautifully formed, holding only around 1200 titles at any one time. We try and recreate the feel of the shop wherever we are online, to reflect our niche categories and personality.
We have an active social media presence and aim to share our story with all our friends. The long-term goal is to build a hub for the books and writers we believe in. Who knows where our adventure will lead but by supporting Sherlock & Pages you’re helping us to add a further layer of magic to our little corner of the world. If you haven’t visited our physical store, one day you might just make a literary pilgrimage down to Somerset.
Our tagline is ‘Long Live the Hedgerows’ and our symbol a hibernating dormouse. If you want to support an independent with a unique character and which will share stories with you for years to come, then choose Sherlock & Pages. The world needs bookshops with soul, for they are ‘citadels of light.’