Synopsis
One war. Two women. Will they be able to save the ones they love?
A sweeping new novel from the number one Sunday Times bestselling author of The Tea Planter's Wife.
In 1943, Contessa Sofia de' Corsi's peaceful Tuscan villa among the olive groves is upturned by the sudden arrival of German soldiers. Desperate to fight back, she agrees to shelter a wounded British radio engineer in her home, keeping him hidden from her husband Lorenzo - knowing that she is putting all of their lives at risk.
When Maxine, an Italian-American working for the resistance, arrives on Sofia's doorstep, the pair forge an uneasy alliance. Feisty, independent Maxine promised herself never to fall in love. But when she meets a handsome partisan named Marco, she realizes it's a promise she can't keep...
Before long, the two women find themselves entangled in a dangerous game with the Nazis. Will they be discovered? And will they both be able to save the ones they love?
Publisher information
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
- ISBN: 9780241987315
- Number of pages: 368
- Dimensions: 198 x 129 x 22 mm
- Weight: 255g
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
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A powerful story filled with daring and intrigue!
Dinah Jefferies delivers an enthralling tale that is filled with a breathtaking narrative. This is a brilliant historical mystery. The story hinges on the ... READ MORE
Just Brilliant!
The Tuscan Contessa is a brilliantly told story with a strong sense of place and time. Having previously read another of Dinah Jefferies' novels, The Missi... READ MORE
A story set in Tuscany during the latter years of WW2.
I am a great admirer of Dinah Jefferies books, this is the third one that I have read, and it does not disappoint.
Ms Jefferies can combine a brilliant s... READ MORE
Courage, danger and friendship in WW2
An aspect of WW2 history that I've not read about before this novel captures the menace of an occupying power and the camaraderie of the villagers. The sto... READ MORE
marvelously historic
Set in the 1940's during WWII Maxine has been recruited and trained in London to be a spy and work with the resistance to get inside knowledge about the ge... READ MORE
A story well worth reading
This was a very sad story and very real. The atrocities of the Nazis are all recorded in history. It was a great touch basing the story around ordinary peo... READ MORE
Good book
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley to review. Thank you for the opportunity.
I really enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and full of action a... READ MORE
A Very Good Read!
I had read books by Dinah Jefferies before, but here the subject matter was very different. It is set in Italy during the second world war and, apart from... READ MORE
A brilliant, heartwarming read.
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for asking me to read and review.
This story was a wonderful read.
It is well written with some great ... READ MORE
Exciting story during ww2
An amazingly researched book with incredible detail of the terrible ordeal which the Italian people went through during the occupation by the Nazis.
Sof... READ MORE
Wartime drama in the Tuscan hills.
Contessa Sofia lives in a small Tuscan village with husband Lorenzo. After Italy signs the armistice with the Allies in 1943, the partisan attacks on the G... READ MORE
Novel set in WW2 TUSCANY
We are very fond of Dinah’s books because she always makes setting a big part of the story. In her earlier novels she has explored the Far East and Sri Lan... READ MORE
I stayed up late to finish this book - which is always a sign of a good read!
A heart-wrenching look into the lives of the Italian people towards the end of the war. To be honest, I knew nothing much about what had gone on in Italy d... READ MORE
Highly recommended
I love this author's books. It is set in Ww2 in Italy in the war. The main characters are Sofia and Maxine who both help the resistance. It is a sad book i... READ MORE
A historical treat
COPY FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY AND VOLUNTARILY REVIEWED
I’ve read all of the author’s books now, well most of them anyway. I continue to enjoy them... READ MORE
Colour in a war-torn Italy
Dinah Jefferies brings colour to a period of Italy’s wartime history erstwhile only observed in B&W by the newsreels courtesy of British Pathé and others. ... READ MORE
Intriguing Read
My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Penguin Books (UK) for the ARC.
I really enjoyed this book. Set in Italy during WW11, the Germans occupy the cities b... READ MORE
Historical Fiction WW II Tuscany
In 1940s Tuscany, Contessa Sofia de' Corsi's lives in a beautiful medieval villa with her husband Lorenzo near the village of Castello and she’s dreading t... READ MORE
Perfect
I went to Tuscany on holiday last year and stayed and toured around this beautiful part of the world. I was able to see where everything was set in all it... READ MORE
Engrossing read
As always, Dinah Jefferies does not disappoint. This is a really engrossing novel peopled with empathetic characters and set in World War II, in a period... READ MORE
A beautiful story
At the heart of this book are the fates of Sofia, the contessa and Maxine the Italian American who has come to Italy to help the partisans. We see these w... READ MORE
Best Dinah Jefferies book yet!
For me, this is the best Dinah Jefferies book I've read and so far I've read 4 (still 3 to read). As a reader there are lots of emotions to go through as d... READ MORE
Wartime friendships (
I got The Tuscan Contessa by Dinah Jefferies from NetGally for fair and honest review.
The Tuscan Contessa, is set in Italy during World War II, from 1943... READ MORE
Italian partisans resist their conquerors in war-torn Italy
Dinah Jefferies' novels always have a strong sense of place and time, whether it's 1930s Burma or 1940s Italy. Sofia and her husband Lorenzo live in an anc... READ MORE
Tuscan Contessa
Powerful, moving, sad. Some of the words and feelings to describe this wartime story set in occupied Italy.
The story gives us a good idea of how dangerou... READ MORE
Good Book
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley to review. Thank you for the opportunity.
I really enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and full of action a... READ MORE
Italian partisans resist their conquerors in war-torn Italy
Dinah Jefferies' novels always have a strong sense of place and time, whether it's 1930s Burma or 1940s Italy. Sofia and her husband Lorenzo live in an anc... READ MORE
Great Read
My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Penguin Books (UK) for the ARC.
I really enjoyed this book. Set in Italy during WW11, the Germans occupy the cities b... READ MORE
A really great read
Strong women, spies, sunshine and brilliant writing need I say more.
Another great book by Ms Jeffries if you enjoy books set in world war 2 with a good st... READ MORE
I Loved It!!!
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found the... READ MORE
Another wonderful story by Dinah Jefferies
The Tuscan Contessa is set in Tuscany, Italy during World War II, from 1943 to 1945 and tells the story of the brave men and women who fought against fasc... READ MORE
Pretty stunning.
If a picture paints a thousand words, then the words in "The Tuscan Contessa" manages to paint a million pictures. This book is so full of vivid descriptio... READ MORE
An amazing Read
The Tuscan Contessa is a wonderful read,I love all of Dinah Jeffries books she always writes with such knowledge and descriptions that make we the reader f... READ MORE