The romance of Italy has for centuries inspired all who have been drawn to her shores. Lord Byron loved here and continues to lure others in his wake; Keats, knowing his days were numbered, came to Rome to die by the Spanish Steps; Stendhal concluded that that the charm of Italy “is akin to that of being in love;” and Browning said, “Open up my heart and you will see graved inside of it, 'Italy.'”
Lisa St. Aubin de Teran's love affair with Italy began where she was only eight years old and first read Lord Byron's letters. In this outstanding anthology, she conveys the essence of her adopted country by dividing it into the four classic elements of earth, fire-, air and water. St Aubin de Teran deftly presents the writings of a stunning variety of writers, a heavenly chorus of Italy's most ardent admirers.

Lisa St Aubin de Teran's first novel, Keepers of the House, won the Somerset Maugham Award and was followed by The Slow Train to Milan, which won the John Llewelyn Rhys Prize. She has written six other novels, poetry, short stories and three memoirs including the bestselling The Hacienda.