Thirty years ago, Englishwoman Caroline Seller met a handsome Sicilian named Marcello Manzo during a chance encounter at a costume party. Although she spoke little Italian and he practically no English, both were undeniably smitten. After only a few more meetings, Seller was invited to stay with Manzo's family in the beautiful town of Mazaro del Vallo, Sicily. Here, she was introduced to the loveably eccentric Manzo clan - including Marcello's larger-than-life mother Maria, brothers Silvio and Pilli, and a score of other relatives - who had lost everything they had except their magnificent but crumbling villa, Santa Maria.Over time, Seller and Manzo married, settled in Milan, and started their own family, but Santa Maria was never far from their thoughts. After much debate, Marcello and his brothers united to renovate the deteriorating villa. Determined in their mission but not entirely prepared for what they were getting into, the Manzos started a long restoration process full of devastating setbacks, hilarious mishaps, and ultimately breathtaking results which brought them closer together than ever before.

2008-06-14 For the love of Sicily!

This book is significantly more than a labour of love, although that it undoubtedly is. With fine literary style, supported by deep reservoirs of classical knowledge, Seller Manzo also provides us with a fine sweep of Sicilian culture, history and traditions. Never desceding into bathos, Seller Manzo avoids cultural stereotyping and instead paints a rich and vivid portrait of all-things-Sicilian. A rigorous yet sensitive handling of this dramatic island, the book is a highly informative (as well as entertaining) read.