The Tuscan Contessa

A heartbreaking new novel set in wartime Tuscany

By: Dinah Jefferies

Narrated by: Imogen Church

Brought to you by Penguin.

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?

'Dinah Jefferies has a remarkable gift for conjuring up another time and place with lush descriptions, full of power and intensity' Kate Furnivall

'A stunning story of love and loyalty in wartime' Rachel Hore

'Beautiful writing, wonderful characters, gripping story, and such a gorgeously evoked Tuscan setting - how I loved this! Such a perfect, immersive summer read!' Jenny Ashcroft

'A lush, fast-moving, gripping story that will keep you guessing till the last pages. A perfect summer read' Gill Paul

'It's so rich & the historical details so transporting. Reading this novel is like being swept into a wonderful movie' Eve Chase

© Dinah Jefferies 2020 (P) Penguin Audio 2020

Critic reviews

My ideal read - I couldn't put it down (Santa Montefiore on 'The Tea Planter's Wife')

A sweeping tale, beautifully written in a wonderful setting, heart rending yet ultimately up lifting. Gorgeous. (Katie Fforde on 'The Sapphire Widow')

The sights, smells and atmosphere of Ceylon are beautifully depicted. This is Dinah Jefferies at her best. (Lucinda Riley on 'The Sapphire Widow')

beautiful story

there were a lot of characters introduced at the start which was a little confusing to make sense of but not bad once the story got going. the ending is top notch and worth the read for that alone!!

Intollerable reader

I wanted to like this but the overdramatization ever every single wird made it unbearable to continue
I even tried to speed up the narration to 1.5 which helped a liile but not enough Of the more than 600 books in my librarr this is one of a hadful I had to give up on and throw back as unbearable to listen to I ca’t really rate the story b/c I couldn’t endure the reader long enough to to find out how it unfolded

narration

could not listen to the reader, Extremely irritating. I will never again pre-order without hearing the narration excerpt