Librarian Antonia Gray has fled England for northern Tuscany after an unhappy love affair to work on the archive of a 17th century Italian explorer, a member of a centuries-old aristocratic family. There she meets his descendent, Lorenzo Quattromani, rich, arrogant, handsome—and engaged to the beautiful and ruthless Giselle. The last thing Antonia wants is to fall in love, least of all with someone so dangerous. His engagement, though, is not what it seems, and Lorenzo breaks down Antonia’s resistance. But Giselle has other ideas.

Searching for the elusive criminals who left her famous father comatose after a bomb blast, cultural arts historian and quasi-archeologist, Amanda Oliver stumbles into a world of thugs, tomb robbers, obsessed archeologists and greedy collectors seeking a priceless Etruscan sarcophagus. Putty Face's footsteps crunched on the gravel behind me. His erratic breathing, panting like a thirsty animal, paralyzed me. I opened my mouth to protest but no sound came. In a split second, the pressure of his hands on my back told his intentions. He shoved hard. I pitched forward and the ground under my feet disappeared. My arms flailed clumsily when I grabbed out for something to stop my fall but met only air. His fierce thrust sped my descent and I tumbled uncontrollably, bouncing off bare rock outcroppings, each slam increasing my dizziness, bruising and weakening me. Mercifully, I blacked out.

Discover the wonders of this captivating region with Cadogan's classic guidebook: the medieval glories of Lucca and San Gimignano, the Renaissance charms and murky Medici decadence of Florence, the wine routes of Chianti, Siena's frenzied Palio horse race, the hill towns, Pisa's Leaning Tower-all set against Tuscany's golden landscapes, coastline and islands.

Finnish-Swedish art historian Osvald Sirén (1879–1966) was one of the pioneers of Chinese art scholarship in the West. This biography focuses on his four major voyages to East Asia: 1918, 1921–23, 1929–30 and 1935. This was a pivotal period in Chinese archaeology, art studies and formation of Western collections of Chinese art. Sirén gained international renown as a scholar of Italian art, particularly with his books on Leonardo da Vinci and Giotto. But when he was almost 40 years old, he was captivated by Chinese art (paintings of Lohans in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston) to such an extent that he decided to start his career anew, in a way. He has left his mark in several fi elds in Chinese art studies: architecture, sculpture, painting and garden art. The study charts Sirén’s itineraries during his travels in Japan, Korea and China; it introduces the various people in those countries as well as in Europe and North America who defined the field in its early stages and were influential as collectors and dealers. It also explores the impact of theosophical ideas in his work.

Written by locals, Fodor's travel guides have been offering expert advice for all tastes and budgets for more than 80 years. Fodor's correspondents highlight the best of Florence and Tuscany, including renowned Renaissance art, stunning churches, superb wineries, and charming hill towns. Our local experts vet every recommendation to ensure you make the most of your time, whether it's your first trip or your fifth. This travel guide includes: · Dozens of full-color maps plus a handy pullout map with essential information · Hundreds of hotel and restaurant recommendations, with Fodor's Choice designating our top picks · A great itinerary to explore the top attractions and what’s off the beaten path · Major sights such as the Galleria degli Uffizi, the Leaning Tower and San Gimignano · Side Trips from Florence · Coverage of Florence, Pisa, Lucca and Northwest Tuscany, Chianti, Siena and Central Tuscany, Arezzo, Cortona and Eastern Tuscany, Southern Tuscany, Umbria and the Marches Planning to visit more of Italy? Check out Fodor's country-wide travel guide to Italy.