A Castle in Tuscany: The Fascinating Life of Janet Ross – by Sarah Benjamin

Lovers of classic food books might recognise her name no lesser figure than Elizabeth David cited her as a source but until now few have known much about the woman herself. Born in 1842 to a gifted and unconventional British upper class family, Janet was a child muse to writers and artists. As a young bride in Egypt she defied expectations and took to local life with gusto. The financial ruin of her husband Henry led the couple to Italy and there they fell in love with the land, its people, food, art and culture. Their home became a draw card for the interesting and talented, including Mark Twain and Bernard Berenson. In Italy Janet discovered her gifts for agriculture, food and writing.