About AN ITALIAN AFFAIR When Laura Fraser's husband leaves her for his high school sweetheart, she takes off, on impulse, for the Italian island of Ischia, to nurse her shattered ego. There she meets M., an aesthetics professor from Paris with an oversized love of life. What they both assume will be a casual vacation tryst turns into a passionate, transatlantic love affair, as they rendezvous in Marrakech, Lago Maggiore, Stromboli, London, and San Francisco--each encounter a delirious immersion into place (sumptuous food and wine, dazzling scenery, lush gardens, and vibrant streetscapes) and into each other. And each experience also becomes for Laura another step toward a fully recovered sense of her emotional and sexual self. Both travelogue and memoir, An Italian Affair is wonderfully made of rich, sensual detail, with the irresistible honesty of a story told from and about the heart. "Luscious. . .Fraser is such a charmer, so smart, honest, observant, incisive and funny, that within a few pages the reader is entirely hers." --Washington Post "Sweet, smart. We are smitten from the start. . .How Fraser makes such familiar material fresh and alluring is the heart and soul of this likeable, assured memoir." -- O Magazine "[This] sexy memoir gives new meaning to the word wanderlust." -- Glamour "Fraser's narrative is both a grand travelouge and a thoughtful look at reclaiming independence."--Conde Nast Traveller

Tips to fit in with the locals in Italy: Never order a cappuccino or latte after breakfast in Italy. Only children drink milk after breakfast. Always greet people in shops when you arrive and thank them when you leave. Never touch the merchandise yourself, and only try things on if you're serious about buying. Never put parmesan or another cheese on a dish that contains fish. Don't wear running shoes unless you're actually running. Don't wear shorts unless you're at the beach. Don't worry about being a little late. Never start the risotto before the guests arrive. Don't snack between meals, and don't have a big breakfast. Drink coffee (espresso) standing at the bar in quick sips. Repeat several times a day. Don't complain about secondhand smoke. Don't be in a hurry to do anything. Never eat chocolate in the summer, unless it's gelato. Always wear sexy clothes if you're going to ride on a motorcycle. Always wear makeup, high heels, and red lipstick at the bank if you don't want to wait in line. Remember that flirting is a national pasttime, and don't take it too seriously. It's fatal to drive too slowly on the autostrada. Never order pasta and risotto at the same meal. Never drink as much grappa as you think you can and still feel fine the next day. You won't. Don't expect ham and eggs for breakfast. Never take more on a train than you can run with. Don't believe that a rapido is a quick train, and avoid locale like the plague. Don't think that just because people are yelling that they're having an argument. Just because a man is wearing a wedding ring, don't assume he's unavailable. Always tell locals that where they live is the most beautiful place you've ever been. Don't expect shops to be open at lunchtime. Always be willing to invite another person or three to dinner at the last minute. Don't expect Italians will ever write to you. Don't expect Italians to tell you they're arriving until they call you from the airport. Always eat your pasta al dente.     About AN ITALIAN AFFAIR An Interview with Laura Fraser An excerpt: Chapter 3 of AN ITALIAN AFFAIR "Sant' Angelo" Photographs from the time and locations portrayed in the book ESSAYS BY LAURA FRASER On Writing A Book About One's Own Personal Life Why I Stopped Being a Vegetarian Why It's Rude to Diet in Public The Question of Marriage Tips to Fit in With the Locals Travel Packing Tips RECIPES Southern Italian Pasta Sauce Other Recipes ITALIAN PHRASES Handy Italian Phrases for Lovers

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY Laura Fraser has written for Salon.com, Vogue, Glamour, Mother Jones, Self, The San Francisco Examiner, Gourmet, and Health, among other publications. She has taught magazine writing at the Graduate School of Journalism at the University of California at Berkeley. She lives in San Francisco. An excerpt: Chapter 3 of AN ITALIAN AFFAIR "Sant' Angelo" Photographs from the time and locations portrayed in the book ESSAYS BY LAURA FRASER On Writing A Book About One's Own Personal Life Why I Stopped Being a Vegetarian Why It's Rude to Diet in Public The Question of Marriage Tips to Fit in With the Locals Travel Packing Tips RECIPES Southern Italian Pasta Sauce Other Recipes ITALIAN PHRASES Handy Italian Phrases for Lovers

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Memoir/Travel | Vintage Books | Trade Paperback | May 2002 | $12.00 | 0-375-72485-0