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265th out of 477 books
—
84 voters
A House in Sicily
This is the captivating memoir of a resourceful woman who started life anew in the "most beautiful house in Sicily." For fifty years, at Casa Cuseni in the small Sicilian town of Taormina, Daphne Phelps has extended her English charm and warm hospitality to seasoned travelers and professional escapists as well as to writers and artists like Tennessee Williams, Bertrand Rus...more
Paperback, 288 pages
Published
September 7th 2000
by Da Capo Press
(first published 1999)
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(This review also appears on Amazon.co.uk)
had expected from the outset that this memoir would be a fascinating, informative read and very different from some of the other `place in the sun' type travelogues I am used to! Told by Daphne Phelps who inherits her late uncle's home in the Sicilian town of Taormina, it is initially set in the years post world war II. It chronicles her life from the arrival in the town and fifty plus decades of her inhabitation there and the changing face of the islan...more
had expected from the outset that this memoir would be a fascinating, informative read and very different from some of the other `place in the sun' type travelogues I am used to! Told by Daphne Phelps who inherits her late uncle's home in the Sicilian town of Taormina, it is initially set in the years post world war II. It chronicles her life from the arrival in the town and fifty plus decades of her inhabitation there and the changing face of the islan...more
I have to say that I picked up this book after visiting Taormina, Sicily.I loved the book-especially her insight on the people of Sicily. She could not have given a better discription of this fabulous Island and just how wonderful and kind the Sicilians truly are. I sent a copy of the book to my best girlfriend, who traveled with me on all my trips to Italy; and she loved the book, also. In 2005 we decided to take another trip to Sicily and see if we could actually find Casa Cusini in Taormina....more
The charm of this memoir is its delightful narrator and her storytelling ability. Daphne Phelps tells the story of how she happened to inherit a home on a hilltop in the Sicilian town of Taormina. With virtually no money to care for the house and property, she turns the place into a small hotel and invites her friends from England to come and stay for a small fee. These friends include artists and literary luminaries such as the cranky Roald Dahl. Rumor has it that Greta Garbo once stayed in the...more
"A House in Sicily" by Daphne Phelps was not exactly what I was expecting. It's the story of Casa Cuseni near Mt. Etna in Sicily which Daphne Phelps unexpectedly inherits when her uncle dies. She is 34 years old and speaks no Italian, yet she goes to Sicily to settle her uncle's estate and sell the house. Instead, she falls in love with the house, the town, and the people and ends up staying there. The book is written more like a series of short stories than a continuous story, so part of my not...more
A very nice memoir about a British woman who inherited a large villa called Casa Cuseni in Sicily from her uncle, and the 50+ years she spent living there and getting to know the Sicilian people. The book also tells of her adventures with some of the famous guests who came to stay, as Ms. Phelps had to rent out rooms at the house in order to afford the upkeep.
After looking the house up on the internet, I learned that Daphne died peacefully at the house in 2005. It seems as though her nephews an...more
After looking the house up on the internet, I learned that Daphne died peacefully at the house in 2005. It seems as though her nephews an...more
I found the book interesting - a story of a women's life living in a huge estate in sicily right after WWII. However I found her a bit aristocratic for my tastes - thought she always said how hard it was to get by trying to take care of the house yet she had 3 servants, a cook, driver and gardener - definitely a different time and social strata - I had a hard time identifying with her and her famous and privileged friends and visitors. I admired her spunk in dealing with a tough culture and soci...more
I thoroughly enjoyed this memoir. Daphne Phelps personality greets you with every sentence written. She was a gutsy, beautiful warm human being who seems to have learned how to love unconditionally.
The book is so fascinating it does inspire me to plan a trip to Sicily to see all this for myself.
I would love to read about Daphne from the locals perspective, especially her relationship with Don Ciccio. There was a lot more going on between those two than she is willing to share with the reader,...more
The book is so fascinating it does inspire me to plan a trip to Sicily to see all this for myself.
I would love to read about Daphne from the locals perspective, especially her relationship with Don Ciccio. There was a lot more going on between those two than she is willing to share with the reader,...more
Book candy to get suitably prepared for our trip. Phelps inherits historic house in Taormina and meets lots of famous people - whatever!Best parts were of the customs, thinking and Sicilians of the period - 1940s war years. Personal stories and dreamy Casa Cuseni - la dolce vita.
Off to meet the relatives so over and out for a couple of weeks. Trip reads: One Hundred Years of Solitude for a re-read and Fathers & Sons for a spin-the-globe Russian pick. Ciao amici.
Off to meet the relatives so over and out for a couple of weeks. Trip reads: One Hundred Years of Solitude for a re-read and Fathers & Sons for a spin-the-globe Russian pick. Ciao amici.
view all 4 comments
Daphne Phelps' uncle died unexpectedly
and left her a too-big, too-expensive
house in Sicily. Somehow, Phelps
managed to move there anyway and
survive anyway. Phelps spent
a lot of time in the company of
semi-celebrities of her day and
much of the book is spent detailing
little stories about these people.
My favorite stories were those
told about the little people
Phelps came to know in Sicily in
a chapter called Siciliana.
and left her a too-big, too-expensive
house in Sicily. Somehow, Phelps
managed to move there anyway and
survive anyway. Phelps spent
a lot of time in the company of
semi-celebrities of her day and
much of the book is spent detailing
little stories about these people.
My favorite stories were those
told about the little people
Phelps came to know in Sicily in
a chapter called Siciliana.
This is a delightful book, full of quirky, eccentric and lovable characters, both Sicilian locals and foreign visitors (American and British, mostly). The author mentions famous visitors (Bertrand Russell, Caitlin (Mrs. Dylan) Thomas, Tennessee Williams, etc) giving them no more space than their due as occasional visitors. Her writing is very unassuming.
I read this because my neighbor came from the small town in Sicily that is the setting. It is the interesting story of Daphne Phelps, literary English woman, who opens her home to travelers after world war II. She was acquainted with many of the literary figures of her day.
This is an enjoyable read in the "foreigner living in rustic paradise" genre. I didn't plan it but this is also about the post WWII period I seem to be obsessed with right now. The characters are quite picturesque and Dapne has a rather dry British point of observation.
This is a pretty good book. Daphne Phelps was a pretty amazing woman. The book is kind of a memoir, but in short story format, rather than chronological. For the most part it works, but at times it's hard to place where she is in adapting to Sicily and which people were around for which parts of her story.
Not really a travel story but for the person who wishes to go and wants to know.
Near Mt. Etna in Sicily sits the most beautiful house in Taormina. This book is a homage to the Casa Cuseni written by the Englishwoman who loved and cared for it.
Near Mt. Etna in Sicily sits the most beautiful house in Taormina. This book is a homage to the Casa Cuseni written by the Englishwoman who loved and cared for it.
Well written story of one woman's love affair with Sicily and a house. The woman was Daphne Phelps and the house was Casa Cuseni in Taormina. Phelps's account of her dealings with the head of the local Mafia is hilarious!
I picked up this book at the condo library. It was a sweet book of anecdotes of a move to a house in Sicily from the 40s to 60s. I had my right toes surgically repaired so I have more time for reading than usual.
May 04, 2011
Marco Filippo
marked it as to-read
I am eager to read this book, because I happened to know the lady who wrote the book and was a guest in the adjoining house in 1992!
very good, true story but told in a entertaining way.
Charming story, and a quick read. I read that the author died in 2005 at a ripe old age.
B Phelps
I read this book because I will be travelling in Sicily. Its not really a travel book though, just a lovely story about an English lady's life in Sicily and the many interesting and eccentric friends.
rate 3 minus
Daphne Phelps led a fascinating life and has written an interesting account in "A House in Sicily." It is not only her family's personal history, but an engrossing first-hand account of life in England and Europe during and after WWII. It made for a good summer read and I would recommend it for fans of slow-moving historical accounts, but not for those who will take offense at less than impeccable writing.
This is a book about Daphene Phelps's life in Sicily in the 50s and 60s. Ms. Phelps wrote the book when she was 89. She describes her life there and the people that visited her home. It is a gentle read
I love Daphne! This gave a wonderful view of the era, and reminds me somehow of the Julia Child's My Life in France.
An interesting book about life in Italy after WW2.
The chapter on Henry Faulkner was a standout.
May 16, 2013
E Occhipinti
marked it as to-read
May 07, 2013
Claire
marked it as to-read
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