Living in Italy, there’s always a fair chance that someone will spot a book like Annie Hawes’ ‘Extra Virgin’ (Amongst the olive groves of Liguria)’ and decide it would make an ideal present.
My mother brought it with her on her last visit, telling me how much she enjoyed it and how she recognised a lot of observations about the Italian way of life. Alarm bells sounded when she told me this given that her general philosophy is that the English do everything best (don’t get her started on Americans!)
