Best Books by Setting
Books set in and around Rome
Discover the best books set in Rome - From the grandeur of the Roman Empire to the streets, piazzas and bars of the modern city, Rome has inspired writers for centuries. Few places combine history, power, religion and everyday life as vividly as the Italian capital....
Best Books set in Northern Italy
Discover the Best Books Set in Northern Italy - Northern Italy has inspired writers for centuries. From the canals of Venice and the Renaissance palaces of Florence to the Alpine valleys of the Aosta Valley and the historic cities of Turin and Milan, the region has...
Best Books set in Sicily and Sardinia
Which are the best books set in Sicily and Sardinia? If you are looking for novels that capture the culture, history and atmosphere of these two Italian islands, the list below offers a carefully curated selection. It brings together award-winning classics and modern...
Recently added books
Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart
Shuggie Bain grows up as the youngest child in a working-class family in 1980s Glasgow. Shuggie idolises his mother, Agnes, a strikingly beautiful woman who dreams of a glamorous life but finds herself trapped in the harsh realities of poverty, unemployment, and a growing alcohol addiction. His father, a serial adulterer and wife-beater, is largely absent. A sensitive and slightly effeminate boy, Shuggie is bullied at school and prefers to stay at home and care for his mother.
The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden
Isabel lives alone in her family’s country home in the small Dutch town of Zwolle in 1961. Her life, structured by routine within the comforting cocoon of the house, is disrupted when her brother invites his new girlfriend Eva to stay for the summer when he is away on business. Initially, this intrusion into Isabel’s personal space feels utterly unwelcome, and the two women struggle to get along. However, over time, they grow much closer…
The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak
Kostas and Defne are two young lovers in Cyprus in 1974. Kostas is Greek and Christian, while Defne is Turkish and Muslim. Their love is a forbidden one, so they meet secretly under a fig tree in a tavern in Nicosia. When war breaks out, they are torn apart, unsure if they will ever meet again. Years later, their teenage daughter Ada grows up in London, grappling with her identity and heritage. Her only link to Cyprus is a fig tree that grows in the garden of her home.
Latest News Articles
Best Historical Novels Set in Ancient Rome
Looking for the best books about ancient Rome? Here are some must-read historical novels. Ancient Rome has long fascinated readers with its dramatic history, larger-than-life personalities, and complex political intrigue. From the fall of the Republic to the height of...
Guide to the Premio Strega
Looking for the best Italian novels or a guide to the Premio Strega winners? This page introduces Italy’s most important literary prize and highlights some of the finest works of modern Italian literature available in English translation. The Premio Strega or Strega...
How Diverse Is the Nobel Prize in Literature? A Look at Regions and Languages
Nobel Prize in Literature Diversity by Region and Language - In previous blog posts, I presented overviews of the Nobel Prize for Literature laureates in periods of roughly twenty-five years, covering 1901–1924, 1925–1949, 1950–1974, 1975–1999, and 2000–2025. I also...