Notes From A Roman Terrace [Idioma Inglés] - Tapa dura

Joan Marble has written a totally congenial if inconsequential account of ex-pat life in various apartments in Rome. Dotted with charming line drawings, anecdotes and tips about growing plants in pots, this Roman quilt of a book describes the minutiae of moving, right down to the mountaineering skills required to install a tap on the terrace. Indeed, the entirety is watered with droplets of Roman history and gardening lore. Eccentrics abound, as well as a street cat with the sense to ride the lift up five flights rather than climb the stairs to another ex-pat who puts out food. As an American-born denizen of central Rome, Marble has observed it struggle back to life from World War II, only to change from a sleepy village into a hectic metropolis invaded by traffic.

Joan Marble has lived in a 16th century Roman Palazzo apartment with husband Robert, a sculptor, for 30 years. A lifetime of integrating with the Romans and gardening on her beloved terrace above the roof tops has resulted in this memoir. Highly personal and containing anecdote, history, and insight, Joan's experience of Rome and Romans is infected by her contagious fascination for plants, a hobby she shares every week with The Women's Gardening Club of Rome. She includes an insider's view of Italian fellow gardening obsessives, a tale of bicycle thieves, and an authoritative view of famous Italian Gardens. We also hear the curious history of her ancient apartment off the Piazza Borghese, and meet some eccentric neighbours. Tales abound of the expat community, and the illustrious writers and aristocrats with whom the author, as a journalist, keeps company. At the same time, Joan infuses her memoir with an affection for her plants, and scatters tips and personal stories of how to keep her fickle plants alive.. NOTA: El libro no está en español, sino en inglés.