Under the Tuscan Sun Audiobook By Frances Mayes cover art

Under the Tuscan Sun

Preview

Try for $0.00
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Under the Tuscan Sun

By: Frances Mayes
Narrated by: Frances Mayes
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $13.48

Buy for $13.48

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

Number-one New York Times best seller

The beloved memoir of self-discovery set against the spectacular Tuscan countryside that inspired the major motion picture starring Diane Lane - now in a 20th-anniversary edition featuring a new afterword

“This beautifully written memoir about taking chances, living in Italy, loving a house and, always, the pleasures of food, would make a perfect gift for a loved one. But it’s so delicious, read it first yourself.” (USA Today)

For more Frances Mayes, including a tour of her now iconic Cortona home, Bramasole, watch PBS’ Dream of Italy: Tuscan Sun Special!

More than 20 years ago, Frances Mayes - widely published poet, gourmet cook, and travel writer - introduced readers to a wondrous new world when she bought and restored an abandoned Tuscan villa called Bramasole. Under the Tuscan Sun inspired generations to embark on their own journeys - whether that be flying to a foreign country in search of themselves, savoring one of the book’s dozens of delicious seasonal recipes, or simply being transported by Mayes’ signature evocative, sensory language. Now with a new afterword from Frances Mayes, the 20th-anniversary edition of Under the Tuscan Sun revisits the book’s most popular characters.

©1998 Frances Mayes (P)1998 Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing, Bantam Doubleday Dell, A Division of Random House Inc.
Classics Europe Travel Writing & Commentary Western Europe Women Italy Funny Thought-Provoking
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Critic reviews

"An intense celebration of what [Mayes] calls 'the voluptuousness of Italian life'...appealing and very vivid." (The New York Times Book Review)
"Irresistible...a sensuous book for a sensuous countryside." (Minneapolis Star-Tribune)

What listeners say about Under the Tuscan Sun

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    147
  • 4 Stars
    91
  • 3 Stars
    103
  • 2 Stars
    74
  • 1 Stars
    65
Performance
  • 3 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    97
  • 4 Stars
    57
  • 3 Stars
    55
  • 2 Stars
    45
  • 1 Stars
    117
Story
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    132
  • 4 Stars
    89
  • 3 Stars
    74
  • 2 Stars
    35
  • 1 Stars
    34

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Sadly disappointed

This is a horrible thing to say...

I watched the movie and had an image of Frances Mayes in my head. I loved the movie, I fantasized that it could be my life, I had a romanticized view of her. Then I started to listen to the book and her voice totally ruined it. I imagined a soft, non-accented voice and the voice talking to me was completely not that voice.

Like I said, it's a horrible thing to say, but I decided to buy the paper version of the book and just read it instead

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

37 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

The Movie was much better

I enjoyed the story in this movie and hoped the book would have additional enjoyable adventures. Unfortunately I found the opposite. The story seemed disconnected and didn't flow as well as the movie. I guess this is the down fall of seeing the movie first.

In any case the most problematic concern was the narrator's voice. Ms. Mayes should have opted for someone else to narrate. Ms. Mayes' soft southern drawl didn't seem natural and was very distracting.

I had to give up on this one, it was too painful to listen to.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Might Have Been Good, but . . .

The narrator's voice was so inappropriate
For this story! Yikes! It might have been a good story if I could have got past thaT SILLY Southern accent.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good story but needs different narrator

I understand she wrote the book, but the author should just stick to writing. Would’ve been a better experience.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Her Voice

Would you try another book from Frances Mayes and/or Frances Mayes?

I would as the story itself is lovely.

Any additional comments?

The narrators voice is like nails down a chalk board. I love this book but I simple cannot listen to her.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Pretty Good. Worth it

When I first started listening to this book I almost stopped and didn’t finish it. Honestly the author and narrator’s voice was too much for me. Almost a higher mono tone with no emotion. I thought there is no way I’m going to be able to enjoy the book. Also the beginning just starts. I felt like I missed a chapter or an introduction or something. I even restarted it because of the abruptness if it. But I didn’t
I figured I’d just tough it out and by a few chapters in I got “used to” her voice enough to enjoy the story and catch on for how it started.
Overall the story is really good. There are some parts that I noticed I “spaced out” during as I feel it’s rambling on but it’s definitely 4 star quality.
After finishing the book I watched the movie. There are some similarities but the differences are way more obvious. You could almost mistake them as being not the same. I Rarely ever say this but I liked the movie better than the book. Usually the book out weighs the movie. Not in this case for me.
Still it’s worth the listen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Living in Italy, not the movie

I had read other reviews so knew this would be Frances Mayes personal experiences of buying a home with her husband in Tuscany. As a lover of Italy, foodie, real estate agent with a contractor husband and having lived outside US I found the book easily listenable and relatable. I loved it but may not be for everyone.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

High hopes led to high disappointment

Although the first half of the story, the discovery of the house, the remodeling and the hurdles to the finish line was enjoyable, it was a struggle to finish. The narrator read like she was reading bullet points on a monitor rather than having a flow of reading a story. The second half of the story became like reading the highlights of a travel guide. I was looking forward to hearing the story that inspired one of my favorite movies, but I'm left with feelings of disappointment.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

BAD NARRATION

I was truly excited to hear this book!
I’m from the south, and and a frequenter of audible, and I can tell you this was a TERRIBLE choice to have the author narrate the book. A lot of times it works out- however, she has a southern accent that even I find grating, and she is literally just READING rather than FEELING anything. Reminded me of being in a 5th grade classroom reading aloud.
She should do herself a favor and have someone else narrate this!!!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Mayes voice is not "listen" friendly

Would you consider the audio edition of Under the Tuscan Sun to be better than the print version?

no

What did you like best about this story?

food descriptions were romantic and full of life

What didn’t you like about Frances Mayes’s performance?

Mayes voice was not "listen"friendly...I had listened to an audio recording of this book years ago and fully enjoyed the performance. I purchased this version without listening to a clip of the audio. Surprised when I listened to find another person narrating.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful