Helena Attlee – författare

'4 stars. Attlee, who knows and loves Italy and the Italians, takes the reader through the country's scented gardens with her sharp descriptions, pertinent stories and quotes and intriguing recipes. I was there with her' Anna del Conte, Sunday TelegraphA delightful book about Italy's unexpected history, told through its citrus fruitsThe story of citrus runs through the history of Italy like a golden thread, and by combining travel writing with history, recipes, horticulture and art, Helena Attlee takes the reader on a unique and rich journey through Italy's cultural, moral, culinary and political past.'Fascinating . . . A distinguished garden writer, Attlee fell under the spell of citrus over ten years ago and the book, like the eleventh labour of Hercules to steal the golden fruit of the Hesperides, is the result. She writes with great lucidity, charm and gentle humour, and wears her considerable learning lightly . . . Helena Attlee's elegant, absorbing prose and sure-footed ability to combine the academic with the anecdotal, make The Land Where Lemons Grow a welcome addition to the library of citrologists and Italophiles alike' The Times Literary Supplement 'A paradise of citrus is how I always think of Italy too: a place where ice-cold limoncello is sipped from tiny glasses on piazzas, and everything from ricotta cake to osso bucco is enlivened with zest. What a joy, therefore, to read Helena Attlee's The Land Where Lemons Grow, which tells the story of Italy through its citrus fruit' Bee Wilson, Telegraph

From the bestselling author of The Land Where Lemons Grow, a luminous account of Sicilian history, geography, culture and cuisine, as seen from the slopes of EtnaFor centuries, Mount Etna has sent lava to engulf the towns and villages, terraced fields, orchards, vineyards, and citrus groves that nestle across its slopes. But still it remains home to a quarter of Sicily’s population. Why? Because Etna has always rewarded her people after every eruption with a landscape of unparalleled fertility, richness and drama.In this extraordinary new book, Helena Attlee combines travel writing with history, mythology, geology, gastronomy and horticulture to tell a unique story of life in the shadow of Sicily’s most dangerous and alluring landmark. Venturing through lava-strewn fields and pistachio groves patrolled by armed guards; past dusky, basalt-built farmyards, and caves once used to store snow, Attlee gathers tales of the artists, writers, farmers, and scientists who have for centuries been drawn to this unpredictable landscape: from the early Roman, Arabic and Norman settlers, Romantic poets and Victorian geologists, to the local families who live and work there today. It is at once a compelling account of Sicily’s rich and varied past, and a powerful meditation on humanity’s ever-changing relationship with landscape.

'4 stars. Attlee, who knows and loves Italy and the Italians, takes the reader through the country's scented gardens with her sharp descriptions, pertinent stories and quotes and intriguing recipes. I was there with her' Anna del Conte, Sunday TelegraphA delightful book about Italy's unexpected history, told through its citrus fruitsThe story of citrus runs through the history of Italy like a golden thread, and by combining travel writing with history, recipes, horticulture and art, Helena Attlee takes the reader on a unique and rich journey through Italy's cultural, moral, culinary and political past.'Fascinating . . . A distinguished garden writer, Attlee fell under the spell of citrus over ten years ago and the book, like the eleventh labour of Hercules to steal the golden fruit of the Hesperides, is the result. She writes with great lucidity, charm and gentle humour, and wears her considerable learning lightly . . . Helena Attlee's elegant, absorbing prose and sure-footed ability to combine the academic with the anecdotal, make The Land Where Lemons Grow a welcome addition to the library of citrologists and Italophiles alike' The Times Literary Supplement 'A paradise of citrus is how I always think of Italy too: a place where ice-cold limoncello is sipped from tiny glasses on piazzas, and everything from ricotta cake to osso bucco is enlivened with zest. What a joy, therefore, to read Helena Attlee's The Land Where Lemons Grow, which tells the story of Italy through its citrus fruit' Bee Wilson, Telegraph

*A RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK*'Utterly enthralling - a beautifully-written voyage of discovery that takes us deep into the heart of music-making' Deborah MoggachFrom the moment she hears Lev's violin for the first time, Helena Attlee is captivated. She is told that it is an Italian instrument, named after its former Russian owner. Eager to discover all she can about its ancestry and the stories contained within its delicate wooden body, she sets out for Cremona, birthplace of the Italian violin. This is the beginning of a beguiling journey whose end she could never have anticipated.Making its way from dusty workshops, through Alpine forests, cool Venetian churches, glittering Florentine courts, and far-flung Russian flea markets, Lev's Violin takes us from the heart of Italian culture to its very furthest reaches. Its story of luthiers and scientists, princes and orphans, musicians, composers, travellers and raconteurs swells to a poignant meditation on the power of objects, stories and music to shape individual lives and to craft entire cultures.

From the bestselling author of The Land Where Lemons Grow, a luminous account of Sicilian history, geography, culture and cuisine, as seen from the slopes of EtnaFor centuries, Mount Etna has sent lava to engulf the towns and villages, terraced fields, orchards, vineyards, and citrus groves that nestle across its slopes. But still it remains home to a quarter of Sicily’s population. Why? Because Etna has always rewarded her people after every eruption with a landscape of unparalleled fertility, richness and drama.In this extraordinary new book, Helena Attlee combines travel writing with history, mythology, geology, gastronomy and horticulture to tell a unique story of life in the shadow of Sicily’s most dangerous and alluring landmark. Venturing through lava-strewn fields and pistachio groves patrolled by armed guards; past dusky, basalt-built farmyards, and caves once used to store snow, Attlee gathers tales of the artists, writers, farmers, and scientists who have for centuries been drawn to this unpredictable landscape: from the early Roman, Arabic and Norman settlers, Romantic poets and Victorian geologists, to the local families who live and work there today. It is at once a compelling account of Sicily’s rich and varied past, and a powerful meditation on humanity’s ever-changing relationship with landscape.

*A RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK*'Utterly enthralling - a beautifully-written voyage of discovery that takes us deep into the heart of music-making' Deborah MoggachFrom the moment she hears Lev's violin for the first time, Helena Attlee is captivated. She is told that it is an Italian instrument, named after its former Russian owner. Eager to discover all she can about its ancestry and the stories contained within its delicate wooden body, she sets out for Cremona, birthplace of the Italian violin. This is the beginning of a beguiling journey whose end she could never have anticipated.Making its way from dusty workshops, through Alpine forests, cool Venetian churches, glittering Florentine courts, and far-flung Russian flea markets, Lev's Violin takes us from the heart of Italian culture to its very furthest reaches. Its story of luthiers and scientists, princes and orphans, musicians, composers, travellers and raconteurs swells to a poignant meditation on the power of objects, stories and music to shape individual lives and to craft entire cultures.

The Land Where Lemons Grow is the sweeping story of Italy's cultural history told through the history of its citrus crops. From the early migration of citrus from the foothills of the Himalayas to Italy's shores to the persistent role of unique crops such as bergamot (and its place in the perfume and cosmetics industries) and the vital role played by Calabria's unique Diamante citrons in the Jewish celebration of Sukkoth, author Helena Attlee brings the fascinating history and its gustatory delights to life.Whether the Battle of Oranges in Ivrea, the gardens of Tuscany, or the story of the Mafia and Sicily's citrus groves, Attlee transports readers on a journey unlike any other.

La melodía del violín de Lev fascinó a Helena Attlee desde la primera vez que la oyó en un concierto; aquel viejo instrumento italiano que llevaba el nombre de su antiguo propietario ruso atesoraba una rica historia. Ávida por descubrir los detalles de su origen y el resto de secretos que albergaba su delicado cuerpo de madera, Attlee se dirigió a Cremona, la cuna del violín italiano y el punto de partida de un extraordinario viaje de fin inesperado. A través de talleres polvorientos, bosques alpinos, iglesias venecianas, lujosas cortes florentinas y remotos mercadillos rusos, «El violín de Lev» nos lleva del corazón de la cultura italiana a sus más lejanos confines. Una historia asombrosa de lutieres y científicos, príncipes y vagabundos, instrumentistas, compositores y viajeros, que es a la vez una conmovedora meditación sobre el poder de los objetos, de los relatos y de la música para crear culturas enteras y transformar la vida de las personas.DE LA AUTORA DE «EL PAÍS DONDE FLORECE EL LIMONERO»«Helena Attlee no sólo exhibe una prosa elegante y cautivadora sino una capacidad admirable para combinar la erudición con el ingenio».The Times Literary Supplement

Helena Attlee, distinguida experta en jardines, cayó bajo el hechizo de los cítricos hace diez años y desde entonces fue reuniendo materiales y dando forma a este delicioso libro. Con una inmensa sabiduría, delicadeza y sentido del humor la autora nos relata los orígenes de los cítricos, de la gastronomía y del país, nos descubre los secretos del arte de la horticultura y nos ofrece recetas tan sencillas como suculentas. Los aromas, los colores, las texturas, la luz y los paisajes que evoca son los hilos de una historia dorada donde civilización y naturaleza se reconcilian. Y así «El país donde florece el limonero» invita al lector a emprender un viaje único y fascinante a la Italia de ayer y de hoy.«Mezcla de ensayo histórico, recetario y crónica de viajes, el libro de Attlee demuestra que el mundo sería distinto sin limones».Javier Rodríguez Marcos, El País«Attlee cuenta un sinfín de curiosidades mezclando candor, asombro y erudición».Antón Castro, La Vanguardia«Attlee demuestra la importancia que estos árboles y sus frutos han tenido en nuestra sociedad y reflexiona sobre la influencia de lo que consumimos en lo que somos».Guillermo Altares, El País«Attlee nos acompaña a través de toda Italia, recorriendo al tiempo el pasado, desde las glorias del Imperio romano a nuestros días, pasando por los jardines de los Medici».El Cultural«Attlee ha escrito un libro luminoso se mire por donde se mire».Use Lahoz, El Ojo Crítico«El olor de los cítricos transforma la vida de la escritora y la guía a través de los paisajes recónditos de Italia».La Vanguardia«Helena Attlee hila la agitada historia de Italia a través de los cítricos, que estuvieron detrás del origen de la Mafia y dominaron el mercado de perfumes».Pablo Guimón, El País«Ya sea por su sencillez, por lo original de su planteamiento o por la delicada prosa de su autora, lo cierto es que estamos ante un pequeño tesoro. No se limiten a leer el texto, saboréenlo».Metahistoria«Attlee trasciende los límites de los espacios recreativos para abarcar no sólo los valores intrínsecos de la planta o las faenas agrícolas asociadas, sino también el luminoso rastro que han dejado en la cultura. Un libro ameno en el más puro sentido de la palabra.».Ignacio F. Garmendia, Granada Hoy«Attlee recorre los orígenes de los cítricos fundiendo historia y geografía, horticultura y gastronomía, en un unvierso plagado de olores, perfumes, sabores intensos y delicados».Carles Gámez, Levante«Un canto a la belleza, a la historia y a los orígenes de los cítricos, a la gastronomía, al arte del país del Renacimiento».Cinco Días«Attlee hace que nos enamoremos como se enamoró ella de lo que tendríamos que haber amado siempre».Manuel Astur, El Comercio«Un libro bellísimo que desprende el perfume agridulce de los cítricos y sabe a Italia».The Guardian«Un libro imprescindible para cualquier lector al que le interese la relación de los viajes, la codicia y la ingenuidad humanas con el cultivo de las plantas que comemos, olemos y bebemos».Robin Lane Fox«Helena Attlee no sólo exhibe una prosa elegante y cautivadora sino una capacidad admirable para combinar la erudición con el ingenio. Un libro fascinante».The Times Literary Supplement«Un interesante collage de experiencias personales narradas con delicadeza y sentido del humor. Una voluntad de desmenuzar la historia para descubrir los secretos más escondidos, de Galileo, de Goethe, de las pinturas de Monet, de la mafia…».Xavier Montanyà, VilaWeb (en catalán)