Overview

An uplifting, humorous memoir of a mother building a new life on a beautiful Sicilian island. Reeling from a broken relationship, Ros Belford decides the best chance she has of healing, while giving her daughters a childhood to remember, is to move to Italy and live by the sea. After a false start in a town where machismo is ingrained, they find the small, lush, delightful island of Salina. Izzy and Juno grow up playing on the beach, learning to swim over volcanic bubbles, hearing tales of Aeolian witches and watching Stromboli erupt on the horizon. It is not entirely paradise, however. The school is atrocious, there are power cuts and an earthquake, and property speculators threaten the island’s fragile beauty. But an eclectic community of islanders take them to their hearts, friendships are forged and Salina becomes home. Full of humanity, vitality, honesty and optimism, Children of the Volcano is for anyone unwilling to give up dreams of adventure and excitement simply because of parenthood, lack of money and not getting things right the first time. ‘Immensely enjoyable.’ - Chris Stewart, author of Driving Over Lemons ‘Thank you, Ros Belford! This delightful memoir has brought back to me the wonder, the excitement and the challenges that come with embracing a new life in Sicily.’ - Mary Taylor Simeti, author of On Persephone’s Island

Full Product Details

9781914613661

Table of Contents

Reviews

'Immensely enjoyable ... Ros's experiences are fascinating. She's clearly a woman and who doesn't let the obstacles life throws at her get her down.' Chris Stewart, author of Driving Over Lemons 'Thank you, Ros Belford! This delightful memoir has brought back to me the wonder, the excitement and the challenges that come with embracing a new life in Sicily.' Mary Taylor Simeti, author of On Persephone's Island 'Children of the Volcano follows the journey of an open-hearted, keen-eyed and intrepid young mother as she seeks to create a rich and meaningful life for herself and her two small daughters on a remote Sicilian island. Ros Belford's vivid portrayals of Salina and its inhabitants are a delight to read, while her observations about the challenges and rewards of making a home in that near-mythical place are both enchanting and inspiring.' Jean Hegland, author of Into the Forest 'I absolutely adored this book - having lived in the South of Italy, I loved the sense of immersion in the sights and sensations of island life; the sea, the food, the changing seasons, and the constant, ambivalent presence of the volcano. The challenges, misunderstandings and joys of discovering a new way of living are conveyed with humour and passion, and Izzy and Juno emerge vividly from the pages, as do the friends (and antagonists) Ros makes on the island. I'm still thinking of Salina, and of the excellent company found there and in the pages of this book.' Sarah Brooks, author of The Cautious Traveller's Guide to the Wastelands 'A joyous tale of following one's dreams, despite the obstacles.' Caroline Sanderson, The Bookseller

Author Information

Ros Belford spends her time between Salina, Siracusa and Cambridge and is the author of numerous guidebooks to Italy, Sicily and the Mediterranean. She has written articles on travel and food for many magazines and newspapers and is the Telegraph's Sicilian travel expert. She has made radio programmes for the BBC and contributed to several podcasts.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available