The theme for “The Gallery” this week is a photograph which represents a treasured book. My chosen novel is A Room with a View by E.M. Forster. The novel tells of Miss Lucy Honeychurch and her chaperone visiting Italy in the early 20th Century with all the repressed sexuality you can squeeze into a tightly-pulled corset. The book became a favourite of mine at around the same time the Merchant Ivory film of the book was released in 1985. I’m convinced a huge part of my love of the film was the soundtrack, particularly the excerpts from Puccini operas. Heavenly.
The view referred to is that of Florence and the River Arno. My photo of Florence was taken in 1995 when Dougie and I had a wonderful holiday in Tuscany and Umbria. We had married in 1990 but there still wasn’t a baby on the way. This trip was a time to relax, explore and enjoy being together away from the pressures of work. We stayed in a gorgeous little hotel near the village of Artimino, hired a car and went sightseeing every day: Siena, Assisi, Orvieto, Pisa, Lucca and, of course, Firenze. I remember it was quite a climb to reach Piazzale Michelangelo on the other side of the river in order to snap a decent view of the city; Dougie tells me I moaned all the way up the winding path.
We returned from Florence in our little car and sat in the grounds of the hotel, looking out at the Medici villa next to our hotel, in the heart of the Tuscan countryside. I had brought the book with me to re-read and had reached the point where Lucy and George had their famous kiss in the fields around Fiesole. I felt very romantic and emotional.
The holiday continued and was quite perfect.
I came home refreshed and…….pregnant.
If my boy had been a girl there was a strong chance we may have called her Florence.
My first cry of the day. I'm in floods. What a lovely story.
Ah you've done it again. You and your lovely stories. *wipes tear*. x
@deer baby – tissue?
@Very Bored – I think that's why my blog has a travel theme: all the important things in my life (meeting husband, conceiving a little cherub)seem to happen when I'm away from home.
How utterly beautiful. I confess that region of Italy holds a special place in my heart too as it is where my husband proposed (after 10 years together!)
@ Tara . Thank you. That's Italy for you, too bloomin' romantic for its own good.
*sniff* how beautiful. I love that book too, reading it as a teenager after having seen the film, and I also love the soundtrack. What a perfect ending to a lovely story!
I have got pretty much the exact same photo taken on our honeymoon in Florence 🙂 Magical city and yes that climb is very steep!
Ah great shot of Florence. I can almost pick out the hotel my wife and I stayed in on our honeymoon 5 years ago this weekend!
I spent ages, as a romantic teenager, wandering round Santa Croce, then a building site, trying to get lost….
I LOVE that book… and your picture. Somehow Florence, as a fat 17 year old, wasn't quite what I imagined.
@Victoria – glad to have brought back memories of the book and the film
@dawnie – you too? Yup, it was a killer in the heat. Nice to walk back down to the Boboli Gardens though.
@Steve – such a romantic part of the world for a honeymoon
@Plan B – Did you throw your Baedeker away too?
Just wonderful Trish….and what better souvenir to bring home than a much longed for baby. I would love to visit Italy (don't really count Venice)and as my daughter has Florence in amongst her many names, have promised her a trip there one day. Those merchant ivory films are fab to watch are'nt they?
Oh, I'm welling AGAIN! That is lovely….*sobs*.
Wow! That made me all goosebumpy! How beautiful. How lovely! How very very special. And what a perfect post to comemorate it by!
Maggy x
Oh what beautiful words and photos just lovely to read 🙂 thank you
Stunning! Both your absolutely lovely story and the photos! I'm all quiet now:-)
Gorgeous photo and story – thank you for sharing it with us xxx
I've seen a couple of posts for this book but these photos are brill! Realy exotic!
What a lovely post, love the pictures 😉
Great minds think alike 🙂 Your picture are way better than mine though, I'd love to go to Florence one day. I'm very jealous – they are just beautiful x
Beautiful picture – a great choice.
*sniff* great pictures, and a story with a happy ending 🙂
Lovely pictures and what a beautiful story!
I adored Florence altho will admit that was mainly due to the FOOD!
Nomnomnomnom
x
What a beautiful post! Somewhere I would love to visit 🙂
What a wonderful story 🙂
I love that book, and the film too.
Was Rory named after the noise of the Vestas then?
OOh loads of visitors – thank you for your lovely comments?
@Madame Smoking Gun – Vestas? What, like the matches? Oh….Vespas!We decided he would sound daft with a name like Artimino (Arty?) or San Gimignano Burgess!
Loved the entry and the film and book are two of my favourites too.I went to Florence in my gap year and had a rather memorable time with a …no, better not. Am respectable middle aged boring person now. But it was seriously good!
what beautiful photos and a truly romantic post… *sigh.
@ Sally – this sounds a great story to me! Come on, spill the beans!
Damn!
I knew you were a kindred spirit Trish! One of my favourite books (and movies) of all time! And those arias… I adore them. What a romantic trip. Love this story
Ah I’m so glad it struck a chord with you (literally!) The music, book and film will always be closely entwined with Tuscany for me. Oh and now I’m getting all emotional!