A whitewashed fishing village, a shapely signorina and an infatuated young man – head over heels on the heel of the boot of Southern Italy. This is Chris Harrison’s hilarious and captivating story of leaving his previous life for La Dolce Vita – that quintessentially Italian seductive way of life, with its luscious foods, physical beauty and sun-drenched vistas.
On a trip to Dublin, Chris falls head over heels in love with Daniela, an Italian girl with eyes the colour of Guinness, and follows her to her small home town of Andrano on the coast of Puglia. Among olive groves and cobblestone lanes, Chris takes us on a moving, insightful and often hilarious journey into the heart of southern Italy. Along the way he introduces us to a cast of eccentric characters: a policeman who rearranges crimes to suit the necessary forms, a doctor who prescribes patients his homemade lemon liqueur, and – the biggest challenge of all – Daniela’s mamma, who’s determined to convert Chris to the Catholic faith, supervise his choice of underwear, and build a second storey on her stucco home where the couple might live happily ever after.
Can this relationship with Southern Italy possibly survive or will the sweet life turn sour?
Editorial Reviews
Review
An intriguing book, very well written, well structured, entertaining and sometimes even challenging… a delightful and often humorous account of the author’s evolving relationship with Italy as he comes to grips with everyday reality there… anecdotes provide both humour and vivid images of Italians and Italian life. (Judges of the Grollo Ruzzene Foundation Prize)
Dramatic, sensual and affectionately amusing, Head Over Heel is as good as a holiday. (John Bell, The Bell Shakespeare Company)
Harrison manages to get right under Italy’s skin without stereotyping the people he meets and situations he finds himself in… Many have written books about their experiences living in foreign climes but few have done it as entertainingly, beautifully and – surprisingly – romantically as Harrison does here. (
Sydney Morning Herald & Melbourne Age)
This is a funny and touching tale about the cultural divide with a sweet and passionate love story at its heart. For all those who have ever had a brief holiday in Italy and said, £You know, I could really live here,’ read this and know that it may not be that easy. And for those who know Italy intimately and love her all the same, enjoy Head Over Heel and its taste of la dolce vital (
The Courier Mail)
Book Description
Head over heels on the heel of the boot of Italy. Among olive groves and cobblestone lanes, Chris takes us on a journey into the heart of Southern Italy.
About the Author
Chris Harrison is a London-based journalist and English teacher. He has written for many publications, including the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Courier Mail and Sports Illustrated. A keen sportsman, he is also a qualified aerobatics pilot. Head Over Heel was the winner of the Grollo Ruzzene Foundation Prize. Visit www.chrisharrisonwriting.com
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