“Never did I–a sensible woman of sturdy Polish peasant stock–expect to become madly, gladly, giddily besotted with the world’s most luscious language.”

But fall in love Dianne Hales did, and the first step on her journey to totally immersing herself in Italian culture was to learn the language. Going way beyond the average tourist banter, the author became passionate about speaking Italian like a native. As she explores every delightful nuance and explains potential pitfalls she takes you along on the ultimate armchair tour of Italy’s history, art, literature, and of course, the language of love. From using the wrong word for “enjoy” (there’s a specific word that refers to sex) to confronting ogling cabdrivers, Dianne Hales writes so vividly about her experiences you feel as if you’re along for the ride.

La Bella Lingua is a treasure for word lovers and an invaluable companion for those studying Italian. If you’ve been to Italy it will trigger your fondest memories; if you’re planning to go, it will surely whet your appetite; and if a plane ticket is out of reach, then this lovely book is the only way to fly.