Dragged kicking and screaming into a better life

After years of being a hit writer and producer for television, Phil Doran has hit that age... the age in which writers over 50 become ancient to 20 year old TV executives. For the last few years he has been trying hard to climb back to the top of the heap. In the meantime his wife has a plan.

Her plan involves buying a house and forcing her husband into living a life that doesn't occur on a page. So she buys a heap called Rustica by their new Tuscan neighbors before calling him with the news. So the Reluctant Tuscan gets on a plane and flies over.

Readers of Mayle and other transplanted traveller books will love Doran's book. It is full of the typical trouble with the house and wacky neighbors. The difference is that Doran is really torn. He is not quite ready to give up his dream of a comeback and make the commitment to stay.