The Battle of the Villa Fiorita

A Virago Modern Classic
From the author of Black Narcissus, this New York Times best-selling coming of age novel examines the tension of divorce from a child's perspective.

FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF BLACK NARCISSUS AND THE RIVER

'One of our best and most captivating novelists' PHILIP HENSHER

'[Godden has] a genius for storytelling' EVENING STANDARD

'Her prose is pure, delicate, and gently witty' NEW YORK TIMES

'Descriptions of the Italian setting are gorgeous but the real strength is the childlike perspective' DAILY MAIL

When their mother leaves the country to be with her lover, Hugh and Caddie Clavering's seemingly perfect life falls apart. Devastated by the sudden, bitter dissolution of their parents' marriage and desperate for her to come back, the children travel alone to the Villa Fiorita on Lake Garda, determined not to leave without her.

On arrival, they can tell Fanny and Rob are deeply in love, and their mother is happier than they've ever seen her, but the scheme lives on. Thankfully, Rob's young daughter is only too glad to help destroy their parents' relationship. Will Hugh and Caddie realise that their actions have consequences before it is too late?

Told with wit and great empathy against a stunning evocation of the Italian countryside, Rumer Godden's The Battle of the Villa Fiorita marks another coming of age classic for the highly acclaimed author.

Contributor: Anita Desai (Introduction by)

UK Delivery:

• Free delivery on all orders of £10 or more.
• £1.49 delivery fee on orders below £10.
• UK orders are shipped via Royal Mail 2nd Class.

International Delivery:

• Flat rate delivery charges vary by country.

Dispatch and Delivery Times:

• All orders are shipped from our warehouse in Northampton, UK within 48 hours of receipt during working hours.
• UK mainland orders typically arrive within 3-5 working days via Royal Mail 2nd Class.
• International estimated delivery times:
• Europe & Channel Islands: 7 to 10 working days
• USA: 7 to 15 working days
• Rest of the World: 9 to 21 working days

View our full delivery infomation here.