The Long Road Home

About the Book

A full length portrait of A.J. Reiss's journey in Italy, from tourist to resident. A journey that has her destiny hidden in it, she encounters her past when she discovers her father's stories from 1943 are still alive, in her meeting of an old world war two girlfriend of his. Seduced by the simplicity and pared-down elements of her new life on a farm in Northern Tuscany and her adopted town of Lucca, she meets the love of her life, finds the freedom to recreate herself as a lover, friend and family member. There she views her African roots from afar, and the perspective of distance brings understanding of what it means to belong to a certain tribe of the human race. What it is to be an immigrant and what it means to be an Italian seen through the lens of a foreigner. Her accounts stripped bare of the romantic cloud that always accompanies accounts of life in Italy, instead reveal a complex nation that defies categorization.

Transitioning from restoring and managing villas in Tuscany, to eventually buying and restoring her own 200 year old home near Como four years later, she reveals the real Italy. An Italy that has won her affection.

Recounting her journeys made across Italy where, Venice, Florence, Siena, Lucca, Cinque Terre and Ischia all give themselves up to her, to explore, delve into their secrets and then, finally own as a local. A fascinating walk through Italy.. Italyexpat

About the Author

A.J. Reiss lives in Italy, where she works as a writer and photographer.