Helpful Score: 2
So "A Year in Provence" or "Under the Tuscan Sun" swept you away with romantic notions of buying a slightly rundown (but romantic) villa in a scenic part of Europe filled with (romantic) eccentrics? Then "After Hannibal" is definitely the antidote. Set in Umbria, Italy where Hannibal once defeated the Romans, you'll meet a stodgy British couple who end up at war over a wall with non-romantic locals intending blackmail, and an American couple seeking a peaceful retirement but who are instead bilked by a shameless (if hapless) British building "expert" who is shacked up with a plump Medieval food enthusiast. Other characters figure in, but the most compelling is unquestionably Mancini, a local lawyer who approaches all of his clients' problems as philosophical dilemmas to be dealt with via subterfuge. Featuring various diversions into the rich art, culture and military history of the region (the author is a serious smartypants) - this would be the perfect way to pass the time at the beach or on a long plane ride.
