Improvising in Italian - Paperback

by Jennifer Artley (Author)

"A perfect read for the globally curious-the adventurer at heart!" -Jessica Buchanan, New York Times bestselling author of Impossible Odds

". . . a winning chronicle of the quest for a fully authentic life." -Dawn Raffel, author of Boundless as the Sky

"A gem of a book that'll have you eagerly turning pages to find out what ultimately survives a world in chaos." -Charles Salzberg, award-winning writer, three-time Shamus Award nominee, and author of Man on the Run

"[Artley's] story is philosophical and poignant and offers rare insight into the reality of leading an adventuresome lifestyle." -Donna Keel Armer, author of Solo in Salento: A Memoir (Italian Translation: Un'Americana in Salento)

In 2017 Jennifer and her husband Michael relocated to a small town in the north of Italy, immersing themselves in Italian culture and cuisine-passionate about food quality and regional recipes-while making close friendships with an eclectic group of Italians and expats. As the couple involves themselves in local projects and struggles to build their Italian dreamlife, they navigate through the country's notoriously corrupt bureaucracy, leaving them feeling frustrated and powerless. When Michael's venture in Italy collapses, the couple pursues a series of business deals involving everything from premier Italian football clubs and classic Ferraris to Stradivarius violins, leading them on crazy misadventures, encountering outlandish and colorful characters across the peninsula. Out of the blue, a strange new virus spreads like wildfire and Italy is at the epicenter. This prompts one of the strictest lockdowns in world history, and Jennifer and Michael are brought to the brink of personal and financial ruin, culminating in an unexpected twist of fate.

Improvising in Italian, narrated with candor and humor, is an honest appraisal of the romance and pitfalls of being a global nomad in a fast-changing world. It follows the couple as they survive missteps and setbacks-while struggling to maintain their love and friendship-improvising their way through it all.