Join us for the launch of Florence: Ordeal by Water by Katherine Kressman Taylor, with authors Vanessa Nicolson and Sarah Winman. This new edition, to be published by Manderley Press in November 2024, revives Taylor's rediscovered diaries chronicling the devastating floods of the River Arno in 1966, with a new introduction by Vanessa Nicolson.

Katherine Kressman Taylor (1903 - 1996) was an American art historian and author based in Florence. Her poignant diaries, first published over 50 years ago, offer a rare insight into a critical moment in the city's history and served as the inspiration for Sarah Winman's bestselling novel Still Life, which interweaves stories from Florence and London.

Florence: Ordeal by Water chronicles the tireless efforts of elderly scholars and the international Angeli del Fango ('Angels of the Flood') who banded together to save Florence's priceless treasures from the devastating floods.

In her insightful introduction, Nicolson, who has roots in both Florence and the UK, enriches the narrative with her personal reflections. The cover is designed by Agnesbic, an Italian-British illustrator whose work is deeply influenced by mid-century design, travel and the warm hues of Tuscany, where she grew up.

This event promises a rich exploration of the stories behind the diaries, the cultural context of the floods and the artworks at risk, offering a deeper understanding of this remarkable chapter in Florence's history.