Frances Mayes is a renowned author, known for her poetry, travel memoirs, fiction, and biography works. She was born in the 1940s in Fitzgerald, a small town in Georgia, where she developed a love for reading at a young age. Mayes spent many hours engrossed in Nancy Drew mysteries, which sparked her imagination and fueled her passion for storytelling.
Mayes is perhaps best known for her bestselling Tuscany memoirs, Under the Tuscan Sun and Bella Tuscany, as well as Everyday in Tuscany, In Tuscany, and Bringing Tuscany Home. These books chronicle her experiences of living in Italy, renovating an old Italian villa, and immersing herself in the country's rich culture. Her love for Italy and its way of life is also reflected in her novel, Women in Sunlight, which tells the story of three southern women who embark on a journey of self-discovery in Italy.
In addition to her Tuscany memoirs, Mayes has written several other notable works, including The Discovery of Poetry, a text for readers, and five books of poetry. She has also authored the memoirs Under Magnolia: A Southern Memoir, A Year in the World, and the novel Swan. Her work has been translated into over fifty languages, and she has received numerous accolades for her contributions to literature, including the Premio Casato Prime Donne in 2009.
Mayes divides her time between homes in Italy and North Carolina, where she continues to write and pursue her love of travel, food, wine, gardens, and the "voluptuousness of Italian life." Her work has inspired countless readers to embrace the beauty and richness of life, whether it be through travel, literature, or the simple pleasures of everyday living.