From the Luganega to the Calabrese, Italian sausages come in all shapes and sizes - short and fat, long and thin, horseshoe-shaped and even circular. Sausages form an integral part of Italian culture and cuisine, and the two are inexorably linked. There is even a patron saint of sausages, Sant' Antonio, who is always seen with a pig at his side and whose Feast Day, 17 January, is celebrated with much porcine squealing as pigs are slaughtered for the annual sausage-making festival. In this practical and humorous book, acclaimed cookery writer Mary Contini explores the Italian fascination with salsiccie, tracing its history and displaying its remarkable versatility with over 55 mouth-watering recipes, including Il Panino di San Gennaro - the best sausage roll in the world - Philip's Fabulous Fonteluna Sugo, and Peperoni Pizza Twice!

In this fascinating follow-up to the highly successful Dear Francesca, Mary Contini writes to her other daughter, Olivia, to tell the story of her great-grandparents, the humble Italian shepherds who emigrated to Edinburgh and then helped to transform Britain's food culture. Sharing some of the recipes that they brought over, the tomatoes, the garlic, the sausage, the wine, this is a mouthwatering memoir of family and food. It is also a brilliant evocation of life between the wars, a triumphant story of survival against all the odds, that captures the sights and smells of Italian life and culture, at home and abroad.

Written by leading cookery author Mary Contini, this delightful narrative is in the bestselling tradition of Anthony Bourdain and Annie Hawes. It tells the tale of the Di Ciacca family, tracing their journey from the barren Abruzzi mountains to the chilly streets of post-war Edinburgh. Addressing her daughter Francesca as she embarks on independent life, this is a compelling, often moving, family history in which Contini describes her ancestors' loves and lives in their adopted homeland where traditions were kept alive around the dinner table. With characters as colourful as in any novel, this is a book that will appeal to anyone who loves Italian food and wishes to share in a sense of family. It adds up to one of the most original books for food lovers in recent years, blending great narrative with heartwarming recipes and recollections.