Vittorio, The Vampire is the second installment in Anne Rice's captivating New Tales of the Vampires series. Set against the enchanting backdrop of Renaissance Italy, this novel immerses readers in the opulent world of the Italian Age of Gold.

Vittorio is educated in the illustrious Florence of Cosimo de' Medici and trained in knighthood at his father's mountaintop castle. His life of courtly splendor and country pleasures is abruptly disrupted when an unholy power threatens his entire family.

Amidst the chaos, Vittorio is drawn into a tumultuous relationship with Ursula, a stunning vampire who is among his supernatural foes. As Vittorio embarks on a quest for vengeance, he enters the nightmarish Court of the Ruby Grail, entangling himself further in his love for the elusive Ursula.

Anne Rice weaves a passionate and tragic tale of doomed young love and lost innocence, filled with demonic adversaries, war, and political intrigue. This novel is a vivid exploration of the sacred and profane wonders, as well as the intense beauty and ferocity, of Renaissance Italy.

An enchanting and lyrical look at the life, the traditions, and the cuisine of Tuscany, in the spirit of Peter Mayle's A Year in Provence. Frances Mayes entered a wondrous new world when she began restoring an abandoned villa in the spectacular Tuscan countryside. There were unexpected treasures at every turn: faded frescos beneath the whitewash in her dining room, a vineyard under wildly overgrown brambles in the garden, and, in the nearby hill towns, vibrant markets and delightful people. In Under the Tuscan Sun, she brings the lyrical voice of a poet, the eye of a seasoned traveler, and the discerning palate of a cook and food writer to invite readers to explore the pleasures of Italian life and to feast at her table.