Castello, Portofino 1965 Jocelyn & John Baber ~Memoir of Castello Brown's Owners (1949-61) ~Italian Riviera ~Castles ~Italy ~Enchanted April

Title: Castello, Portofino
 
Author: Jocelyn and John Baber

Description: First Edition. Seafoam green cloth boards with gilt lettering on spine. Top edge of text block is soiled; soiling also visible just along the lip of pages, else clean and unmarked. Dust jacket has some chipping around head of spine and a bit of general edge wear and rubbing; front flap price clipped; in an archival mylar sleeve. Forty black-and-white photographs on plates. 196 pages. Scarce.  

The account of the authors' lives at Castle Brown in Portofino, Italy. The narrative describes their moving into the castle, their experiences with the people and community of Portofino, research into and discoveries about the castle's history, the various restoration work undertaken, its gardens, entertaining at the castle, and more.  

Castle Brown, previously known as Castello di San Giorgio, had been built in the 15th century and had featured in many battles over the centuries, even hosting Richard the Lionheart while on his way to the Third Crusade. The Babers purchased the castle in 1949 and occupied it until 1961 when they sold it to the Municipality of Portofino. Today it is maintained by the city and is available to the public for private events.  

The 1922 novel by Elizabeth von Arnim, The Enchanted April, was written at and set at the Castello, and the 1991 movie adaptation was filmed on location.

Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Very Good–
Jacket Condition: Very Good–

Publisher: B. T. Batsford
Place: London
Year: 1965

Keywords: Castello Brown, Castello di San Giorgio, Montague Yeats-Brown, Enchanted April, Italy, Italian castles, Genoa, Italian Riviera,