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Secrets of the Italian Gardener
Mo, the wealthy dictator of a volatile Middle Eastern country, enlists a ghostwriter to tell his story to the world, enshrining him in history as a glorious ruler. Inside Mo’s besieged palace the ghost forms a friendship with a wise and seemingly innocent Italian gardener who slowly reveals that the regime isn’t all it appears to be. The ghost discovers the shocking truth of who really holds the power and wealth in the world.
As a violent rebellion threatens all their lives, the ghost is also struggling to cope with a personal secret too painful to bear.
“Secrets of the Italian Gardener” takes the reader on a heart-pounding journey through the bloody downfall of a doomed tyrant in the company of a young couple struggling to cope with the greatest private tragedy imaginable.
The author, Andrew Crofts, has spent much of his ghostwriting career amongst the dictators, politicians, arms dealers and billionaires who hold the reins of power and control the wealth of the world, stationed in their lavish palaces and heavily guarded compounds in the wildest parts of Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East as well as in tax havens like Monaco, Geneva, Bermuda and the Caribbean.
Andrew Crofts has spent much of his ghostwriting career amongst the dictators, politicians, arms dealers and billionaires who hold the reins of power and control the wealth of the world, stationed in their lavish palaces and heavily guarded compounds in the wildest parts of Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East as well as in tax havens like Monaco, Geneva, Bermuda and the Caribbean.
As a violent rebellion threatens all their lives, the ghost is also struggling to cope with a personal secret too painful to bear.
“Secrets of the Italian Gardener” takes the reader on a heart-pounding journey through the bloody downfall of a doomed tyrant in the company of a young couple struggling to cope with the greatest private tragedy imaginable.
The author, Andrew Crofts, has spent much of his ghostwriting career amongst the dictators, politicians, arms dealers and billionaires who hold the reins of power and control the wealth of the world, stationed in their lavish palaces and heavily guarded compounds in the wildest parts of Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East as well as in tax havens like Monaco, Geneva, Bermuda and the Caribbean.
Andrew Crofts has spent much of his ghostwriting career amongst the dictators, politicians, arms dealers and billionaires who hold the reins of power and control the wealth of the world, stationed in their lavish palaces and heavily guarded compounds in the wildest parts of Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East as well as in tax havens like Monaco, Geneva, Bermuda and the Caribbean.
150 pages, Paperback
First published June 10, 2013
3 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Crofts
16 books42 followersAndrew Crofts is an author and ghostwriter. He has published more than 80 books, around a dozen of which have been number one bestsellers.
His name first became known amongst publishers for the stories he brought them by the otherwise disenfranchised. Travelling all over the world he worked with victims of enforced marriages in North Africa and the Middle East, sex workers in the Far East, orphans in war-torn areas like Croatia and dictatorships like Romania, and abused children everywhere.
The enormous success of these books brought many very different people to his door; first came the celebrities from the worlds of film, music, television and sport, and then the real elite in the form of world leaders and the mysterious, powerful people who finance them, arm them and, in some cases, control them.
Invited to pubic and private palaces all over Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East and tax havens from Monaco to private islands in Bermuda, Andrew listened as they revealed their secrets, gradually piecing together the truth of who really runs the world and how they do it.
The opening lines in Robert Harris’s thriller "The Ghost", (later made into a film with Ewan McGregor as the ghostwriter)' quote Andrew from his book, "Ghostwriting";
“Of all the advantages ghosting offers, one of the greatest must be the opportunity that you get to meet people of interest.”
His name first became known amongst publishers for the stories he brought them by the otherwise disenfranchised. Travelling all over the world he worked with victims of enforced marriages in North Africa and the Middle East, sex workers in the Far East, orphans in war-torn areas like Croatia and dictatorships like Romania, and abused children everywhere.
The enormous success of these books brought many very different people to his door; first came the celebrities from the worlds of film, music, television and sport, and then the real elite in the form of world leaders and the mysterious, powerful people who finance them, arm them and, in some cases, control them.
Invited to pubic and private palaces all over Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East and tax havens from Monaco to private islands in Bermuda, Andrew listened as they revealed their secrets, gradually piecing together the truth of who really runs the world and how they do it.
The opening lines in Robert Harris’s thriller "The Ghost", (later made into a film with Ewan McGregor as the ghostwriter)' quote Andrew from his book, "Ghostwriting";
“Of all the advantages ghosting offers, one of the greatest must be the opportunity that you get to meet people of interest.”
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 27, 2019
Very interesting for such a short book. Fascinating characters!
June 23, 2017
A ghost writer attempts to find time to speak with dictator Mo to gather materials for Mo’s ‘autobiography’, but not all the information will sit comfortably.
Secrets Of The Italian Gardener is such a clever and disturbing book. Metaphorical (or maybe more accurately, metaphysical) and philosophical, Andrew Crofts makes the reader question every underlying principle in their life. Just how would they behave in the same circumstances as the ghost writer? The terrible sense of unease this book creates is enhanced by the fact we do not get the ghost writer’s name, just a first person account, so that he could be any one of us. I think I would do exactly the same as he and his wife Caroline and this worries me. The ghost writer sells his soul to the devil, but his reasons are fully understandable. It is for this reason that I finished reading Secrets Of The Italian Gardener feeling completely disturbed.
Alongside the metaphorical elements, there is an exciting plot as the compound in which the Italian gardener, Lou, is working and where the majority of the book is set comes under increasing threat as the people in the street become violent and rebellious. I was reminded of every similar scene I’ve witnessed vicariously on television and again I felt uncomfortable as Andrew Croft made me complicit in the action just by reading the story.
The gardening theme was an aspect that Andrew Croft handled with consummate skill. Gardening is seen as a benevolent activity, but the things planted in the pristine gardens of Mo’s compound are not what we might expect and there’s so much more to Lou, the gardener, than meets the eye. This aspect of Secrets Of The Italian Gardener left me feeling shocked and not a little naive.
Other themes of personal grief, loyalty, marriage and love mean that there is lightness to balance the shade in the prose so that, although this is a relatively short novella, there is much to ponder and contemplate. I found Secrets Of The Italian Gardener totally mesmerising as it took me on a journey about human nature and made me question who is innocent and who is guilty. Ultimately, however, it left me feeling hope. There is the chance for nature to heal.
Secrets Of The Italian Gardener is such a clever and disturbing book. Metaphorical (or maybe more accurately, metaphysical) and philosophical, Andrew Crofts makes the reader question every underlying principle in their life. Just how would they behave in the same circumstances as the ghost writer? The terrible sense of unease this book creates is enhanced by the fact we do not get the ghost writer’s name, just a first person account, so that he could be any one of us. I think I would do exactly the same as he and his wife Caroline and this worries me. The ghost writer sells his soul to the devil, but his reasons are fully understandable. It is for this reason that I finished reading Secrets Of The Italian Gardener feeling completely disturbed.
Alongside the metaphorical elements, there is an exciting plot as the compound in which the Italian gardener, Lou, is working and where the majority of the book is set comes under increasing threat as the people in the street become violent and rebellious. I was reminded of every similar scene I’ve witnessed vicariously on television and again I felt uncomfortable as Andrew Croft made me complicit in the action just by reading the story.
The gardening theme was an aspect that Andrew Croft handled with consummate skill. Gardening is seen as a benevolent activity, but the things planted in the pristine gardens of Mo’s compound are not what we might expect and there’s so much more to Lou, the gardener, than meets the eye. This aspect of Secrets Of The Italian Gardener left me feeling shocked and not a little naive.
Other themes of personal grief, loyalty, marriage and love mean that there is lightness to balance the shade in the prose so that, although this is a relatively short novella, there is much to ponder and contemplate. I found Secrets Of The Italian Gardener totally mesmerising as it took me on a journey about human nature and made me question who is innocent and who is guilty. Ultimately, however, it left me feeling hope. There is the chance for nature to heal.
September 2, 2013
I came upon "The Secrets of the Italian Gardener" because it was being touted as one of those publishiing success stories which began life on wattpad, was turned down by all the major publishing houses and is now being made into a movie.
The story is told through the eyes of the ghost-writer who has been called to write a biography of a wealthy middle-eastern dictator simply called "Mo". It intertwines his own personal crisis of conflict between needing money & his conscience, with the tale of the unrest looming outside the palace gates. Inside the palace, he meets an elderly Italian gardener Lou, who seems to radiate wisdom and peace. As conversations with the gardener go deeper, he begins to see his own life differently, as well as the tumultous world he is embroiled in.
On his blog Andrew Crofts says: "I have spent much of my ghostwriting career amongst the dictators, politicians, arms dealers and billionaires who hold the reins of power and control the wealth of the world, passing time in their lavish palaces and heavily guarded compounds in the wildest parts of Africa, Asia and the Middle East as well as in tax havens like Monaco, Geneva, Bermuda and the Caribbean."
Not as spiritually insightful as Ruth Ozeki's "A Tale For The Time Being" nor as beautifully written as Tan Twan Eng's "Garden of The Evening Mists", the book nevertheless manages to capture a raw, real story.
In the voice of ghost-writer, it offers a deceptively simple portrait of a moment in time - a complex time when goodness and evil in international politics are not so clear. What I enjoyed was peeking into the other side of the breaking news we watch on CNN - what happens inside the palaces during movements like the Arab Spring.
Overall, if you are looking for a quick, easy read with an inspirational bent, this is a good choice.
The story is told through the eyes of the ghost-writer who has been called to write a biography of a wealthy middle-eastern dictator simply called "Mo". It intertwines his own personal crisis of conflict between needing money & his conscience, with the tale of the unrest looming outside the palace gates. Inside the palace, he meets an elderly Italian gardener Lou, who seems to radiate wisdom and peace. As conversations with the gardener go deeper, he begins to see his own life differently, as well as the tumultous world he is embroiled in.
On his blog Andrew Crofts says: "I have spent much of my ghostwriting career amongst the dictators, politicians, arms dealers and billionaires who hold the reins of power and control the wealth of the world, passing time in their lavish palaces and heavily guarded compounds in the wildest parts of Africa, Asia and the Middle East as well as in tax havens like Monaco, Geneva, Bermuda and the Caribbean."
Not as spiritually insightful as Ruth Ozeki's "A Tale For The Time Being" nor as beautifully written as Tan Twan Eng's "Garden of The Evening Mists", the book nevertheless manages to capture a raw, real story.
In the voice of ghost-writer, it offers a deceptively simple portrait of a moment in time - a complex time when goodness and evil in international politics are not so clear. What I enjoyed was peeking into the other side of the breaking news we watch on CNN - what happens inside the palaces during movements like the Arab Spring.
Overall, if you are looking for a quick, easy read with an inspirational bent, this is a good choice.
July 3, 2017
I wasn't quite sure what to expect from SECRETS OF THE ITALIAN GARDENER by Andrew Crofts, but it wasn't this deeply insightful, often disturbing, short novel that would leave me uneasy and uncomfortable throughout.
We follow the actions of the ghostwriter, who always remains nameless in this tale, as they try to piece together the life of a powerful dictator. Confined within the palace with plenty of time to ponder and brood, the ghostwriter happens upon an Italian gardener who opens up the ghostwriter's eyes to what is truly happening in this place, and forces past tragedies back into the present.
Extremely clever and well-written, there is a dark sense of foreboding and shadow constantly in play throughout this story which really left me edgy and on alert at all times. The narrative comes alive in the SECRETS OF THE ITALIAN GARDENER by Andrew Crofts and like the flowers on the cover, the story bursts from the pages and really grips you from start to finish.
An unusual story, SECRETS OF THE ITALIAN GARDENER by Andrew Crofts is unique and well worth reading.
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the Publisher
We follow the actions of the ghostwriter, who always remains nameless in this tale, as they try to piece together the life of a powerful dictator. Confined within the palace with plenty of time to ponder and brood, the ghostwriter happens upon an Italian gardener who opens up the ghostwriter's eyes to what is truly happening in this place, and forces past tragedies back into the present.
Extremely clever and well-written, there is a dark sense of foreboding and shadow constantly in play throughout this story which really left me edgy and on alert at all times. The narrative comes alive in the SECRETS OF THE ITALIAN GARDENER by Andrew Crofts and like the flowers on the cover, the story bursts from the pages and really grips you from start to finish.
An unusual story, SECRETS OF THE ITALIAN GARDENER by Andrew Crofts is unique and well worth reading.
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the Publisher
July 8, 2017
Review originally posted on The Bibliophile Chronicles
This little novella completely surprised me in the best way. It may only be 145 pages long, but it manages to explore a whole lot in that short period. It managed to keep me guessing the whole way though, and there was more than a few shock twists. If you’re looking for a quick read that will grip you from the get go, Secrets of the Italian Gardener will definitely be the book for you!
I think this book has a really interesting premise. Mo is a wealthy dictator of a country dealing with civil unrest, who hires a ghostwriter in order to tell his story. He lives in a beautiful palace, and I found the depictions of the beautiful gardens versus the sounds of explosions and gunfire really striking. There is that sense of unease that lingers throughout the ghost writer’s time in the palace. There is definitely more going on than meets the eye, and he is unable to find out more due to the extreme amount of security. The writing is really beautiful, and it definitely keeps the reader wanting more. The books characters are all extremely well portrayed, from Mo, the elusive dictator who only wants the good aspects of his character to come out, to Caroline, the wife of the main character. I really liked Lo, who was once Mo’s second in command, but decided that life as a gardener was much simpler.
For such a short novella, the book deals with a lot of different themes. It deals with grief, and the loss of a family member and what that does to those left behind. It also deals with political unrest, and what happens when a country needs to see change in their systems. But most importantly, Secrets of the Italian Gardner deals with family and friendships, and how these are the most important things in life, far more than money, fame and success. I also found it really interesting that Crofts managed to slip in a discussion on the morals of taking such a job as ghostwriting the autobiography of a wealthy dictator. The character’s wife Caroline scoffs and suggests he shouldn’t take it, they only want him for his credible reputation, however he takes it, which raises the question of how far someone will go for a large sum of money, even if it is outwith their beliefs.
Secrets of the Italian Gardener is a very powerful novel, and one that stayed with me long after I’d finished reading. I wasn’t as keen on the ending of the book as I was the rest of the story, but I think that was partly because it was the complete opposite of what I expected to happen. I enjoyed it from beginning to end and it is probably my favourite piece of literary fiction that I’ve read this year. A powerful and thought provoking book!
This little novella completely surprised me in the best way. It may only be 145 pages long, but it manages to explore a whole lot in that short period. It managed to keep me guessing the whole way though, and there was more than a few shock twists. If you’re looking for a quick read that will grip you from the get go, Secrets of the Italian Gardener will definitely be the book for you!
I think this book has a really interesting premise. Mo is a wealthy dictator of a country dealing with civil unrest, who hires a ghostwriter in order to tell his story. He lives in a beautiful palace, and I found the depictions of the beautiful gardens versus the sounds of explosions and gunfire really striking. There is that sense of unease that lingers throughout the ghost writer’s time in the palace. There is definitely more going on than meets the eye, and he is unable to find out more due to the extreme amount of security. The writing is really beautiful, and it definitely keeps the reader wanting more. The books characters are all extremely well portrayed, from Mo, the elusive dictator who only wants the good aspects of his character to come out, to Caroline, the wife of the main character. I really liked Lo, who was once Mo’s second in command, but decided that life as a gardener was much simpler.
For such a short novella, the book deals with a lot of different themes. It deals with grief, and the loss of a family member and what that does to those left behind. It also deals with political unrest, and what happens when a country needs to see change in their systems. But most importantly, Secrets of the Italian Gardner deals with family and friendships, and how these are the most important things in life, far more than money, fame and success. I also found it really interesting that Crofts managed to slip in a discussion on the morals of taking such a job as ghostwriting the autobiography of a wealthy dictator. The character’s wife Caroline scoffs and suggests he shouldn’t take it, they only want him for his credible reputation, however he takes it, which raises the question of how far someone will go for a large sum of money, even if it is outwith their beliefs.
Secrets of the Italian Gardener is a very powerful novel, and one that stayed with me long after I’d finished reading. I wasn’t as keen on the ending of the book as I was the rest of the story, but I think that was partly because it was the complete opposite of what I expected to happen. I enjoyed it from beginning to end and it is probably my favourite piece of literary fiction that I’ve read this year. A powerful and thought provoking book!
June 27, 2017
Secrets of the Italian Gardener is a novella but for a short read it certainly packs plenty in. The ghost writer is in the Middle East in what he knows could be a dangerous place, trying to help a dictator to write his autobiography. It doesn't take much to imagine the situation, the surroundings, the regime and then the violent uprising as we've all seen this kind of thing unfold in the news.
The book surprised me. It started out having me wondering if it was going to be too dry for me and then completely drew me into the story. The Italian Gardener of the title is an interesting man whom the ghost writer meets at the palace. Seemingly living a simple life in the middle of his friend, the dictator's regime, there is much more to him than meets the eye.
Told in the first person by the ghost writer (who remains nameless), there is a sense of foreboding throughout. There is also a moral question here: one of how far will you go for money?
I found this book to be totally absorbing. Interestingly the author has been in similar situations to the ghost writer in the story which adds another dimension to it for me in that I'm wondering how much of the events he actually experienced himself.
This book is not quite my usual sort of read but one which I found fascinating, interesting and compelling.
The book surprised me. It started out having me wondering if it was going to be too dry for me and then completely drew me into the story. The Italian Gardener of the title is an interesting man whom the ghost writer meets at the palace. Seemingly living a simple life in the middle of his friend, the dictator's regime, there is much more to him than meets the eye.
Told in the first person by the ghost writer (who remains nameless), there is a sense of foreboding throughout. There is also a moral question here: one of how far will you go for money?
I found this book to be totally absorbing. Interestingly the author has been in similar situations to the ghost writer in the story which adds another dimension to it for me in that I'm wondering how much of the events he actually experienced himself.
This book is not quite my usual sort of read but one which I found fascinating, interesting and compelling.
August 18, 2023
Fucking excellent. Read in a day. Knew there was something fishy about the Italian from page one. He was too charming with his disagreeable philosophy. But perhaps he was right - all things are mended by soil.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2017
Wow just wow! Full review will be on www.hayleyreviews10.wordpress.com
October 9, 2017
I am sorry to say that I could not get on with this but I am sure a lot would like it.
November 17, 2017
A lovely tale. The story is told almost as a biography so one wonders which of the events are true and which are fiction. It was a pleasure to read.
January 20, 2014
In the Secrets of the Italian Gardener, Mo, a Middle Eastern dictator enlists the help of a ghost-writer, ostensibly to write his autobiography, whilst at the same time enshrining his dictatorship in history. Once inside the luxurious palace, the ghost-writer finds his time with Mo to be quite challenging, and it is only when he meets with the eponymous Italian gardener, that he can start to rationalise, not just the atmosphere inside the palace, but also to understand the challenging events in his own life.
This well thought out novella takes the reader into the inner sanctum of a Middle Eastern dictator. The story is quite fascinating and the thoughtful nature of the prose allows remarkable insight into the greed and corruption which lies at the heart of a fraudulent regime. The author clearly knows and understands this world, and uses this knowledge to good effect.
If you are looking for something just a little bit different, then I think that this perceptive little story is well worth a read.
This well thought out novella takes the reader into the inner sanctum of a Middle Eastern dictator. The story is quite fascinating and the thoughtful nature of the prose allows remarkable insight into the greed and corruption which lies at the heart of a fraudulent regime. The author clearly knows and understands this world, and uses this knowledge to good effect.
If you are looking for something just a little bit different, then I think that this perceptive little story is well worth a read.
December 10, 2013
Difficult to define and delightfully unexpected, this novella is an excellent read.
A dual narrative draws the reader into the present-day world of a Middle-Eastern dictator struggling to retain power in the events of the Arab Spring, while the ghostwriter hired to pen his autobiography wrestles with painful memories of a past tragedy. The eponymous gardener is rather more than what he seems, sharing observations and philosophies on the personal and political.
I read this on a plane journey, which seemed the perfect environment to lose myself to this well-woven adventure. I found a parallel in the realistic environment of the palace, an oasis of luxury amid the cruelty and chaos of the outside world, and the narrator’s mind, where he yearns to escape his constant grief. But the walls, inevitably, come tumbling down.
Robert Harris meets Paulo Coelho in a thoughtful, intelligent story.
A dual narrative draws the reader into the present-day world of a Middle-Eastern dictator struggling to retain power in the events of the Arab Spring, while the ghostwriter hired to pen his autobiography wrestles with painful memories of a past tragedy. The eponymous gardener is rather more than what he seems, sharing observations and philosophies on the personal and political.
I read this on a plane journey, which seemed the perfect environment to lose myself to this well-woven adventure. I found a parallel in the realistic environment of the palace, an oasis of luxury amid the cruelty and chaos of the outside world, and the narrator’s mind, where he yearns to escape his constant grief. But the walls, inevitably, come tumbling down.
Robert Harris meets Paulo Coelho in a thoughtful, intelligent story.
December 29, 2013
This was a great book with excellent characters. The plot is compelling and clever, as you would expect. A very different take on an interesting subject - highly rec as an enjoyable read!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews