Lina Duff Gordon

Born Caroline Lucie Duff-Gordon in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France, in 1874, she later became widely known as Lina Waterfield. She came from a notably literary family and, after her mother's death, was brought up in close connection with her aunt Janet Ross, an important writer and hostess in Florence.

Her writing is closely tied to Italy. Under the name Lina Duff Gordon, she published books including The Story of Assisi and Home Life in Italy, and she also worked as a journalist and correspondent. Sources describing her life also note her role in founding the British Institute of Florence, reflecting how fully her literary and personal life were rooted in Anglo-Italian cultural life.

She died in 1964. Today she is remembered for nonfiction that opens a window onto Italian history, art, and everyday life with warmth and clarity.