Homo Faber by Max Frisch — The most celebrated Swiss-German novel of the 20th century. Frisch sets significant scenes in Ticino, and the Swiss-Italian border country runs through the book as a kind of psychological threshold. Essential reading for anyone interested in modern Swiss literature.
Peter Camenzind by Hermann Hesse — Hesse moved to Ticino in 1919 and lived there for the rest of his life, in the village of Montagnola just above Lugano. This early novel, set partly in the Swiss countryside, shows the pull of the Italian south that would eventually draw him there permanently. His later Ticino work is suffused with the light and landscape of the region.
The Rough Guide to Switzerland — The most thorough English-language travel guide for the country, with a detailed Ticino chapter covering Lugano, Locarno, Bellinzona, and the surrounding valleys. Useful for planning day trips and understanding the wider region.
The Italian Lakes by Lucy Ratcliffe (Cadogan Guides) — Covers the full sweep of the Italian lakes — Como, Maggiore, Garda — with sections on Lugano, which occupies an ambiguous position straddling the Swiss-Italian border. Good context for visitors combining Lugano with the Italian lake towns.