The Italians - Softcover

Barzini, Luigi

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0140145958 ISBN 13: 9780140145953

Publisher: Penguin, 1991

Synopsis

The 'fatal charm of Italy' has held Lord Byron – and millions of tourists ever since – in its spell. Yet, beneath 'the brilliant and vivacious surface', what are the realities of Italian life? Few writers have ever painted a portrait of their compatriots as crisp, frank and fearless as Luigi Barzini's. Cutting through the familiar clichés, he instructs us with a cascade of anecdotes and provides a marvellous guided tour through centuries of history. He examines Machiavelli and Mussolini, popes, pilgrims and prostitutes, cliques and conspiracies, Casanova and the crippling power of the Church. Yet alongside the Baroque exuberance and spectacular display, the love of life and the life of love, he also shows us a divided nation, injustice, ignorance, poverty and fear. All this is Italy, a country of dazzling achievement and an uncanny aptitude for getting round problems; both its virtues and its vices are celebrated in this sparkling book

About this title

Review:

"The New Yorker"

Searching into every corner of Italian life and scrutinizing every cliche concerning it, from the charm of the people (an illusion, he maintains) to the consolations of "la dolce vita" (another one), Mr. Barzini has written an invaluable and astringent guidebook to his country.

"The New Yorker"Searching into every corner of Italian life and scrutinizing every cliche concerning it, from the charm of the people (an illusion, he maintains) to the consolations of "la dolce vita" (another one), Mr. Barzini has written an invaluable and astringent guidebook to his country.

"The New Yorker" Searching into every corner of Italian life and scrutinizing every cliche concerning it, from the charm of the people (an illusion, he maintains) to the consolations of "la dolce vita" (another one), Mr. Barzini has written an invaluable and astringent guidebook to his country."

The New Yorker Searching into every corner of Italian life and scrutinizing every cliche concerning it, from the charm of the people (an illusion, he maintains) to the consolations of la dolce vita (another one), Mr. Barzini has written an invaluable and astringent guidebook to his country.

About the Author:

Luigi Barzini, was born in Milan, Italy, in 1908. After completing his studies in Italy and at Columbia University, he worked for two New York newspapers. He returned to Italy in 1930 to become a correspondent for "Corriere della Sera." In 1940 he was confined by the Fascists. With the Allied liberation he returned to publishing and founded "Il Globo." Subsequently he served as the chief editor of several newspapers and magazines. His books include "Americans Are Alone in the World" (1958), "From Caesar to the Mafia" (1971), and "Peking to Paris" (1973). He died in 1984.

About this edition

• Publisher: Penguin
• Publication date: 1991
• ISBN 10: 0140145958
• ISBN 13: 9780140145953
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 400