Al Dente, The Adventures of a Gastronome in Italy  •  William Black FOOD •  2004 •  PAPER  • 368 PAGES Clearly besotted by food, William Black travels throughout Italy in search of food and experience. (ITL548, $13.95)
Architecture in Italy 1500-1600  •  Wolfgang Lotz  •  Deborah Howard ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1995 •  PAPER  • 205 PAGES A classic, comprehensive introduction to 16th-century Italian architecture. In this highly readable book, Lotz discusses the work of Renaissance architects including Bramante, Giulio Roman, Michelangelo and Palladio. Originally published in 1974 as part two of "Architecture in Italy, 1400-1600." With hundreds of color photographs and site plans, the book is an excellent companion for visitors to Venice, Florence or Rome. (ITL247, $37.00)
The Architecture of the Italian Renaissance  •  Peter Murray ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1997 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES A classic, informative guide to Renaissance architecture throughout Italy, with black-and-white photographs and site plans. Beginning with the 14th century, Murray surveys major works and influences through the Italian Renaissance up to the 17th century. Ideal for travelers to Italy with an interest in architecture. (ITL34, $17.95)
The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini  •  Benvenuto Cellini  •  George Bull BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1999 •  PAPER  • 465 PAGES A fascinating glimpse at a man and an era, this translation of the autobiography of the Renaissance goldsmith and sculptor Benvenuto Cellini not only documents his fascinating life, but evokes the figures and society of 16th century Italy. (ITL172, $14.00)
Bella Tuscany, The Sweet Life in Italy  •  Frances Mayes TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 286 PAGES In this sequel to "Under the Tuscan Sun," best-selling author Frances Mayes goes out in search of Italian Life in the small town of Cortona. (ITL224, $15.00)
Berlitz Tuscany and Umbria  •  Berlitz Pocket Guides  •  Steven Brewer GUIDEBOOK •  1999 •  PAPER  • 144 PAGES A shirt pocket guide to two of Italy's best-known regions with essential travel information, a few photos and some very useful maps. (ITL293, $8.95)
Birds of Europe  •  Killian Mullarney  •  Lars Svensson  •  Dan Zetterstrom  •  Peter J. Grant FIELD GUIDE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 400 PAGES • FAVORITE This Princeton Field Guide features 3,500 illustrations by Killian Mullarney and Dan Zetterstrom. Color plates depict every species -- and sometimes several different variants -- for 722 birds found from the Urals to the Atlantic, Scandinavia to the Middle East. (FG47, $29.95)
The Birth of Venus, A Novel  •  Sarah Dunant LITERATURE •  2004 •  PAPER  • 397 PAGES This tasty tale of art, passion, politics and danger, memorably set in Renaissance Florence in the days after the death of the powerful Lorenzo de Medici in 1492, comes to us from British novelist, broadcaster and critic Sarah Dunant, who brings her experience as the creator of the private investigator Hannah Wolfe to this new era. The malevolent political reformer (and zealot) Girolamo Savonarola figures prominently -- and even Michelangelo makes an appearance. Not surprisingly, Dunant divides her time between London and Florence, which she so vividly depicts. A runaway bestseller. (ITL532, $13.95)
Blue Guide Tuscany  •  Alta MacAdam GUIDEBOOK •  2002 •  PAPER  • 575 PAGES A guide to the cultural riches of Tuscany with a focus on history, art and architecture. Serious-minded travelers will not want to be without it. (ITL43, $24.95)
Casa Rossa  •  Francesca Marciano LITERATURE •  2003 •  PAPER  • 340 PAGES This is Italian filmmaker Marciano's second attempt at the pen, her first being a novel of Kenya, titled Rules of the Wild. This second popular novel, set in Southern Italy, Rome, and New York City, follows the lives of a mother, daughter, and granddaughter, and their ties to modern Italy. The novel opens as the narrator, Alina Strada, prepares to sell the family farm (Casa Rossa) in Puglia. The author, as you might guess, divides her time between Italy and Kenya. (ITL534, $14.95)
Central Italy Map  •  Touring Club Italiano MAP A regional map of Central Italy, including Tuscany, Umbria and Rome, at a scale of 1:400,000. (ITL103, $12.95)
The City of Florence, Historical Vistas and Personal Sightings  •  R.W.B. Lewis CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1996 •  PAPER  • 350 PAGES • FAVORITE A personal and vivid tour of the city and its riches which interweaves Florence's history with personal observation by the fine biographer of Edith Wharton and Henry James. Lewis has written what he calls "a partial biography of Florence." (ITL47, $19.00)
The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy  •  Jacob Burckhardt  •  S. G. C. Middlemore  •  Peter Gay HISTORY •  2002 •  PAPER  • 401 PAGES While focusing on the flowering of art and culture in Renaissance Italy, Burckhardt maintains a keen interest in the nature of civilization itself in this Victorian classic -- originally published in this translation in 1878. He covers state, art, society, religion, morality, philosophy and other topics of universal interest. In a new Modern Library edition. (ITL307, $15.95)
Classic Italian Jewish Cooking  •  Edda Servi Machlin FOOD •  2005 •  HARD COVER  • 254 PAGES The pioneering work on Jewish-Italian food, this classic cookbook retails the food traditions of Pitigliano, Tuscany, which was a thriving Jewish community as recently as 1943. Edda Servi Machlin, who fled the city before the advancing German army (as described in her memoir, "Child of the Ghetto," ITL382), here explains how the Jews of Pitigliano altered traditional Italian food to conform to dietary restrictions. The book is an invaluable record of a largely extinct culture; and the recipes are nothing short of excellent. (ITL383, $29.95)
A Concise History of Italy  •  Christopher Duggan HISTORY •  1994 •  PAPER  • 320 PAGES A history of Italy covering the period from the fall of the Roman Empire to the present day, with particular emphasis on the difficulties it has faced in forging a modern nation state. The book weaves together political, social, economic, and cultural history. (ITL35, $26.99)
Dante  •  R.W. Lewis BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2001 •  HARD COVER  • 224 PAGES An inviting, literate biography of the Florentine poet by the author of "The City of Florence, Historical Vistas and Personal Sightings" (ITL61). It's an entry in the "Penguin Lives" series. (ITL313, $19.95)
The Dark Heart of Italy  •  Tobias Jones TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2004 •  PAPER  • 272 PAGES An insightful portrait of contemporary Italy by an inquisitive British journalist author, who moved to Parma in 1999. Jones roamed widely in Italy, soaking in art, society and politics. It's the fame, popularity and audacity of Berlusconi at the heart of the book. (ITL533, $15.00)
Edith Wharton's Italian Gardens  •  Vivian Russell BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1997 •  HARD COVER  • 192 PAGES Edith Wharton's essays on the magnificent villa gardens of Lombardy, Veneto, Florence, Siena and Rome are as full of interest today as when they were first published in 1904. With commentary and color photographs of the villas and gardens by Vivian Russell, who retraced Wharton's journeys. She includes literary excerpts by Wharton, Charles Dickens, Henry James and other admirers. (ITL716, $45.00)
Etruscan Art  •  Nigel Spivey ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1997 •  PAPER  • 216 PAGES A thoroughly-illustrated, wide-ranging and literate introduction to Etruscan art. A volume in the acclaimed "World of Art" series. (ITL68, $18.95)
The Etruscans  •  Graeme Barker  •  Tom Rasmussen HISTORY •  2000 •  PAPER  • 379 PAGES An illustrated history of the Etruscans, the inhabitants of west-central Italy in the days before the Roman Republic. Using the most recent archaeological evidence, the authors detail the culture, economics and inscriptions of this ancient people. A volume in the "Peoples of Europe" series. (ITL169, $41.95)
Eyewitness Guide Florence & Tuscany  •  Eyewitness Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 312 PAGES This superb guide features color photography, dozens of excellent maps and a neighborhood-by-neighborhood synopsis of the region's attractions. (ITL46, $23.00)
Eyewitness Guide Italy  •  Eyewitness Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 674 PAGES Another gem in the Eyewitness series, this superb guide is handsome, convenient and up-to-date; it's the guide to carry. Featuring color photography, dozens of excellent local maps and a region-by-region synopsis of the country's attractions. (ITL32, $30.00)
Eyewitness Guide Umbria  •  Eyewitness Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2004 •  PAPER  • 192 PAGES A marvelously illustrated, compact guide to the culture, history and attractions of Umbria, organized geographically and especially helpful for its innovative site plans, building diagrams and local maps. With select, annotated listings of where to eat and sleep and what to buy. (ITL512, $20.00)
Florence Map  •  Borch Maps 2006 •  MAP A detailed, plastic-covered city map of Florence at a scale of 1:7,000. Folds for easy carrying. (ITL59, $7.95)
Fodor's Exploring Italy  •  Fodor's GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES With its many photographs, great introductory chapters and practical travel information, this book is an excellent overview of Italy and its attractions for visitors. Featuring separate sections on suggested places to visit, recommended walks, practical information, descriptions of restaurants and hotels, ratings of sights, and a chronology of historic events. (ITL73, $22.00)
Fodor's See It Italy  •  Fodor's GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 462 PAGES An inaugural volume in this new line of guides by Fodor's this book is notable for its especially vibrant presentation of the country. Each page displays full-color photos accompanied by much useful information on how to eat, sleep, shop, and sightsee in Italy. With seven sections choc-full of tips to help make your visit memorable. The "Out and About" section features pre-planned walking and touring routes such as "A Lover's Walk in the Cinque Terre," "A Wine Tour from Alba to Cuneo" and "The Salentine Peninsula." (ITL550, $24.95)
For the Beauty of the Earth: Birding, Opera, and Other Journeys  •  Thomas Urquhart BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2006 •  PAPER  • 320 PAGES Urquhart chronicles a lifelong affair with nature, combined with a passion for music, as he travels-- and bird watches-- through pastoral England, Italy, the Camargue in Provence, and the villages of Mali. (BRD35, $15.00)
Frommer's Tuscany & Umbria  •  Reid Bramblett GUIDEBOOK •  2004 •  PAPER  • 450 PAGES A practical guide in the popular series, revised annually. (ITL83, $19.99)
Galileo's Daughter, A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith and Love  •  Dava Sobel BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2000 •  PAPER  • 448 PAGES Dava Sobel evokes the daily life and mindset of 17th-century Italy in this engaging tale, which draws on the surviving letters to Galileo from his illegitimate daughter, a nun in a Franciscan convent in San Matteo near Florence. Sobel, author of the acclaimed "Longitude," is a master storyteller. (ITL176, $16.00)
The Gothic Enterprise, A Guide to Understanding the Medieval Cathedral  •  Robert A. Scott ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2005 •  PAPER  • 307 PAGES Scott, whose interest in the history of cathedrals began when he first saw the magnificent Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Salisbury, England, takes his reader on a historical, architectural and sociological tour of the magnificent spires and stained-glass windows that dot the landscape of Europe. It's an accessible, personable overview. (EUR190, $17.95)
Here Is Where We Meet  •  John Berger LITERATURE •  2006 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES This novel weaves a portrait of several European countries through encounters with the dead, from the narrator's mother, whom he discovers on a park bench in Lisbon, to a childhood friend wandering a market in Krakow. "The dead don't stay where they are buried," the protagonist's mother tells him, and this becomes the mantra for this most unusual journey through Europe's history and people. (EUR189, $14.00)
The Hill Towns of Italy  •  Carol Field  •  Richard Kauffman CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1997 •  PAPER  • 116 PAGES • COMING IN A delightful illustrated survey of the towns, people and countryside of Tuscany and Umbria by a favorite writer on things Italian. The book devotes a chapter each to 13 towns in the region including Sienna, San Gimignano, Cortona, Perugia, Assisi and Orvieto. With an overview of Tuscany and Umbria, and dozens of full-color photographs. (ITL96, $19.95)
The Hills of Tuscany, A New Life in an Old Land  •  Ferenc Mate TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1999 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES A memoir of the author and his wife, a painter, living among farmers in rural Tuscany. Mate's love of Italy, and especially of its food, comes through loud and clear. (ITL155, $15.00)
The House of Medici, Its Rise and Fall  •  Christopher Hibbert HISTORY •  1982 •  PAPER  • 364 PAGES This is a great book to read before going to Florence, where the influence of the Medicis and the artists they supported is still very much in evidence. It's a history of the powerful Florentine family by the entertaining and informative Christopher Hibbert. He evokes the Medici and their reign over Florence in the 1500's, and the political intrigue and violence of those times. (ITL135, $16.00)
Il Postino  •  Michael Radford 1995 •  DVD The Italian comic actor Massino Troisi stars as a shy Italian postman living in a small fishing village on a Mediterranean island off the coast of Italy who learns the ways of poetry and romance while delivering mail to the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda. In Italian with subtitles. (ITL541, $19.99)
In Tuscany  •  Bob Krist  •  Frances Mayes BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2000 •  HARD COVER  • 269 PAGES An edition of Maye's warm, anecdotal account of life on her now-restored Tuscan estate, much enhanced by Bob Krist's color photographs. (ITL348, $35.00)
The Inferno of Dante, A New Verse Translation  •  Dante Alighieri  •  Robert Pinsky LITERATURE •  1996 •  PAPER  • 355 PAGES The celebrated modern translation of Dante's "Inferno" by former Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky. An accessible and elegant rendering of the classic text, enhanced by an introduction and notes. (ITL411, $11.00)
Innocence  •  Penelope Fitzgerald LITERATURE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 224 PAGES Salvatore is a poor doctor; Chiara is the last progeny of the aristocratic Ridolfi clan; they fall in love, and love makes them miserable. It's a comedy, set in mid-twentieth century Italy, by the inimitable Penelope Fitzgerald. The fantastic first chapter alone would be worth the cover price. (ITL317, $12.00)
Insight Guide Italy  •  Insight Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER In its hallmark style, this glossy guide is a full-color introduction to the land, people and history of Italy written by a team of experts. Brief background essays highlight important topics. With sections on Italian food and wine, cinema, music and opera. Much of the book is devoted to a regional survey of attractions. (ITL108, $23.95)
Insight Guide Mediterranean Cruises  •  Insight Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2004 •  PAPER  • 300 PAGES Covering 120 ports of call throughout the Mediterranean from the Canary Islands to Egypt. (MED94, $22.95)
Inventing Leonardo  •  A. Richard Turner BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1994 •  PAPER  • 268 PAGES Turner, a leading art historian of the Renaissance, offers a lively appraisal of the controversial genius. It's an elegant and stimulating book. (ITL79, $22.95)
Italian Days  •  Barbara Grizzuti Harrison TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 479 PAGES • FAVORITE A literary celebration, portrait and guide to Italy and the Italians. Barbara Grizzuti Harrison writes with warmth and depth of her journey from Milan south to Calabria in this sprightly account. It's one of our favorite books about place. (ITL02, $15.00)
Italian English Bilingual Visual Dictionary  •  DK Publishing LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS •  2005 •  PAPER  • 360 PAGES With thousands of neatly arranged color photographs, this compact book is impressively comprehensive, covering everything from the basics of la casa (house) to the vocabulary of le granaglie e i legumi secchi (grains and legumes). With a handy reference section in the back. (ITL626, $12.95)
Italian Folktales  •  Italo Calvino LITERATURE •  1992 •  PAPER  • 763 PAGES A seminal collection of 200 folk tales, retold by a modern master who never lost his affection for the folkloric traditions of his childhood. (ITL314, $25.00)
Italian Hours  •  Henry James TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1992 •  PAPER  • 376 PAGES A classic series of travel essays written between 1872 and 1909 on the art, religion and people of Italy. James is an observant guide to Rome, Naples, Florence and other great destinations in the 19th century. (ITL07, $16.00)
Italian Indispensables Vocabulary Builder  •  Audio-Forum LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS •  CASETTE TAPE A short audio program wiith 50 common words and phrases for travelers. (ITL401, $9.95)
The Italians  •  Luigi Barzini CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1996 •  PAPER  • 352 PAGES The definitive portrait of the Italian people, noteworthy for its insight, grace and wit. It's a classic, scholarly essay on the Italian character, still worthwhile though first published in 1964. Much historical information is included. Highly recommended. (ITL05, $16.00)
Italy and Its Invaders  •  Girolamo Arnaldi HISTORY •  2005 •  HARD COVER  • 240 PAGES A wide-ranging history of the many empires and world powers that have invaded Italy, with either success or failure, and their lasting influences, both positive and negative, on Italian art, architecture and culture up to the present day. (ITL661, $19.95)
Italy in Mind  •  Alice Powers LITERATURE •  1997 •  PAPER  • 349 PAGES A terrific collection of some of the best literary writing on Italy, including pieces by Melville, Lawrence, Henry James, Mary McCarthy and many others. Each piece (they tend to run about 5-7 pages) is introduced thoroughly with a description of its historical, geographical, or literary context. Great reading. (ITL39, $14.95)
Italy Map  •  Borch Maps 2006 •  MAP A convenient laminated map of Italy at a scale of 1:800,000 with excellent topographic detail, an index, and large individual maps of Sicily and Sardinia. (ITL19, $11.95)
Italy Northeast Map  •  Michelin Travel Publications MAP An excellent map at a scale of 1:400,000, covering the northeast region of Italy including Bolzano, Verona, Bologna, and Firenze. (ITL72, $8.95)
Italy, A Short History  •  Harry Hearder HISTORY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 294 PAGES Elegantly written, generous and enormously informative, this compact book takes in the fell sweep of Italian history from the Roman Republic up to the present, including the Renaissance and World War II. It has a welcome focus on the essential unity of Italian civilizations, as well as maps and a chronology. This revised second edition of the late Harry Hearder's classic book includes a new chapter by Jonathan Morris on recent history. (ITL56, $24.99)
Italy, A Traveler's Literary Companion  •  Lawrence Venuti ANTHOLOGY •  2003 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES This collection of tales by diverse Italian writers, organized geographically, captures the spirit, history and allure of the country. Not just a literary companion, this anthology is also a who's who of contemporary Italian writers. Bravo. (ITL466, $14.95)
Italy, Charming Small Hotels  •  Fiona Duncan GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 468 PAGES A pocket-size guide to unusual places to stay throughout Italy, this useful book features a color photograph and description of each villa, castle or other small hotel. (ITL92, $19.95)
La Dolce Vita  •  Federico Fellini 1960 •  DVD Fellini's celebrated masterpiece which stars Marcello Mastroianni as Marcello Rubini, a Roman tabloid reporter who fully indugles in the decadence of "la dolce vita"-- sex, money, and alcohol. Anita Ekberg is the American starlet whom Marcello takes up with. In Italian with subtitles. Part of the Criterion Collection. (ITL543, $34.98)
Leonardo da Vinci  •  Kenneth Clark BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1993 •  PAPER With 128 well integrated plates and a useful chronology, this authoritative and informative book has become the standard introduction to da Vinci and his work. (ITL78, $21.95)
The Little Flowers of St. Francis  •  W. Heywood  •  Ugolino  •  Madeleine L'Engle LITERATURE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 120 PAGES Classic tales attributed to St. Francis, divided into 50 vignettes, including the story of the wolf of Gubbio, set along the Franciscan Way. (ITL132, $13.00)
The Lives of the Artists, Vol 1  •  Giorgio Vasari  •  Julia Conway and Peter Bondanella BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1987 •  PAPER  • 477 PAGES Vasari offers short biographies of the art and lives of his Renaissance contemporaries in this classic and much-discussed book written in the mid-16th century. He focuses on painters both great and lesser-known, including Giotto, Michelangelo, Titian and others. This edition includes parts one, two and three of the huge original work. (ITL17, $14.00)
Lonely Planet Tuscany & Umbria  •  Damien Simonis GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 352 PAGES This practical guide to Tuscany is the first edition and it features 30 maps, a good overview of culture, history and nature, and plenty of information on excursions, accommodations and sightseeing. It also includes 28 pages of color photographs. (ITL233, $19.99)
M, The Man Who Became Caravaggio  •  Peter Robb BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2000 •  PAPER  • 592 PAGES A masterful biography of the Renaissance painter by the author of "Midnight in Sicily." (ART47, $20.00)
Mammals of Europe  •  Priscilla Barrett  •  David W. MacDonald FIELD GUIDE •  2002 •  PAPER  • 320 PAGES Published by Princeton, this is a field guide to land and marine mammals throughout Europe, both endemic and introduced. With more than 600 color illustrations of over 200 mammals, it's a comprehensive handbook, with detailed descriptions, range maps and commentary on behavior. (FG61, $34.95)
Master and Commander, The Far Side of the World  •  Peter Weir LITERATURE •  2003 •  DVD Peter Weir's exciting adaptation of two of Patrick O'Brian's popular novels, "Master and Commander" and "The Far Side of the World," starring Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany. Crowe is Captain Jack Aubrey, whose British ship, the HMS Surprise, is battling a mysterious French ship off the coast of Cape Horn during the Napoleonic Wars of 1805. An extended sequenced filmed on the Galapagos marks one of the first times the islands have been depicted in a feature film. (GPS66, $39.98)
Michelin Green Guide Tuscany  •  Michelin Travel Publications GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 384 PAGES A thorough introduction to the region in the classic Michelin style, featuring brief descriptions of all the major attractions. We include it for its broad coverage, and especially for its excellent local maps. (ITL139, $21.95)
The Middle Sea, A History of the Mediterranean  •  John Julius Norwich HISTORY •  2007 •  PAPER  • 720 PAGES • NEW A marvelous writer who has already tackled Byzantium, the Normans in Sicily and Venice, Norwich spins his magic in this story of culture, trade and politics, royalty and rulers, wars and religion in the Mediterranean from antiquity to the end of the First World War. (MED98, $20.00)
Modigliani  •  Doris Krystof ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 96 PAGES This slim illustrated book, part of Taschen's Basic Art series, showcases Modigliani's distinct colorful style of painting and portraiture, and places him within the context of his bohemian contemporaries (and friends), such as Pablo Picasso and Diego Rivera. (ART44, $9.99)
The Olive, Tree of Civilization  •  John Train  •  Mark E. Smith HISTORY •  2004 •  HARD COVER  • 128 PAGES A history of the celebrated vegetable and the mythology behind it. (NAT72, $25.00)
One-Hundred & One Beautiful Small Towns in Italy  •  Paolo Lazzarin GUIDEBOOK •  2004 •  HARD COVER  • 276 PAGES A handsome book highlighting Italy's charming and scenic villages. Featuring color photographs and an overview of history and attractions, favorite accommodations and restaurants by photographer-journalist Lazzarin. Translated from the Italian (the book was originally published for the Italian market as an introduction to unique and wonderful places throughout the country). (ITL546, $45.00)
The Piero Della Francesca Trail  •  John Pope-Hennessy  •  Aldous Huxley ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2002 •  HARD COVER  • 88 PAGES In this slim guide, Pope-Hennessy traces the major paintings and frescoes of Piero found across Tuscany and Umbria. Origianlly published in 1993, this edition includes 52 color illustrations along with Aldous Huxley's infleuntial essay on Piero's Resurrection of Christ from Borgo San Sepolcro (The Best Picture), which inspired art historian Pope-Hennesy. (ITL409, $24.95)
Pilgrimages, The Great Adventure of the Middle Ages  •  John Ure HISTORY •  2006 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES (EUR202, $15.95)
Pimsleur Quick & Simple Italian  •  Pimsleur Language Method LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS •  2005 •  AUDIO CD Four audio CDs with eight 30-minute lessons in basic Italian, covering elementary vocabulary and phrases used in travel and everyday situations. The Pimsleur method emphasizes the use of listening skills without reading materials (so there isn't a book to follow along). It's advertised as "Totally audio: hear it, learn it, speak it." (ITL630, $19.95)
Renaissance Florence, The Invention of a New Art  •  A. Richard Turner ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1997 •  PAPER  • 176 PAGES Taking as his cue the great art and famous monuments of Florence, Turner explores the cultural and social history of the city. It's an art and architecture oriented guide with abundant color illustrations. A volume in the Prentice Hall Perspectives series. Second edition. (ITL50, $24.95)
Romola  •  George Eliot LITERATURE •  1996 •  PAPER  • 641 PAGES No light read, this historical novel features Macchiavelli and Savanarola among its pantheon of characters. At its heart are Romola -- the questing daughter of a Florentine atheist -- and her villainous husband Tito. George Eliot was ever a novelist of ideas, and in this farthest-flung of her books she considers matters of religion, politics and science as they played out in Florence after the expulsion of the Medici. It's a convincing portrait of a complicated age. (ITL318, $14.00)
A Room with a View  •  E.M. Forster LITERATURE •  1989 •  PAPER  • 248 PAGES E.M. Forster's classic tale of love among the middle classes, set largely in Florence. It's the early 20th century story of a young English woman who finds passion in Italy, but must face somewhat grim choices back home in England. Forster's prose is of course shimmering, Florence itself is lovingly evoked, and one gets a great sense of what grand travel abroad was like for the English in their glory days. (ITL142, $9.95)
Rough Guide Tuscany and Umbria  •  Jonathan Buckley  •  Tim Jepson GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 640 PAGES A no-nonsense, comprehensive travel guide with region-by-region descriptions and a good overview of history and culture. With chapters on Florence and surroundings, Lucca, Pisa, Maremma, Siena, Arezzo, Peruguia, Assisi, Spoleto and Orvieto. (ITL292, $19.99)
Short Stories in Italian, Racconti in Italiano  •  Nick Roberts LITERATURE •  2001 •  PAPER  • 174 PAGES This bilingual collection, with the English and Italian alongside, features stories by contemporary and established Italian literary figures, including Italo Calvino and Primo Levi, Leonardo Sciascia, Goffredo Parise and Antonio Tabucchi. (ITL730, $13.00)
Siena Map  •  Litographia Artistica Cartographica MAP A detailed street map of Siena at a scale 1:7,000 with a more detailed inset of the historic center. (ITL299, $10.95)
Spartacus  •  Stanley Kubrick 1960 •  DVD Stanley Kubrick's riveting epic about the leader of a Roman slave revolt, starring no less than Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Charles Laughton, Tony Curtis and Peter Ustinov. The screenplay was written by the playwright Dalton Trumbo, who was blacklisted at the time. Part of the Criterion Collection. (ITL544, $49.95)
The Stones of Florence  •  Mary McCarthy ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1989 •  PAPER  • 230 PAGES The classic history of the art, architecture and culture of Florence. Beginning with meditations on present-day Florence, novelist McCarthy takes us on a quick and vivid tour of the history of the Medicis and the city of Florence, focusing on Renaissance art. Originally published in 1956, partly in the New Yorker. (ITL15, $14.00)
The Talented Mr. Ripley  •  Anthony Minghella 1999 •  DVD A screen adaptation of the first in Patricia Highsmith's popular Mr. Ripley mystery series. Matt Damon stars as the obsessive and murderous Mr. Ripley, whose jealousy of his dashing companion Dickie Greenleaf (Jude Law) quickly turns sinister. The highlight of this thriller, which also stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Cate Blanchett, is its suspenseful portrayal of an exquisite sundrenched Italian town (the film was shot in, among other places, Venice, Tuscany, the Gulf of Naples and Southern Sicily), where life is carefree but a menacing potential for violence lurks behind every corner. (ITL542, $14.99)
That Fine Italian Hand  •  Paul Hoffman CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1991 •  PAPER  • 246 PAGES A former newspaperman in Rome, Hoffman spears the Italians in this affectionate portrait of Italian society with all its quirks, contradictions, and energy. (ITL346, $17.00)
Travelers' Tales Italy  •  Ann Calcagno  •  Jan Morris ANTHOLOGY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 437 PAGES From a climb up the dome of St. Peter's to a walk through Milano Centrale train station, this collection of 48 stories on traveling in Italy and Italian life is an insightful introduction to the country. Contributors include Barbara Grizzuti Harrison, Frances Mayes, Jonathan Keates, and Stanley Crouch, who writes on "Umbria Jazz" in Rome. (ITL182, $18.95)
Travelers' Tales, A Woman's Europe  •  Marybeth Bond  •  Mary Morris ANTHOLOGY •  2004 •  PAPER  • 298 PAGES This entertaining collection depicts Europe through the eyes of a diverse group of women writers, including Frances Mayes, Jan Morris and Mary Morris. These humorous and well-written true stories capture the misadventures, discoveries and slices of life that the continent (and travel!) has to offer. (EUR160, $17.95)
A Traveller in Italy  •  H.V. Morton  •  Barbara Grizzuti Harrison TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2002 •  PAPER  • 640 PAGES The much-beloved, enduring account of Morton's ramblings in Italy. As in all his many travel books, Morton charmingly mixes a deep appreciation of the art, culture and, especially, the history of a place with his own keen observations, in this case the temples, tombs and villas of Tuscany, Lombardy, Emilia and the Veneto. His books are recently returned to print in handsome paper editions, this one with an appreciative introduction by Barbara Grizzuti Harrison. (ITL417, $25.00)
A Traveller's History of Italy  •  Valerio Lintner HISTORY •  2008 •  PAPER  • 287 PAGES A brief history of Italy through the 1990s -- wide-ranging, accessible and necessarily condensed. With a useful chronology and historical gazetteer, this book marches confidently through the centuries. (ITL86, $14.95)
A Tuscan Childhood  •  Kinta Beevor BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2000 •  PAPER  • 271 PAGES A vibrant, rosy-hued memoir of growing up privileged, bohemian and English between the wars at the family compound near the Tuscan village of Aulla and at Poggio, a villa outside Florence. This book will appeal to teenagers as well as adults. (ITL388, $13.95)
Tuscany FlexiMap  •  American Map 1999 •  MAP A sturdy laminated map of Tuscany for travelers. With inset maps of major cities, a list of the top 10 sights, and good topographic relief. At a scale of 1:450,000. (ITL311, $7.95)
Tuscany in Mind  •  Alice Powers ANTHOLOGY •  2005 •  PAPER  • 400 PAGES These selections, including D.H. Lawrence, Robert Browning, Mary McCarthy, to Eric Newby, Erica Jong and David Leavitt, cover a wide range of subjects, from the region's geography to its history and culture and (of course) the food. Another fine literary anthology from the editor of Italy in Mind. Powers provides an appreciative introduction to each 8-10 page selection, focusing on the transforamtion wrought upon American and British writers. (ITL607, $14.95)
Tuscany Map  •  Borch Maps 2006 •  MAP A handy laminated road map of Tuscany in full color at a scale of 1:400,000, with supplementary maps. (ITL281, $10.95)
Valperga  •  Mary Shelley  •  Tilottama Rajan LITERATURE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 492 PAGES Also titled "The Life and Adventures of Castruccio, Prince of Lucca" this precursor to Frankenstein is a dark, historical romance set in 14th-century Tuscany. Originally published in 1823, it's the story of Euthanasia dei Adimari and Castruccio Castracani and the political tensions that divide them. (ITL216, $18.95)
The Vinegar of Spilamberto, And Other Italian Adventures With Food, Places, And People  •  Doris Muscatine  •  Alice Waters FOOD •  2007 •  PAPER  • 224 PAGES An account of the author's travels and love of Italy, its food and culture. (ITL662, $15.00)
Voice of the Violin  •  Andrea Camilleri  •  Stephen Sartarelli MYSTERY •  2004 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES In this fourth installment in the popular Inspector Montalbano series. Camilleri delivers a delightful cast of characters and wry commentary on Sicilian ways, headed by the irresistible Inspector Montalbano, a small town police detective with a healthy appetite, roving intellect and wry sense of humor. It opens with a classic conceit of police procedurals: a beautiful blond woman is found dead. That's the least of it. (ITL537, $13.00)
A World Lit Only By Fire: The Medieval Mind and the Renaissance, Portrait of an Age  •  William Manchester HISTORY •  1993 •  PAPER  • 322 PAGES In this wide-ranging study, Manchester evokes in vivid detail the great figures and daily life of the 16th century, with information on Henry VIII, Magellan, Borgia, da Vinci and Martin Luther. This is his 18th book and Manchester knows how to tell a great story. It's divided into three sections: Renaissance, Reformation and Discovery. (EUR06, $15.99)
Worldly Goods, A New History of the Renaissance  •  Lisa Jardine HISTORY •  1998 •  PAPER  • 470 PAGES Historian Lisa Jardine presents a new slant on the history of the Renaissance. She views the Renaissance as an age made possible by the economic boom of the time. Her arguments are well founded and compelling, making this nicely illustrated book quite readable. (ITL173, $19.95)