I am interested in learning more about Italy, can anyone recommend a good non-fiction book to read?
Thank you,
Donnae

"The Italians" by Luigi Barzoni

"A Thousand Bells At Noon"

BC

See http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34410488

Best wishes,

Rex

"A world lit only by fire" Wm Manchester.
Basically a book about what life was like for the "average Guisseppe" in the dark ages and the Renaissance. I found it fascinating.

You have posted twice, presumably because you didn't know how to find this first posting. You can always find your own posts by clicking on your own name.

I would suggest checking out both DK Eyewitness Italy and Insight guides for Italy. While they are travel guides, they are chock full of historical information. Also, I love to read "The Beautiful Cookbook - Italy or Tuscany" as they have good information on regional cuisine and history.

"Under the Tuscan Sun: At Home in Italy" by Frances Mayes.

An oldie but a timeless goodie...H.V.Morton's ' A traveller in Rome"

Consolidating Elaine's answer here, since it comes from a repeat of a thread that already has seven responses here.

======================

Author: elaine
Date: 02/26/2004, 09:18 am

Message: HI
"Sprezzatura" is a collection of short entertaining essays about Italian cultural achievements, from Dante and all the other greats. Amazon has it.
"Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling" is also good.

=====================

to the top for donna

A good
witty hilarious book is : As The Romans Do,by Alan Epstein..The author has a great love for the Eternal City...I highly recommendit..

I would definitely read Wolfgang Goethe's Travels in Italy. Aside from its undoubted literary qualities the book is so full of enthusiasm and interesting facts. If you happen to be following his itinerary it's an absolute must!

"Too Much Tuscan Sun: Confessions of a Chianti Tour Guide" by Dario Castagno. Obviously a counterpoint to Francis Mayes' book, this author pokes fun at primarily American tourists based on first hand experience. I found the book hilarious; the chapters on the inner workings of the Palio and the ancient animosities between the Florentines and the Sienese (where the author is from) is worth the effort of finding this book. I couldn't locate a copy on Amazon; try a Google search (I bought mine in a book store in Siena; it may have been self-published).

I'm reading 'When in Rome: Life Inside Vatican City' and am loving it! Very funny and interesting information on the Vatican (I'm not even Catholic). I'm going to Rome over Easter and trying to read all I can about the city before my trip.

I thought I'd read almost every book written that involves Italy but I have missed 'Too Much Tuscan Sun'. I'll have to get it this weekend. Thanks for the tip.

Message: Mary Taylor Simeti's "On Persephone's Island." The best way to inhale and savour Sicily without being there. JQ

Thanks to everyone who took the time to respond to this question.
Donnae

I agree heartily with Kismetchimera. I'm reading "As the Romans Do" right now and enjoying it immensely.