Italy - Pre-Trip Reading List
 

I'm stealing the idea from the London and Paris reading list postings. I would love suggestions for Italy books. I just finished Under the Tuscan Sun. Thanks.

Nikki, <BR>If Venice is on your itinerary, pick up a copy of "The World of Venice" by James Morris. Morris, writing now under the name Jan Morris is one of the world's premier travel writers. During WWII while stationed in Venice, Morris was responsible for ferrying allied officers about the city. In doing so, he fell in love with the city and became extremely knowledgeable about all its nooks and crannys. The World of Venice, written years after the war is a delightful read and will give you some wonderful insights into the city and it citizenry.

Don't know if I can contribute as much on this one. Try "A Farewell to Arms" by Hemingway. Also check out Galleyslaves.com. This book store has listings on the net dealing with many specific countries.

If you are interested in Republican Rome try Colleen McCullough's series of books, starting with "The First Man In Rome", then "The Grass Crown", "Fortune's Favorites", etc... They are long, and sometimes slow going, but I loved them. <BR> <BR>Also there's a series of mysteries by Steven Saylor which take place in the same time period, pre-Empire Rome. I don't know which comes first, but they include "Roman Blood" and "Arms of Nemesis" amongst others.

If you are considering going to Florence, you MUST add "A Room with a View" by E.M. Forster to your list. I'd also rent the movie. Its a complete love affair with Florence!

The Agony and the Ectasy (life of Michelangelo) <BR> <BR>I, Claudius by Robert Graves (I think it is a series. Or, you could watch the PBS show.) <BR> <BR>

The Agony and the Ectasy (life of Michelangelo, talks a lot about Florence. <BR> <BR>I, Claudius by Robert Graves (I think it is a series. Or, you could watch the PBS show.) <BR> <BR>Butler's Lives of the Saints. You will be mystified by most of the fine art in Italy unless you have at least a nodding acquaintance with the Catholic saints. <BR> <BR>

Good book "The Hills of Tsucany" by Ferenc Mate, similar to "Under the Tuscan Sun", but very enjoyable. Movie: Dangerous Beauty, came out last summer, just for the great scenery and costumes of Venice!

Ihave three suggestions. Luigi Barzini's "The Italians" and the books by Chris Hibbert on the history of Rome and Florence. The first is a wonderful perspective on the character of Italy by an Italian jounalist who was educated in the US. It was orginally published in 1964, but is still fresh.I reread it every time I plan a trip to Italy. The last two are very entertaining accounts of the history of the two cities. All three books will make you ask for more.

Obviously Under The Tuscan Sun is a wise choice, but don't forget-tour guides and language guides are also great reading. When we were headed to Italy last year, I'd read Under the Tuscan Sun etc.etc., but I didn't have such a great idea of my way around etc. The Fodors and Rand McNally guides to languages and European countries are great reading before you go to bed. Review those basic terms in french and italian, and read up on the best restaurants, etc. I read them right after the last sitcom of the evening, and they are the perfect basis for sweet dreams....

I haven't seen it, but I heard (and read) that "Stealing Beauty" (with Jeremy Irons) is set in some beautiful Italian countryside. <BR> <BR>Also, I believe a portion of "Portrait of A Lady" (with Nicole Kidman and John Malkovich) takes place in Italy. Very lovely, as well. <BR> <BR>

The best travel book about Italy I ever read was,H V Mortons a traveller in Italy.The history is very interesting and very readable.For some odd reason his books are no longer in print.He wrote in the 1920's .Yet his work is timeless.I got my copy from a 2nd hand book store.

Thank you all for your suggestions.

In addition to the suggestions here and on galleyslaves, I suggest trying a little Dante. Pay attention to the footnotes--there are some great history lessons/Renaissance gossip in there. <BR>I can't remember if galleyslaves recommends Barbara Gritzutti Henderson's The Italians. It may be out of print. <BR>I can never keep all the saints straight, so I brought the Oxford Guide to Christian Symbolism (I think that's its name) with me. Little book, very handy for ignorant Protestants like me. <BR>I'm not sure you're interested in videos (I already had tons to keep me occupied as I Nordic Track away in prepartion for my planned exceses in France, and people suggested a lot anyway), but these lists seem to be turning into more general resources, so for the sake of future generations, you might enjoy, if you're going to Venice: Everyone Says I Love You (Woody Allen), Summertime (Hepburn and Buzzi), The Comfort/Kindess? of Strangers (Everett and Richardson); and if you're going to Bellagio: A Month at the Lake. In a more general Italian vein, try Enchanted April.

Bringing up

I loved Jan Morris The World of Venice, too. My very favorite is Italian Neighbors by Tim Parks. That Fine Italian Hand by Paul Hoffman is interesting, more about Southern Italy; also Italian Days, was that already mentioned?, by Barbara Grizzuti Harrison.

Also to top for nancy.

I just got finished reading Italy in Mind edited by Alice Leccese Powers (Vintage Books 1997). It is a collection of excerpts from novels, short stories, essays etc. by English-speaking writers. Quite a variety from Mark Twain to Susan Sontag, Lord Byron to Gore Vidal. Fun to read and suprising to see the observations of visitors to Italy are so similar over two hundred years.

Great post! Reading books (and renting movies) about and/or set in Italy was the only way I could handle the 2-3 months between the time I made my travel plans and the actual departure for my first trip to Italy earlier this year (actually at the time this topic was first posted). And, even though it’s been 5 months since I’ve returned................ sorry, couldn’t type through the tears for a moment there........ I’m still needing that Italy fix. <BR> <BR>To the excellent suggestions so far, add to the list: The Seasons of Rome by Paul Hoffman. For many years Hoffman was the Rome bureau chief for the New York Times. Besides some interesting background on particular locations in the city, you really get a “feel” for the city and the people from this book. As The Romans Do by Alan Epstein was published just a couple months ago and has a similar perspective -- non-Italians living in and observing Rome and Romans. Epstein’s writing style tends to be more “flowery” so if I had to pick between them I’d go for the Hoffman book but that could be because I read the Hoffman book first. Robert Hutchinson’s When In Rome - A Journal of Life in Vatican City is a hoot. He’s a Californian who took his family to live in Rome for a year to research this book. He writes about the city and the people while “investigating” non-religious Vatican trivia -- where does the Pope buy his clothes? who are the guys who dust all the “stuff” in St. Peter’s and how do they do it? where do the Cardinals go when they want to party? My description makes it sound bizarre but it really is a fun, funny and interesting book. And, for that all-important trashy novel to get you through the long flight to Italy: Beach Music by Pat Conroy; the first half of the book is set in Rome, with a little of Venice as a bonus. <BR> <BR>While you’re reading make sure to make a note of restaurants mentioned by the authors. I figured that since these guys live in Rome they’d probably be going to some pretty good spots that aren’t necessarily in the guidebooks. Trattoria Da Fortunato near the Pantheon proved the theory true! <BR> <BR>

Try John Mortimer's "Summer's Lease"