30 Days in Italy: True Stories of Escape to the Good Life  •  Sean O'Reilly  •  Larry Habegger  •  James O'Reilly TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2006 •  PAPER  • 260 PAGES True tales from travellers in Italy, on subjects such as nunneries, the ghost of St. Francis, and the true nature of Italian men. (ITL793, $14.95)
About Sicily, Travellers in an Ancient Island  •  David D. Hume TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1999 •  PAPER  • 204 PAGES A well informed, personable travel account, lovingly written and illustrated by a reitred New York City headmaster (St. David's School) and his wife. (ITL274, $15.95)
Abruzzo Region Map  •  Touring Club Italiano MAP A colorful map of the Abruzzo region at a scale of 1:200,000, with shaded relief and excellent coverage of local towns and landmarks. (ITL416, $12.95)
The Abruzzo Trilogy  •  Ignazio Silone LITERATURE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 927 PAGES The three great novels of Ignazio Silone, Fontamara, Bread and Wine, and The Seed Beneath the Snow, known collectively as The Abruzzo Trilogy. All three are set during Mussolini's reign in the mountains of Abruzzo. Silone introduces Pietro Spina in his best-known Bread and Wine. (ITL679, $29.95)
The Aeneid  •  Virgil  •  Robert Fitzgerald LITERATURE •  1990 •  PAPER  • 464 PAGES A noted translation of the epic Roman poem of Aeneas and his journeys in the Mediterranean following the Trojan War. (ITL271, $12.00)
After Hannibal  •  Barry Unsworth LITERATURE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 250 PAGES Having taken up residence in Umbria, Booker Prize-winning Unsworth writes of his adopted turf in this excellent novel. His vivid tale encompasses the history, landscape, pleasures, and modern invaders (i.e. the other Americans and Europeans who have come to set up shop in this beautiful part of the world). (ITL100, $17.95)
After the Divorce  •  Grazia Deledda  •  Susan Ashe LITERATURE •  1995 •  PAPER  • 174 PAGES In 1926 Grazia Deledda won the Nobel Prize for literature, making her, at the time, only the second woman to receive such an honor. This powerful and tragic tale of murder and infidelity is set, like many of her novels, on her native Sardinia. Evocative of the pre-Christian era in the Mediterranean, it tells of what happens when a suspected murderer learns from prison that his wife is remarrying. (ITL196, $17.00)
The Agony and the Ecstasy, A Biographical Novel of Michelangelo  •  Irving Stone LITERATURE •  2004 •  PAPER  • 776 PAGES An overheated, page-turning fictionalized account of the life of master painter and sculptor Michelangelo -- and a good introduction to Renaissance Florence and Rome. (ITL150, $16.00)
The Agricola and the Germania  •  Tacitus  •  Harold Mattingly  •  S.A. Handford HISTORY •  1977 •  PAPER  • 174 PAGES Two texts of classical antiquity by Tacitus. Agricola is a eulogy for his father-in-law, the governor of Roman Britain. Germania is one of the earliest and most extensive account of the early Germanic World and the Goths, Visigoths, Vandals, Angles, Saxons, Celts, Vikings and other ancient peoples of the region. (EUR182, $14.00)
Aida in Full Score  •  Giuseppe Verdi MUSIC •  1990 •  PAPER  • 437 PAGES The full orchestral score of the great opera. (ITL153, $24.95)
Aida Libretto  •  Antonio Ghislanzoni  •  Giuseppe Verdi MUSIC •  1990 •  PAPER  • 40 PAGES The libretto to the great grand opera, in Italian and English. (ITL154, $5.95)
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)
Almost Blue  •  Carlo Lucarelli MYSTERY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 195 PAGES A mystery noir set on the streets of Bologna, in which rookie cop Grazia Negro tracks a serial killer. The title is a reference to an Elvis Costello song and music is an important subtheme in this thriller. (ITL673, $12.95)
The Ancient City, Life in Classical Athens and Rome  •  Peter Connolly CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2000 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES This is a panorama of life in the ancient world, masterfully documented in painstaking, beautiful illustrations by Connolly. The stunning volume examines architecture and culture of each city -- a fascinating exploration. With excellent maps, site plans, Connolly's famous reconstructions, and modern photographs. (ITL82, $26.95)
The Ancient Mediterranean  •  Michael Grant CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1990 •  PAPER  • 374 PAGES Grant, a well known classical scholar, draws on archaeology, geography, art, and economics to paint a vivid picture of ancient cultures, from prehistory through the Roman Imperium, and their influence on western civilization. Illustrated with black-and-white photographs, and 19 maps of the region. (MED10, $18.00)
Ancient Rome on 5 Denarii a Day  •  Philip Matyszak GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 144 PAGES A practical, concise guide to Rome -- circa AD 200. This unusual book covers all the highlights of ancient Roman life, from gladiatory shows to public bathing, and provides modern readers with an imaginative overview of the city's monuments. (ITL979, $18.95)
Ancient Rome: Art, Architecture, and History  •  Ada Gabucci ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2002 •  PAPER  • 144 PAGES A lively survey of the history of ancient Rome accompanied by color photographs of architecture, sculpture and paintings. The book also includes Pompeii and the art and architecture of the Roman provinces of Europe and North Africa during the height of the empire. The author, who has also written about the Colosseum, includes portraits of (and quotes from) emperor Augustus and other personalities. (ITL419, $14.95)
Ancient Rome: Monuments Past and Present  •  R.A. Staccioli ARCHAEOLOGY •  2000 •  FLEXI-BOUND  • 72 PAGES Ingenious overlay illustrations set this series of books apart. In this volume, the Colosseum, the Forum, the Capitoline Hill and other monuments are shown first as they look today and next, via overlaid acetate illustrations, as they looked in their heydays. We love this method of relating the ruins to their original selves. It's so intuitive. The text is good, too. Published in Italy, the series is distributed in the U.S. by the Getty. (ITL422, $29.95)
Angels & Demons  •  Dan Brown LITERATURE •  2006 •  PAPER Harvard professor Robert Langdon and his Italian colleague Vittoria Vetra work frantically to save the Vatican in this bestselling thriller set in Rome. (ITL853, $9.99)
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, $20.40)
Art and Authority in Renaissance Milan  •  Evelyn S. Welch ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1996 •  HARD COVER  • 358 PAGES A scholarly study of the relationship between art, architecture and patronage in Renaissance Milan. (ITL405, $75.00)
Art and Life in Renaissance Venice  •  Patricia Brown ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1997 •  PAPER  • 176 PAGES With a strong focus on art, the author evokes the guilds, nobility and spirit of the Renaissance in her discussion of painting, sculpture and architecture. With 120 full-color illustrations. A volume in the Prentice Hall Perspectives series. Also in this same series is "Renaissance Florence." Second edition. (ITL57, $24.95)
Art and Society in the Middle Ages  •  Georges Duby ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 128 PAGES A study of the relationship between the production of art and the nature of Medieval society. Noted French historian Georges Duby draws on religion, culture, government, geography, and, of course, artistic pursuits in this portrait of the Middle ages. (EUR85, $30.55)
Art in Renaissance Italy  •  Gary M. Radke  •  John T. Paoletti ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2001 •  HARD COVER  • 512 PAGES A complete, scholarly and remarkably readable overview of Italian Renaissance painting, sculpture and architecture, co-authored by two leading art historians. Paoletti and Radke examine the political, social and artistic currents that produced the unprecedented art of the 15th-17th centuries. With 600 illustrations (more than 200 in color). (ITL412, $85.00)
The Art of Florence  •  John Hunisak  •  Glen Andres  •  A. Richard Turner ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2000 •  HARD COVER  • 1312 PAGES Handsomely packaged in a slipcase, these two magnificent volumes show the history of Florence though its art and architecture. With 1,500 illustrations, 750 in color, three leading art historians provide essays on painting, architecture and sculpture. (ITL474, $185.00)
The Art of the Renaissance  •  Peter Murray ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1992 •  PAPER  • 286 PAGES A brief, illustrated survey of the world of the Renaissance and its art, complete with illustrations. This fine book puts the flowering of art and culture that began in Florence in 1420 in its historical context. With 251 well-integrated illustrations, 51 in color. Organized geographically and thematically, it includes chapters on Florence and its artists, the Netherlands, early illustrated books, and many individual artists. (ITL14, $18.95)
The Art of the Sports Car, the Greatest Designs of the 20th Century  •  Dennis Adler  •  Jay Leno SPORT •  2002 •  HARD COVER  • 256 PAGES A gorgeouly illustrated tribute (with plenty of technical information too) by the editor of Car Collector magazine -- and with a forward by car nut Jay Leno. (ITL513, $44.95)
Authentic Piedmont-Aosta Valley Guide  •  Touring Club of Italy GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 240 PAGES This compact, illustrated guide by Touring Club Italiano includes Turin, Monferrato and Langhe. (ITL858, $20.95)
Authentic Veneto Friuli  •  Touring Club Italiano GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 240 PAGES An attractive, comprehensive guide to Venice, Murano, the Dolomites and Verona by the Touring Club of Italy. With a focus on history, architecture, and cuisine, the guide features 28 maps and dozens of color photographs. Perfect for a driving tour. (ITL778, $20.95)
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, $15.00)
Axis Forces in Yugoslavia 1941-45  •  Nigel Thomas HISTORY •  1995 •  PAPER  • 48 PAGES An illustrated overview of the uniforms, structure, organization and equiptment of the Axis German, Italian, Croatian, Serbian, Montenegrin, Bulgarian, Macedonian, and Slovenian troops in the Balkans during World War II. One of Osprey's excellent Men-at-Arms series. (BLK103, $15.95)
Back to Bologna  •  Michael Dibdin MYSTERY •  2006 •  PAPER  • 240 PAGES Dibdin shows a lighter touch in this installment in the marvelous Aurelio Zen mysteries. His detective, up to his neck in girlfriend trouble, is called to Bologna to figure out who killed a local industrialist. He encounters a diverse cast of characters and, naturally, more murders ensue. (ITL746, $13.95)
The Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi  •  Elvio Lunghi ART & ARCHITECTURE •  PAPER (ITL252, $27.50)
Berlitz Italian Phrase Book & CD  •  Berlitz Multimedia LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS •  2007 •  AUDIO CD  • 224 PAGES A 224-page phrase book and audio CD, this handy language primer focuses on food, people, fun and the basic phrases for getting around in another language. Compatible with iPod and MPS devices, this bestselling series is geared for travelers. (ITL888, $14.95)
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)
The Betrothed  •  Alessandro Manzoni LITERATURE •  1984 •  PAPER  • 720 PAGES Alessandro Manzoni's 1827 classic, by many accounts "the first modern Italian novel", concerns star-crossed lovers in 17th-century Lombardy. It remains hugely popular in Italy, where it has been made into several films and even a stage musical. Better known as "I Promessi Sposi" in its original Italian. (ITL414, $17.00)
Between Salt Water and Holy Water, A History of Southern Italy  •  Tommaso Astarita HISTORY •  2005 •  PAPER  • 352 PAGES A concise, popular history of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies from Norman Sicily through Spanish and Bourbon rule to the unification of Italy. Astarita is professor of history at Georgetown University. With 50 illustrations. (ITL597, $15.95)
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)
Bloom's Literary Guide to Rome  •  Brett Foster GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 197 PAGES Rome boasts a long, rich literary history that is examined here through its connections with English Romantic poets Ketas and Shelley, as well as Stendhal, Goethe and Henry James. (ITL855, $40.00)
Blue Guide Central Italy with Rome and Florence  •  Alta MacAdam GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 736 PAGES Including two of the biggest destinations in Italy, this guide has in-depth information on regional history, great reccommendations and regional maps. MacAdam, an art historian, brings her expertise to the Blue Guide Series' usual focus on art and culture. (ITL947, $34.95)
Blue Guide Florence  •  Alta MacAdam GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 352 PAGES A comprehensive guide to Florence, heavily focused on art and architecture. With many useful site diagrams. This seventh edition also includes additional practical information on hotels, restaurants, and shops. (ITL137, $27.95)
Blue Guide Northern Italy, from the Alps to the Adriatic  •  Paul Blanchard GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 735 PAGES This Blue Guide by a popular tour leader provides a thorough overview of the history, art and architecture of northern Italy from Trieste across to the Valle d'Aosta, Venice, Verona, Milan, Genoa and Bologna. With 36 maps and site plans. 12th edition. (ITL48, $32.95)
Blue Guide Rome  •  Alta MacAdam GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 528 PAGES The ultimate guide to Rome, with 16 pages of street maps and 30 site plans. Having lived in Italy for 25 years, author Alta MacAdam provides the most in-depth guide for the Eternal City: where to dine, where to shop, where to experience fine art, and how to get there. (ITL230, $28.95)
Blue Guide Sicily  •  Ellen Grady GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 479 PAGES A comprehensive guide to the ancient history and culture of Sicily featuring good maps and site plans of archaeological sites throughout the island. The author, based in Sicily, includes select recommendations for where to stay and eat. Seventh Edition. (ITL125, $26.95)
Blue Guide Southern Italy  •  Paul Blanchard GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 608 PAGES A comprehensive guide to Southern Italy and especially its archaeology, history and culture. With maps and site plans. Blanchard, a popular tour guide, is also the author of the Blue Guide to Northern Italy. (ITL257, $34.95)
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)
Blue Guide Venice  •  Alta MacAdam GUIDEBOOK •  2001 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES A comprehensive guide to the art, architecture, museums, history and culture of Venice. With 30 illustrations, maps and site diagrams, recommended restaurants, cafes and hotels. (ITL457, $29.95)
The Book of the Courtier  •  Baldasar Castiglione HISTORY •  1976 •  PAPER Castiglione's classic book of etiquette, told through a set of examples which portray the ideal Renaissance man and woman. Written between 1513-1518, this provocative treatise was inspired by a series of conversations among a group of aristocrats at the court of Urbino in 1507. Its central theme includes the nature of graceful behaviour, especially the impression of effortlessness, or "sprezzatura." (ITL238, $13.95)
Bread and Wine  •  Ignazio Silone  •  Eric Mosbacher  •  Irving Howe LITERATURE •  1988 •  PAPER  • 272 PAGES Written and set in Italy in the 1930s, this novel is the story of Pietro Spina, a communist who must disguise himself as a priest in order to escape detection from the fascist government. It is a politically charged tale, the focus of much controversy in its day. Part of a trilogy taking place in the mountainous region of Abruzzo, east of Rome. (ITL184, $7.95)
A Brief History of the Romans  •  Mary T. Boatwright  •  Daniel Gargola  •  Richard J. A. Talbert HISTORY •  2006 •  PAPER  • 352 PAGES This team of three schoalrs illuminate the transformation of Rome from village to monarchy and Mediterranean empire in this abbreviated version of theri highly acclaimed textbook. With excerpts from writings by Romans themselves, photos and illustrations, maps (ITL844, $39.95)
The Broken Fountain  •  Thomas Belmonte CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1989 •  PAPER  • 202 PAGES A 1973 account of life in a poor neighborhood in Naples by a young anthropologist who lived and worked in Fontana del Re and updated for this 1989 edition. It's an eloquent, scholarly portrait of the men, women and children of the neighborhood -- and of the relationship of the author to the people he lived among for a year. (ITL209, $26.00)
Brunelleschi's Dome, How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture  •  Ross King ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2001 •  PAPER  • 194 PAGES Designed in 1420 by Filippo Brunelleschi, the dome in Florence's cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is one of the great architectural feats. In this eminently readable book, Ross King tells the story of the design and construction of the dome, a tale rife with politics, cut-throat competition and mighty inspiration. (ITL410, $14.00)
Cadogan Guide Bologna & Emilia-Romagna  •  Michael Pauls  •  Dana Facaros GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 336 PAGES This guidebook in the excellent British series surveys the culture, history, art, architecture and food of Emilia-Romagna -- whose notable cities include Bologna, Modena, Parma, Ravenna and Mantua. It includes recommendations on where to sleep and eat. (ITL390, $19.95)
Cadogan Guide Northeast Italy  •  Dana Facaros  •  Michael Pauls GUIDEBOOK •  2004 •  PAPER  • 384 PAGES A practical, no nonsense guide in the British series. (ITL494, $18.95)
Cadogan Guide Sicily  •  Dana Facaros GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 352 PAGES A guidebook in the respected British Cadogan series, this comprehensive look at Sicily provides insightful cultural and historical background, and up-to-date practical information. The heart of the book contains region-by-region descriptions aimed at the well read traveler. With some illustrations and excellent maps. (ITL115, $18.95)
Calabria Map  •  Touring Club Italiano MAP A detailed traveler's map of Calabria at a scale of 1:150,000. (ITL496, $12.95)
Call Me by Your Name  •  Andre Aciman LITERATURE •  2007 •  HARD COVER  • 248 PAGES Aciman (Out of Egypt, A Memoir) captures the lazy, languorous days and nights on the Mediterranean in this coming-of-age story set on the Italian Riviera. Marooned with his family for the summer, seventeen-year-old Elio falls for Oliver, a young scholar and houseguest. (ITL828, $23.00)
Cambridge Opera Handbook: Giuseppi Verdi, Falstaff  •  James A. Hepokoski MUSIC •  1984 •  PAPER  • 192 PAGES A detailed guide to the history and composition of Verdi's Falstaff. It includes a synopsis and an overview of the revisions to the opera since its 1887 premiere in Milan. (ITL263, $37.99)
Campania Region Map  •  Touring Club Italiano MAP A colorful map of Campania, including Naples and the Amalfi Coast at a scale of 1:200,000. (ITL116, $12.95)
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)
The Castle of Otranto, A Gothic Story  •  Horace Walpole LITERATURE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 125 PAGES First published in 1764, Walpole's classic Gothic tale takes place in and around the 15th-century Crusader castle on the Adriatic in Apulia. A fine example of one of the earlier forms of the novel, Walpole's work -- which he proclaimed was his favorite of all he wrote -- also takes influence from Shakespeare's plays. (ITL631, $8.95)
Catullus, The Complete Poems  •  Gaius Valerius Catullus  •  Guy Lee ANTHOLOGY •  1998 •  PAPER  • 195 PAGES A new, more accessible translation of one of the world's greatest poets, Catallus. Lee provides an introduction, brief notes on each poem, and two appendices to aid in understanding the work, giving added material to his graceful translations. (ITL204, $13.95)
Cavalleria Rusticana and Other Stories  •  Giovanni Verga LITERATURE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 272 PAGES A collection of short stories by the Sicilian author Giovanni Verga (1840-1922) in the Penguin Classics series. He captures, with intelligence and accuracy, the rhythms and traditions of peasant life on the island. (ITL202, $14.00)
Celebrating Italy  •  Carol Field FOOD •  1997 •  PAPER  • 530 PAGES Field weaves comments on Italian culture and tradition in this colorful collection of 175 recipes inspired by festivals, feasts and holiday celebrations, includingg the Corso dei Ceri in Gubbio. (ITL903, $20.00)
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)
Central Italy Road Atlas  •  Touring Club Italiano REFERENCE •  2000 •  MAP Detailed atlas of the central part of Italy. Scale 1:200,000. (ITL395, $34.95)
The Charterhouse of Parma  •  Henri Stendhal  •  Richard Howard LITERATURE •  1958 •  PAPER  • 560 PAGES Judged by Balzac to be the most important French novel of his time, this masterpiece is in an English translation that does justice to its speedy, passionate style. Set in Parma, Italy, Stendhal's book transcends the court intrigues and military goings-on of the plot to produce a work of narrative brilliance. (ITL208, $11.95)
Chewing Gum in Holy Water, A Childhood in the Heart of Italy  •  Mario Valentini LITERATURE •  2007 •  HARD COVER  • 334 PAGES Valentini recounts his adventures and the life lessons he learned growing up in a small hilltown in Abruzzo. (ITL935, $26.00)
Christ Stopped at Eboli, The Story of a Year  •  Carlo Levi  •  Frances Frenaye BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2006 •  PAPER  • 268 PAGES Set in Lucania the south of Italy, where Levi was banished by Mussolini for his political activity, this affecting memoir tells of the people, traditions and life in the region. A physician, writer, and painter. Levi writes movingly of poverty and lack of health care in Alsiano. Translated by Frances Frenaye. (ITL09, $14.00)
The Christian World, A Global History  •  Martin Marty RELIGION •  2008 •  HARD COVER  • 336 PAGES (REL48, $25.00)
Cinque Terre Map  •  Litographia Artistica Cartographica MAP A detailed shaded relief map of the Cinque Terre and surrounding area at a scale of 1:40,000, perfect for walkers, trekkers and anyone else exploring the towns and byways of the region. (ITL159, $10.95)
City Secrets: Florence, Venice, and the Towns of Italy  •  Robert Kahn GUIDEBOOK •  2001 •  HARD COVER  • 383 PAGES A connoisseur's guide to Italy featuring 200 short recommendations, many by artists, architects and other members of the American Academy in Rome or the organization Save Venice. Each contributor provides a brief profile of a favorite walk, restaurant, garden, market, work of art, building or other attraction. With maps and travel information. (ITL277, $19.95)
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)
Civilized Traveller's Guide to Turin  •  Eugenia F. Bell GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 201 PAGES An insiders guide to the art, culture, history and attractions of Turin, including recommended hotels, restuarants and shops. With three walking tours and suggested excursions outside the city. (ITL655, $14.95)
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)
The Classical Roman Reader, New Encounters With Ancient Rome  •  Kenneth J. Atchity  •  Rosemary McKenna LITERATURE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 480 PAGES A wide-ranging anthology, including plays, speeches and poetry by Virgil, Ovid, Cato the Elder and Vitruvius. With 50 photographs. (ITL210, $24.95)
Cliffhanger  •  Renny Harlin LITERATURE •  2002 •  DVD (RKY85, $14.95)
Collected Poems 1920-1954, Bilingual Edition  •  Eugenio Montale  •  Jonathan Galassi LITERATURE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 624 PAGES A collection by the modernist poet, writer and editor Eugenio Montale (1896-1981), admired by Italo Calvino and others. This revised bilingual edition is translated by Jonathan Galassi, editor in chief of Farrar, Straus & Giroux and president of the Academy of American Poets. Winner of the Weidenfeld Translation Prize and the Premio Montale. Montale was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1975. (ITL584, $25.00)
Companion Guide Rome  •  Georgina Masson  •  Tim Jepson GUIDEBOOK •  2003 •  PAPER  • 544 PAGES A comprehensive, serious-minded guide to the architecture, art and culture of Rome, combining descriptions of each attraction with personal anecdote. With black-and-white photos and maps throughout. (ITL185, $34.95)
The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Roman Empire  •  Eric Nelson HISTORY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 408 PAGES This illustrated primer is a terrific introduction to daily life in ancient Rome. Don't be put off by the title! (ITL587, $18.95)
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)
Culture Smart! Italy, A Quick Guide to Customs And Etiquette  •  Charles Abbott GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 168 PAGES A concise, no-nonsense guide to local customs, etiquette and culture with a short overview of the land and people along with practical travel advice. (ITL877, $9.95)
The Cybeline Conspiracy  •  Albert Noyer LITERATURE •  2005 •  PAPER  • 316 PAGES A eunuch archpriest and an unscrupulous senator smuggle products from China to Ravenna, the Roman Capital in A.D. 440, never realizing they are changing the course of Western History. The second in the acclaimed Getorius and Arcadia Mysteries. (ITL907, $14.95)
Daily Life in Ancient Rome, The People and the City at the Height of the Empire  •  Mary Beard  •  Jerome Carcopino HISTORY •  2003 •  PAPER  • 368 PAGES An engaging and classic history of Roman society in the second century A.D. Cacopino describes the splendor, culture and customs of the Romans under Hadrian, Trajan, Marcus Aurelius, and Commodus. First published in 1940, this second edition features a new introduction by classicist Mary Beard. (ITL477, $18.00)
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)
The Decameron  •  Giovanni Boccaccio LITERATURE •  2003 •  PAPER  • 909 PAGES While a plague rages through 14th-century Florence, 10 nobles seek refuge in the countryside for 10 days. Each tells a story every day, resulting in the 100 tales that form The Decameron. Boccaccio's celebration of passion and disdain for hypocritical clerics serves as a nice foil to Dante's strict moralism. (ITL309, $15.00)
Delizia!, The Epic History of the Italians and Their Food  •  John Dickie FOOD •  2008 •  HARD COVER  • 351 PAGES Dickie (Casa Nostra) traces the evolution of Italy's rich culinary tradition, showing how taste, creativity and civic pride blended with politics, religion and a host of other factors to create a world-class cuisine. (ITL913, $26.00)
The Devil in the Hills  •  Cesare Pavese LITERATURE •  2002 •  PAPER  • 220 PAGES This book, the most personal of the many stories, poems and novels of Pavese, follows the summer adventures of three young men in the hills, vineyards and villages of the author's native Piedmont. Cesare Pavese was one of the most influential Italian voices of the mid-20th century. Unable to publish during Italy's fascist government, he turned to translation of Melville, Joyce and other modern masters. This book, like most of his work was published in the short period between WWII and the author's death in 1951. Translated from the Italian by D.D. Paige. (ITL430, $23.95)
The Divine Comedy  •  Dante Alighieri  •  Charles H. Sisson LITERATURE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 771 PAGES In this classic -- possibly the most famous and important literary achievement of medieval Western civilization -- Dante molds a universe in which reason and faith shape social order. A clear, blank verse translation of the 14th-century work. (ITL310, $17.95)
The Divine Comedy: Inferno  •  Dante  •  Allen Mandelbaum LITERATURE •  1982 •  PAPER  • 432 PAGES Allen Mandelbaum's popular blank verse translation of Dante's Inferno. (ITL821, $6.50)
The Divine Comedy: Inferno, Part 1 (Text)  •  Dante  •  Charles Singleton LITERATURE •  1990 •  PAPER  • 382 PAGES Italian verse and English prose are on facing pages in this authoritative edition of Dante's Inferno with translation by Charles Singleton. Singleton's commentary is available as a separate volume. (ITL272, $19.95)
The Divine Comedy: Inferno, Part II (Commentary)  •  Dante  •  Charles Singleton LITERATURE •  1989 •  PAPER  • 683 PAGES The accompanying commentary to Singleton's authoritative translation of Dante's Inferno. With maps and a few back-and-white illustrations. (ITL273, $40.00)
The Divine Comedy: Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso  •  Dante  •  Allen Mandelbaum LITERATURE •  1995 •  HARD COVER  • 960 PAGES Allen Mandelbaum is the translator for this Everyman's edition of Dante's masterpiece. It includes in one volume all three cantos -- Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso -- with an introduction by Nobel Prize--winning poet Eugenio Montale, a chronology, notes, and a bibliography. Also included are forty-two drawings selected from Botticelli's marvelous late-fifteenth-century series of illustrations. (ITL820, $25.00)
Duchessina, A Novel of Catherine De Medici  •  Carolyn Meyer LITERATURE •  2007 •  HARD COVER  • 272 PAGES • YOUNG ADULTS In her latest venture in the Young Royals historical-fiction series, Meyers delightfully depicts the unusual girlhood of one of Europe's most notorius queens. (ITL934, $17.00)
Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia  •  Elizabeth Gilbert LITERATURE •  2007 •  PAPER  • 352 PAGES Gilbert chronicles in luminous prose a year-long odyssey not just to escape from an ugly divorce but also to discover the world and herself. The book, like her quest, is in three parts: Rome (eat), Mumbai (pray) and Bali (where she falls in love). (TVL107, $15.00)
Eating Up Italy, Voyages on a Vespa  •  Judy A. Johnson TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2006 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES Fort (formerly editor of food and drink at the Guardian in London), samples the tastes of Italy from Melito Di Porto Salvo south to Turin. (ITL767, $16.95)
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)
Emilia-Romagna Map  •  Touring Club Italiano MAP A fine and detailed regional map of Emilia-Romagna at a scale of 1:200,000. The most detailed map of the region available, imported from Italy. (ITL421, $12.95)
Enchanted April  •  Elizabeth Von Arnim  •  Cathleen Schine LITERATURE •  2007 •  PAPER  • 361 PAGES In this delightful book (adapted as both a movie and a Broadway play), four Englishwomen are startled by self-discovery and the power of their friendship during a sojourn in the Italian countryside in the 1920s. Inspired by Countess Arnim's travels, this book captures the rhythm and magic of Portofino. (ITL316, $14.95)
The English Patient  •  Michael Ondaatje LITERATURE •  1996 •  PAPER  • 305 PAGES Ondaatje's luminous novel, which unfolds at a villa in Tuscany and in the North African desert during World War II. (ITL703, $14.95)
Etruscan  •  Larissa Bonfante LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS •  1990 •  PAPER  • 62 PAGES A brief guide to decoding Etruscan inscriptions, using representative vases, coins and other objects. A volume in the series, "Reading the Past." It includes chapters on the Etruscan alphabet and grammar, and a helpful glossary of Etruscan words, personal and place names. A useful guide for those interested in a serious study of Etruscan art and archeology. (ITL242, $13.95)
The Etruscan  •  Mika Waltari LITERATURE •  2000 •  HARD COVER  • 384 PAGES A historical novel by the Finnish author of "The Egyptian" set in the world of Italy, Greece and the classical Mediterranean during the heyday of Etruscans around 500 B.C. The novel opens in Delphi with the introduction of the narrator "I Lars Turms, the immortal." The prolific Waltari -- best known for his historical novels set in ancient Greece and Rome -- wrote plays, detective stories, and travelogues. Originally published in 1956, the book is available in this library edition only. (ITL254, $38.95)
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)
The Etruscans: Art, Architecture, and History  •  Federica Borrelli  •  Maria Christina Targia ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2004 •  PAPER  • 144 PAGES A lively, illustrated guide to architecture, painting and sculpture of the Etruscans featuring 200 color illustrations. (ITL535, $19.95)
Everyday Life in Ancient Rome  •  Lionel Casson HISTORY •  1998 •  PAPER  • 170 PAGES One in a series of scholarly books recontructing the everyday life of ancient societies. (ITL588, $19.95)
Excellent Cadavers, The Mafia and the Death of the First Italian Republic  •  Alexander Stille HISTORY •  1996 •  PAPER  • 467 PAGES As you might guess from the title, this fast-paced book is a gripping account of corruption in Italy. The author offers an utterly absorbing -- and impressively researched -- account of the assassination of two top anti-Mafia prosecutors in 1992. Opening in Palermo in 1876, the book is a richly detailed analysis of Italian culture, a portrait of the two brave men who were killed and a penetrating look at the Cosa Nostra and its influence on all levels of Italian society. Masterful. (ITL58, $16.00)
Explore the Tour of Mont Blanc  •  Gareth McCormack GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 64 PAGES A compact, practical guide in the "Rucksack Reader" series, this book features a route map, photographs and practical details for the classic 11-day Mont Blanc circuit though France, Italy and Switzerland. (ALP27, $15.95)
Extra Virgin, A Young Woman Discovers the Italian Riviera  •  Annie Hawes TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2002 •  PAPER  • 352 PAGES Two young English women at large on the Italian Riviera -- or so thought the author and her sister when they ventured from England to Liguria to graft roses with the locals. They did, in fact, fall in love with the place -- a more complex and interesting Italy than that of their romantic imagination. They end up buying a house and learning the local customs and eccentricities of their neighbors in Diano San Pietro. Hawes' account of her experiences is refreshingly candid. (ITL539, $14.95)
Eyewitness Florence Pocket Map & Guide  •  Eyewitness Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 80 PAGES This excellent guide to Florence features color photography, easy-to-use foldout maps and top attractions. Convenient and up-to-date with an unbeatable price, this is the guide to carry. (ITL790, $6.99)
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, $25.00)
Eyewitness Guide Italian Riviera  •  Eyewitness Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 224 PAGES A handsome, beautifully illustrated and informative compact guide to Liguria. It covers places, recommended excursions, hotels and attractions along the spectacular Mediterranean coast from the border with France east to La Spezia. (ITL566, $20.00)
Eyewitness Guide Milan and the Lakes  •  Eyewitness Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 240 PAGES This superb guide to Milan and the Italian lakes features color photography, dozens of excellent local maps and a region-by-region synopsis of the area's attractions. Handsome, convenient and up-to-date, this is the guide to carry. (ITL165, $20.00)
Eyewitness Guide Naples, Pompeii & Amalfi Coast  •  Eyewitness Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 240 PAGES This superb guide features color photography, dozens of excellent neighborhood maps and a district-by-district synopsis of the region's attractions. Covering Naples, Pompeii, Herculaneum, and the Amalfi coast, it focuses on culture, history and art. Handsome, convenient and up-to-date, this is the guide to carry. (ITL107, $20.00)
Eyewitness Guide Rome  •  Eyewitness Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 432 PAGES A comprehensive guide to Rome featuring hundreds of color photographs, neighborhood maps and innovative site plans. With selective suggestions of where to stay, eat and shop. This excellent guide includes a chapter on children's Rome, and a fully indexed street finder. (ITL158, $25.00)
Eyewitness Guide Sardinia  •  Eyewitness Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2003 •  PAPER  • 224 PAGES A comprehensive guide to the island of Sardinia, featuring color photography, dozens of excellent maps and a synopsis of the island's attractions. (ITL183, $20.00)
Eyewitness Guide Sicily  •  Eyewitness Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 240 PAGES This superb guide to Sicily features color photography, dozens of excellent local maps and a synopsis of the island's attractions. Handsome, convenient and up-to-date, this is the guide to carry. (ITL468, $23.00)
Eyewitness Guide Turin  •  DK Publishing GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 240 PAGES This superb guide toTurin (winter olympics 2006) features color photography, dozens of excellent local maps and a district-by-district synopsis of the city's attractions. Handsome, convenient and up-to-date, this is the guide to carry. (ITL656, $22.50)
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)
Eyewitness Guide Venice & the Veneto  •  Eyewitness Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 312 PAGES Another in the long line of superb Eyewitness Guides, this one features color photography, dozens of excellent maps and a neighborhood-by-neighborhood synopsis of the region's attractions. It includes numerous cutaways and floor plans of local buildings as well. Handsome, convenient and up-to-date, this is the guide to carry. (ITL200, $23.00)
Eyewitness Real City Rome  •  Eyewitness Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 192 PAGES With up-to-date information on what's hot in Rome, this chic guide lists the trendiest local spots to eat, shop, party and relax. Supported by a website so you'll always be on the inside track. (ITL791, $15.00)
Eyewitness Rome Pocket Map & Guide  •  Eyewitness Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 80 PAGES This excellent guide to Rome features color photography, easy-to-use foldout maps and top attractions. Convenient and up-to-date with an unbeatable price, this is the guide to carry. (ITL787, $6.99)
Eyewitness Venice Pocket Map & Guide  •  Eyewitness Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 80 PAGES This fantastic guide to Venice features color photography, easy-to-use foldout maps and top attractions. Convenient and up-to-date with an unbeatable price, this is the guide to carry. (ITL786, $6.99)
Falstaff, in Full Score  •  Giuseppe Verdi  •  Arrigo Boito MUSIC •  1995 •  PAPER  • 480 PAGES A reprint of the original, and complete, score of Giuseppe Verdi's "Falstaff." (ITL264, $26.95)
The First Life of St. Francis of Assisi  •  Thomas of Celano RELIGION •  PAPER  • 176 PAGES A translation by Christopher Stace of Thomas of Celano's life of Francesco Bernadone (1181-1226). Celano was a contemporary of St. Francis of Assissi. (ITL545, $12.95)
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)
Florence, A Portrait  •  Michael Levey CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1998 •  PAPER  • 560 PAGES A history of Florence as seen through its art from the Middle Ages to the early 20th century. Levey combines art appreciation, history, and personal anecdote and reflection in this stylish, engaging portrait. A "New York Times Book Review" Notable Book of the Year. (ITL136, $22.95)
Florentine Renaissance Sculpture  •  Charles Avery ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1989 •  PAPER  • 274 PAGES An overview of the Renaissance sculpture of Florence, well written and handsomely illustrated. Avery, a director of Christies and former curator at Victoria and Albert, has written a number of books on Bernini and other Italian sculptors of the period. (ITL134, $22.95)
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 Italy  •  Fodor's Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 960 PAGES Organized by region, this hefty guide provides the essentials for travelers, featuring local maps, excellent recommendations on where to sleep and eat, and plenty of advice for sightseeing. (ITL668, $24.95)
Fodor's Naples' 25 Best  •  Michael Buttler GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 96 PAGES A shirt-pocket guide to Naples, this slim book includes an excellent map of the city center and essential information on its highlights. (ITL594, $11.95)
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)
Fodor's Venice & the Venetian Arc GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 368 PAGES A frequently revised, practical guide in the popular series. (ITL895, $18.95)
Following Hadrian, A Second-Century Journey Through the Roman Empire  •  Elizabeth Speller TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2004 •  PAPER  • 328 PAGES A portrait of the charismatic, troubled emperor and his world, which extended from the Mediterranean to the British Isles. (ITL456, $17.95)
Food and Memories of Abruzzo  •  Anna Teresa Callen FOOD •  2004 •  PAPER  • 352 PAGES A cookbook, this volume draws on the cuisine of Abruzzo (less well-known in the U.S. than the food of Naples, but no less tasty). The author provides a decent cultural and geographic context for the recipes, as well. (ITL444, $19.95)
Food Wine The Italian Riviera & Genoa  •  David Downie FOOD •  2008 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES • COMING IN OCTOBER A renowned food writer's highly selective guide to Liguria's authentic small eateries, culinary traditions, wine, wineries, food artisans, and gourmet shops. (ITL956, $24.95)
The Foods of Sicily and Sardinia and the Smaller Islands  •  John Dominis  •  Giuliano Bugialli FOOD •  2002 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES The acclaimed scholar and nominee for the James Beard Award for best Italian cookbook combs the countryside to present a truly authentic and comprehensive cuisine. These pages are brimming with plenty of recipes, as well as some great photographs of local scenery. (ITL297, $37.50)
Footprint Guide Turin  •  Ben Donald GUIDEBOOK •  2004 •  PAPER  • 249 PAGES This pocket guide is nicely divided between a general overview of Turin and practical travel detail on where to go and what to do. By the venerable British publishers of the "South American Handbook," this compact guide is built for the road with sturdy covers and a sewn binding (ITL565, $11.95)
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)
The Force of Destiny, A History of Italy Since 1796  •  Christopher Duggan HISTORY •  2008 •  HARD COVER  • 688 PAGES An insightful history from the beginning of the Italian nationalist movement, this book shows the challenges of unifying fragmented states and the national ideologies -- including Fascism -- which have influenced present-day Italy. (ITL945, $30.00)
Foucault's Pendulum  •  Umberto Eco  •  William Weaver LITERATURE •  2007 •  PAPER  • 623 PAGES Eco's stunning sophomore effort is a wild, complex conspiracy novel set in Milan. The narrator (an expert on the Knights Templar) and his co-workers in a vanity publishing house specializing in hermetics invent a stunningly contrived plot to appeal to their readers. It involves Templars, Rosicrucians, Cabalists, occultists, Freemasons, Jesuits, and more. As events progess, the book becomes a study in how fiction can influence reality. A verbose, philosophical, scholarly cross-genre predecessor to the Da Vinci Code, perfect for readers who feel up to an extremely rewarding challenge. (ITL649, $15.00)
Four Comedies: The Braggart Soldier, The Brothers Menaechmus, the Haunted House, The Pot of Gold  •  Titus MacCius Plautus  •  Erich Segal LITERATURE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES A collection of plays from Plautus (254-184 BC), the father of theatrical comedy and a primary influence on Shakespeare, Moliere and other early titans of the stage. (ITL490, $10.95)
Friends in High Places  •  Donna Leon MYSTERY •  2008 •  PAPER  • 336 PAGES The tenth in the excellent Comissario Brunetti series, this mystery follows the investigation of a bureaucrat's dubious fall from a scaffold. (ITL968, $7.99)
Frommer's Italy 2008  •  Darwin Porter GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 819 PAGES A practical guide in the popular series, strong on where to eat, sleep and shop. (ITL893, $23.99)
Frommer's Tuscany & Umbria  •  Reid Bramblett GUIDEBOOK •  2004 •  PAPER