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)
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)
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 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)
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)
Capri By the Sea  •  Patrick Howlett-martin ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2009 •  HARD COVER  • 176 PAGES • COMING IN MAY A story of Capri told by someone who knows and loves it deeply, Patrick Howlett-Martin has been visiting the island since 1994 and describes it through a mixture of documents, photographs, reproductions of works of art, and curiosities. The text is filled with erudite quotations and lines of poetry, ranging from Pablo Neruda, whose exile on the island was most famously depicted in the popular film Il Postino to Tommaso Marinetti, the founder of the futurists. Capri by the Sea is a fascinating book that makes the perfect gift for all those who are in love with the Mediterranean and its history, or simply with nature and beautiful things. (ITL994, $59.00)
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)
Celebrating Homer's Landscapes, Troy and Ithaca Revisited  •  John Victor Luce ARCHAEOLOGY •  1998 •  HARD COVER  • 224 PAGES A study of Aegean landscapes with reference to the geography of the great poet's "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey." The author recreated the voyage of Odysseus, illustrating Troy, Ithaca and other sites with gorgeous color photographs. (GRE80, $50.00)
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)
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, $28.99)
D.H. Lawrence and Italy  •  D.H. Lawrence  •  Tim Parks TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2008 •  PAPER  • 495 PAGES A collection of D.H. Lawrence's travel writings on Italy, each wonderful and very different in tone. "Sea and Sardinia" is a nostalgic look at traditional ways of life on the island, "Twilight in Italy" an evocation of Lawrence's stay on Lake Garda and "Etruscan Places" a meditation on ancient lives. (ITL62, $18.00)
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)
Encyclopedia of Volcanoes  •  Haraldur Sigurdsson REFERENCE •  2000 •  HARD COVER  • 1456 PAGES An authoritative, enormous reference on volcanoes and volcanology. 82 essays written by experts in the field are organized thematically into nine chapters. Best suited for scientists or those who already know something about the subject. Illustrated throughout with photographs, tables and diagrams. Includes a useful glossary, bibliography and appendices. (GEO23, $119.00)
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)
Falling Palace, A Romance of Naples  •  Dan Hofstadter TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2006 •  PAPER  • 272 PAGES A lyrical account of an American man in Naples who falls under the spell of the city and of an enchanting Neapolitan woman. (ITL763, $13.95)
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)
The Food and Wine Guide to Naples and Campania  •  Carla Capaldo FOOD •  2005 •  PAPER  • 474 PAGES Organized geographically, this book is more than just a round-up of restaurants, vendors and wineries. It's a complete guide to the rich culinary treasures of Naples and surroundings, featuring cultural background, techniques of artisans, farmers and vintners, and numerous color photographs to go along with the extensive listings. (ITL666, $25.00)
The Food of Italy  •  Waverly Root FOOD •  1992 •  PAPER  • 750 PAGES Evocative of Italy and its diverse cuisine, this classic book--organized geographically--offers a cook's tour of the country. It's a well-informed and wonderfully literate guide. (ITL75, $19.95)
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 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 House in Amalfi  •  Elizabeth Adler MYSTERY •  2006 •  PAPER  • 384 PAGES Adler, master of suspense and romance, deftly intertwines lush descriptions of place with fast-paced intrigue in this her 16th novel, set in Amalfi. (ITL966, $6.99)
Houses and Society in Pompeii and Herculaneum  •  Andrew Wallace-Hadrill ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1996 •  PAPER  • 264 PAGES A scholarly history of early Roman society as revealed through the archaeology of the cities of Vesuvius. For serious students only, the book is fascinating for anyone with patience for academic discourse on signs and significance and the structure of space. With eight color plates and 122 black-and-white figures. (ITL567, $29.95)
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)
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)
Insight Guide Italy  •  Insight Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 356 PAGES 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)
Insight Guide Southern Italy  •  Roger Williams GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 381 PAGES A colorful guide to the culture, history and attractions of Italy south of Rome, featuring hundreds of photographs and excellent local and regional maps. (ITL458, $23.95)
Italian Cinema, From Neorealism to the Present  •  Peter Bondanella ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2001 •  PAPER  • 544 PAGES Art historian Peter Bondonella tackles the history modern Italian film in this scholarly volume, starting in the 1940s with the Neorealists (De Sica, Rossellini, et al) and charting a course up to the auteurs of today. Detailed and well written, it is an essential reference to one of the world's most vibrant national cinemas. (ITL350, $29.95)
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 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)
Italian Journey, 1786-1788  •  Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe  •  W.H. Auden  •  Elizabeth Meyer TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1992 •  PAPER  • 498 PAGES The journals and letters from Goethe's 'grand tour' of southern Italy as a 37-year-old. There's some serious intellectual sledding here, but in addition to his musing on philosophy and art, Gooethe includes some wonderful writing on the Italian landscape. And it's all made easier by a lovely translation by W.H. Auden and Elizabeth Meyer. (ITL144, $17.00)
Italian, A Language Map  •  Kristine K. Kershul LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS •  1999 •  PLASTIC CARD This durable, foldout card, featuring 1,000 words and phrases, works as a quick reference for travelers. (ITL645, $7.95)
The Italians  •  Luigi Barzini CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  CASETTE TAPE The definitive portrait of the Italian people, a classic essay on the Italian character first published in 1964 -- and still worth reading (or listening to!) for its insight, grace and wit. Much historical information is included. Highly recommended. (ITL33, $69.95)
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 South Map  •  Michelin MAP A map of southern Italy, covering Molise, Campania, Puglia, Basilicata, Calabria, at a scale of 1:400,000. (ITL109, $8.95)
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)
Knopf Guide Naples and Pompeii  •  Knopf Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 464 PAGES With its sewn-paper covers and magnificent illustrations, this is a guide to keep. In addition to detailed coverage of Pompeii, it includes the whole Amalfi coast. With excellent maps, literary excerpts and a good general overview of the history, culture and geography of the region. (ITL63, $25.95)
Knopf Mapguide Naples  •  Knopf Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  MAP  • 48 PAGES Full-color foldout maps make this guidebook a handy and practical way to find information on where to go and what to do in the city. (ITL352, $9.95)
Lonely Planet Italian Phrasebook  •  Lonely Planet LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS •  2008 •  PAPER  • 260 PAGES A handy, palm-size guide to pronunciation, basic grammar and essential vocabulary for the traveler. (ITL531, $8.99)
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, $22.00)
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)
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)
Midnight in Sicily, On Art, Food, History, Travel and La Cosa Nostra  •  Peter Robb TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2007 •  PAPER  • 400 PAGES • FAVORITE A vivid report from Italy's glorious, corrupt and troubled south, this book combines interviews, journalism and essays on Sicilian history and culture. Robb focuses, in part, on the career of Giulio Andreotti, the seven-time prime minister of Italy recently accused of Mafia associations. (ITL74, $16.00)
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)
Naples: The City and Its Famous Bay, Capri, Sorrento, Ischia, and the Amalfi Coast Down to Paestum  •  Touring Club Italiano GUIDEBOOK •  2003 •  PAPER  • 224 PAGES A practical, comprehensive guide published by the Touring Club Italiano, with a focus on history and architecture, this is a comprehensive introduction to Naples and surroundings, featuring excellent full-color city and regional maps, site diagrams and hundreds of well chosen photographs. (ITL509, $16.95)
National Geographic Traveler Naples And Southern Italy  •  Tim Jepson GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 240 PAGES A guidebook to the region, published by National Geographic in their attractive, visual style. The guide features many photographs, maps and good information on history, nature, culture and travel. (ITL802, $21.95)
The Odyssey  •  Homer  •  Robert Fagles LITERATURE •  1997 •  PAPER  • 541 PAGES Translator Robert Fagles captures the poetry and power of The Odyssey in this translation, celebrated for its clarity and expressiveness. (GRE45, $16.00)
Odyssey of Homer  •  Robert Fagles LITERATURE •  1996 •  HARD COVER  • 560 PAGES Translator Robert Fagles captures the poetry and power of The Odyssey in this new translation, celebrated for its clarity and expressiveness. We also carry the Fagles translation of The Iliad. (GRE30, $35.00)
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)
On Persephone's Island  •  Mary Taylor Simeti CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1986 •  PAPER  • 352 PAGES A richly detailed and personal portrait of Sicily by an American writer who settled on the island with her Sicilian husband in 1962 and stayed for 20 years. Strong on the delights of rural life, her book takes the form of a yearlong journal, capturing the spirit of the people and land. It provides a deep understanding of daily life and traditions -- an excellent antidote to persistent myths of mafiosos and backwards peasants. (ITL03, $14.95)
On The Road with Francis of Assisi  •  Linda Bird Francke TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2006 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES Weaving tales of the 13th-century saint and her own 21st-century travels, Francke follows in the footsteps of Francis on her own pilgrimage. She lingers in Assisi, Venice and Rome, and takes in Siena, Bologna, Gubbio, and many hill towns, sanctuaries and chapels. The book nicely evokes both the spirit of Francis of Asisi, and the history and pleasures of Italy. (ITL647, $15.95)
On the Shores of the Mediterranean  •  Eric Newby TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 486 PAGES A sparkling observer and famously entertaining writer, Newby tackles the Mediterranean in these merry essays. He finds himself in North Africa, the Adriatic, Venice, Naples, the Greek Islands, Turkey, Cairo and Jerusalem. (MED25, $14.95)
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)
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)
A Pompeian Herbal  •  Wilhelmina Jashemski FIELD GUIDE •  1999 •  PAPER  • 112 PAGES A compendium of 36 medicinal plants of Pompeii, most known to the ancients and still used by modern day Neapolitans. A full-page color portrait and photographs accompany each scholarly description. A classicist by training, professor Jashemski includes ancient literary and mythological references for each plant. (ITL189, $17.95)
Rick Steves' Italian Phrase Book & Dictionary  •  Rick Steves LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS •  2003 •  PAPER  • 286 PAGES A compact phrase book for travelers, organized thematically and with a brief dictionary. This is no dry litany of phrases but is instead peppered with humor and Rick Steves' insider insight into how to break the ice and make friends around the world. (ITL424, $7.95)
The Rise of Christianity  •  Rodney Stark RELIGION •  1997 •  PAPER  • 272 PAGES The subtitle to this book says it all: "How the Obscure, Marginal Jesus Movement Became the Dominant Religious Force in the Western World in a Few Centuries." More a sociological study than a religious history, the book delves into what compelled so many people to convert to the then infant religion. (MED64, $14.95)
Roman Life, 100 B.C. to A.D. 200  •  John R. Clarke ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2007 •  HARD COVER  • 176 PAGES The day-to-day lives of ancient Romans as depicted in the art, sculpture, architecture and gardens of their time. Includes an interactive CD-ROM with a tour of Pompeii's "House of Vettii". (ITL881, $35.00)
Rough Guide Italy  •  Ros Belford GUIDEBOOK •  2003 •  PAPER  • 1050 PAGES A comprehensive guide in the British series with a good overview of culture and history, dozens of sketch maps and extensive listings. (ITL328, $22.95)
Rough Guides Journeys 25 Ultimate Experiences  •  Rough Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 80 PAGES Subtitled Make the Most of Your Time on Earth, these colorful pocket guides, 25 in all, published in celebration of the 25th anniversary of Rough Guides, celebrate remarkable, not-to-be-missed things to do and places to go, certain to inspire. With an appendix including, for example, excellent reading and some practicalities, these teasers might just help you choose the next trip. As a celebration of Rough Guides, their scope and personality, they can't be beat. (WLD108, $5.99)
Sailing to Capri  •  Elizabeth Adler MYSTERY •  2007 •  PAPER  • 400 PAGES Bestselling author Adler weaves a suspenseful tale of a cruise, where nothing is what it seems, no one is telling the truth, and murder happens. (ITL965, $13.95)
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)
Sicily Before History, An Archaeological Survey from the Paleolithic to the Iron Age  •  Robert Leighton ARCHAEOLOGY •  1999 •  PAPER  • 312 PAGES A rich survey of Sicily's archaeological record, organized chronologically. Geared for students and serious-minded travelers, it includes 150 black-and-white photographs and drawings, notes and extensive bibliography. (ITL110, $32.95)
Sicily Map  •  World Mapping Project MAP A convenient and up-to-date, double-sided map of Sicily at a scale of 1:200,000, featuring the excellent cartography of the World Mapping Project. Printed on water- and tear-resistant paper. (ITL20, $9.99)
Sometimes the Soul, Two Novellas of Sicily  •  Gioia Timpanelli LITERATURE •  1999 •  PAPER  • 192 PAGES Timpanelli reworks ancient Sicilian tales into two very modern novellas. The first, set in turn of the century Palermo, concerns a baroness and the young sailor that changes her life. The second novella, "Reusna, Not Quite Love" is a lyrical retelling of "Beauty and the Beast," set against the rustic backdrop of rural Sicily. (ITL113, $15.00)
Sorrento Map  •  Litographia Artistica Cartographica MAP A double-sided, detailed street map of Sorrento at a scale of 1:8,000 with individual maps of the Sorrentine Peninsula, Positano, Vico Equense, Capri and Pompei on the reverse. (ITL752, $10.95)
Southern Italy Map  •  Touring Club Italiano MAP A regional map of Italy, stretching from Rome to the southern tip, at a scale of 1:400,000. Features topographical relief. (ITL222, $12.95)
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)
Time Out Naples, Capri, Sorrento, & The Amalfi Coast  •  Ros Sales GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER An up-to-date guide on what to do and where to go by the people who publish Time Out Magazine. (ITL671, $19.95)
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'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)
The Treasures and Pleasures of Italy  •  Ron Krannich GUIDEBOOK •  1997 •  PAPER  • 273 PAGES Devoted to the unusual, out-of-the-way, or just plain wonderful, this practical guide is an excellent itinerary planner, divided geographically and thematically around the essentials: eating, sleeping and shopping. (ITL93, $14.95)
Vanishing Histories, 100 Endangered Sites from the World Monuments Fund  •  Colin Amery ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2001 •  HARD COVER  • 207 PAGES • HARD TO FIND ELSEWHERE A stunning portrait of 100 threatened archaeological and cultural monuments around the world from Angkor, Pompeii, and Mesa Verde to lesser known buildings and sites, all listed by the World Monuments Fund. Organized geographically, each building or site gets at least a full page, usually two. Founded in 1996, the New York-based organization is dedicated to publicizing, preserving and protecting endangered examples of historic art and architecture around the world. (GEN219, $60.00)
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)
A Vittorini Omnibus  •  Elio Vittorini  •  Ernest Hemingway LITERATURE •  1973 •  PAPER  • 308 PAGES Three short novels by one of Sicily's modern masters, including Vittorini's classic tale of a sophisticated man who returns to his native village, "In Sicily." Rounding out the collection is "La Garibaldina" and "Twilight of the Elephant." (ITL10, $18.95)
The Wedding Officer  •  Anthony Capella LITERATURE •  2007 •  HARD COVER  • 432 PAGES A culinary romance between a British officer and Italian country girl set amid Allied occupied Naples in 1943. (ITL884, $22.00)