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 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)
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)
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: 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)
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, $40.00)
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 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)
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)
The Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi  •  Elvio Lunghi ART & ARCHITECTURE •  PAPER (ITL252, $27.50)
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)
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)
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 •  2007 •  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)
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)
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)
Cadogan Venice  •  Michael Pauls  •  Dana Facaros GUIDEBOOK •  2003 •  PAPER  • 336 PAGES A guide in the respected British series with insightful cultural and historical background, and up-to-date practical information, illustrations and maps. (ITL326, $17.95)
Calabria Map  •  Touring Club Italiano MAP A detailed traveler's map of Calabria at a scale of 1:150,000. (ITL496, $12.95)
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, $43.00)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Daily Life in Ancient Rome  •  Florence Dupont  •  Christopher Woodall CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1994 •  PAPER A glimpse into the days of the Roman Republic, a portrait of the people and their customs, drawn from ancient writings. The book's scholarship does not overshadow the fascinating insight into minute details of the society, making it accessible to a general audience. (ITL333, $40.95)
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)
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, 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)
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)
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)
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)
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 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 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 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)
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)
A Farewell to Arms  •  Ernest Hemingway LITERATURE •  1995 •  PAPER  • 332 PAGES Set in snowy Switzerland and the rainy Italian lake country during World War I, this semi-autobiographical novel chronicles the romance between a British nurse and an American ambulance driver. It features some of Hemingway's finest writing about weather and -- unfortunately -- one of his flimsiest-ever heroines. (ITL384, $15.00)
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 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)
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, $29.95)
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)
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)
The Food of Italy, Region by Region  •  Claudia Roden FOOD •  2003 •  PAPER  • 440 PAGES • COMING IN The marvelous food writer Claudia Roden, who spent a year visiting cooks and cooking throughout Italy, presents 300 easy-to-prepare recipes in the context of Italian history, culture and geography. (ITL683, $19.95)
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)
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)
Frommer's Tuscany & Umbria  •  Reid Bramblett GUIDEBOOK •  2004 •  PAPER  • 450 PAGES A practical guide in the popular series, revised annually. (ITL83, $19.99)
Galileo's Daughter, A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith and Love  •  Dava Sobel BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2000 •  PAPER  • 448 PAGES Dava Sobel evokes the daily life and mindset of 17th-century Italy in this engaging tale, which draws on the surviving letters to Galileo from his illegitimate daughter, a nun in a Franciscan convent in San Matteo near Florence. Sobel, author of the acclaimed "Longitude," is a master storyteller. (ITL176, $16.00)
Garden Lover's Guide to Italy  •  Penelope Hobhouse NATURAL HISTORY •  1998 •  PAPER  • 144 PAGES A practical guide too 100 gardens throughout Italy by the celebrated horticulturist, illustrated throughout. Organized geographically, each garden gets a few paragraphs or page, color photos and a description. (ITL498, $19.95)
The Garden of the Finzi-Continis  •  Giorgio Bassini  •  William Weaver LITERATURE •  1996 •  PAPER  • 197 PAGES Made into an Academy Award-winning film in 1971, this powerful book deals with unrequited love and classist society in the time of Mussolini, when anti-Semitic laws were beginning to melt down the social hierarchies. A wonderfully written and well-translated tragedy, it takes place in the town of Ferrara, between Venice and Bologna. (ITL205, $13.00)
Gardner's Art Through the Ages, Renaissance and Modern Art  •  Fred S. Kleiner  •  Helen Gardner  •  Horst De la Croix  •  Richard G. Tansey ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1995 •  PAPER  • 624 PAGES A classic college text, now in its 10th edition. (GEN214, $68.00)
Giuseppe Garibaldi, A Biography of the Father of Modern Italy  •  Benedict S. Lipira BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1998 •  HARD COVER  • 121 PAGES A biography of the 19th-century Italian nationalist, published by the author. (ITL303, $15.95)
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)
The Greek World, Art and Civilization in Magna Graecia and Sicily  •  Giovanni Pugliese Carratelli ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1996 •  HARD COVER  • 799 PAGES A gorgeously illustrated, oversize survey of Greek civilizations that flourished between the eighth and sixth centuries B.C. on the western coast of Italy. This volume, originally published as an exhibition catalogue at the Palazzo Grassi, includes a full 1600 plates, 600 of them in color. (GRE151, $85.00)
Guarino Guarini and His Architecture  •  Harold Alan Meek ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1990 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES Guarino Guarini, one of the great Italian architects of the Baroque period, worked primarily in Turin and Sicily, with his influence stretching across the border into Germany, Austria and Bohemia. This book illustrates his work and documents his life. With an extensive index and bibliography. (ITL192, $30.00)
Hadrian, The Restless Emperor  •  Anthony Birley BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2000 •  PAPER  • 424 PAGES An up-to-date, scholarly biography of Hadrian, chronicling the emperor's state, cultural and architectural accomplishments, and personal life (including his homosexual relationship with Antinous). (ITL260, $40.95)
HarperCollins Italian College Dictionary  •  Michela Clari  •  Catherine E. Love REFERENCE •  1998 •  HARD COVER  • 1534 PAGES A standard Italo-English reference. (ITL276, $29.95)
The Hellenistic World and the Coming of Rome  •  Erich S. Gruen HISTORY •  1986 •  PAPER  • 800 PAGES An academic study of Roman imperialism in Greece, arguing that the influence of Greek culture and ideas was far more substantial than once thought. Well researched, detailed and thought-provoking, it is a much lauded addition to scholarship on the ancient world. (MED67, $50.00)
Herculaneum: Italy's Buried Treasure  •  Joseph Jay Deiss HISTORY •  1989 •  PAPER  • 222 PAGES An artful and wonderfully written description of ancient Herculaneum. The book concentrates on daily life of the Romans at the time of Herculaneum's destruction (Herculaneum is on a separate flank of Mt. Vesuvius, and also perished on August 24, 79 A.D.). Chapters cover various aspects of life in the town, from the poor to the rich, from the baths to the theatre. A marvelous evocation of ancient life, enlivened by careful consideration of the archeological evidence. (ITL41, $18.95)
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 High Renaissance and Mannerism  •  Linda Murray ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1985 •  PAPER  • 287 PAGES Focusing on Italian art of the 16th century, this book in the outstanding "World of Art" series details the final glories of the Renaissance and the subsequent birth of the mannerist movement (led by the ageing Michelangelo). It includes chapters on Michelangelo, Florence, Parma, Rome, Venice and the Veneto. It closes with chapters on the same era in Spain and Northern Europe. With 300 illustrations, 37 in color. (ART33, $16.95)
The Hill Towns of Italy  •  Carol Field  •  Richard Kauffman CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1997 •  PAPER  • 116 PAGES • COMING IN A delightful illustrated survey of the towns, people and countryside of Tuscany and Umbria by a favorite writer on things Italian. The book devotes a chapter each to 13 towns in the region including Sienna, San Gimignano, Cortona, Perugia, Assisi and Orvieto. With an overview of Tuscany and Umbria, and dozens of full-color photographs. (ITL96, $19.95)
The Hills of Tuscany, A New Life in an Old Land  •  Ferenc Mate TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1999 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES A memoir of the author and his wife, a painter, living among farmers in rural Tuscany. Mate's love of Italy, and especially of its food, comes through loud and clear. (ITL155, $15.00)
A History of Contemporary Italy, Society and Politics, 1943-1988  •  Paul Ginsborg HISTORY •  2003 •  PAPER  • 592 PAGES A history of the Italian post war experience through 1988. Ginsborg chronicles Italy's transformation from an agrarian, impoverished country in the wake of the war to a prosperous and stable modern nation. (ITL462, $24.95)
A History of Fascism, 1914-1945  •  Stanley G. Payne HISTORY •  1996 •  PAPER  • 628 PAGES A scholarly, comprehensive history of fascism -- and other forms of ultra-nationalism -- with a focus on Europe between the World Wars, and especially Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany. (EUR132, $24.95)
History of Italian Renaissance Art: Painting, Sculpture, Architecture  •  David G. Wilkins  •  Frederick Hartt ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2006 •  PAPER  • 699 PAGES A comprehensive history of Italian art from the 13th through the 16th centuries, long the standard reference on the flowering of art in the Renaissance. David Wilkins thoroughly revised this sixth edition, broadening the scope of the book and adding many new color plates, including details of the Sistine Chapel frescoes. (ITL308, $117.40)
History of My Life (Vols. III & IV)  •  Giacomo Casanova  •  Willard R. Trask BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1997 •  PAPER  • 704 PAGES Casanova's Venice is a city of intrigue and extravagance, a fitting homeland for a multi-faceted, extravagant man. The foremost scoundrel of the 18th century was also a memoirist of formidable talent. In the fourth volume of his autobiography, Casanova -- who was, variously, a spy, a diplomat, a soldier, an astrologer, and a cleric -- tells of his imprisonment in the dungeon of the Ducal Palace in Venice. The tale made him a wanted commodity throughout Europe in 1756, the year of his escape, and indeed it is no less sensational now. (ITL381, $25.00)
A History of Venice  •  John Julius Norwich HISTORY •  1989 •  PAPER  • 673 PAGES A vivid 1,000-year history of the Venetian Republic from its ancient settlement to its humiliating defeat by Napoleon in 1797. Norwich, who also wrote a three-volume history of the Byzantine empire, marshals myriad personalities, battles, sieges, and facts into a compelling history of Venice's rise to power under the Doges. He's a terrific writer, and a great admirer of this "most beautiful of cities." (ITL177, $25.00)
A House in Sicily  •  Daphne Phelps TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1999 •  PAPER  • 224 PAGES • HARD TO FIND ELSEWHERE An old-fashioned memoir of life at Casa Cuseni, the pensione and garden in Taormina run by the indomitable Daphne Phelps, which has been a sanctuary for Tennessee Williams, Betrand Russell and other guests, famous and infamous, since 1947. (ITL148, $16.95)
A House Somewhere, Tales of Life Abroad  •  Don George  •  Anthony Sattin ANTHOLOGY •  2002 •  PAPER This diverse anthology of 18 previously published book excerpts and eight new essays, celebrate the expatriate life. Jan Morris provides an introduction. Among the standouts is Isabel Allende (a Chilean transplanted to Marin), William Dalrymple in Delhi, Lily Brett on New York and the oh-so-British Simon Winchester, who now lives on a farm in the Berkshires. Turn-about is fair play. After all those books about crumbling farm houses in the south of France or Italy, it's nice to see that the book includes not only us over there but also them over here. Other chapters are set in Philippines, Paris, Provence, Italy, Kenya, Singapore, Mexico, Ireland, Morocco, Japan, China, Egypt, Thailand, Turkey and Greece. Don George is editor-at-large for Lonely Planet and the former editor for Salon;s excellent Wanderlust. (TVL28, $13.99)
I, Claudius  •  Robert Graves LITERATURE •  1989 •  PAPER  • 468 PAGES Good old-fashioned politics, palace intrigue and back-stabbing in the form of a fictional autobiography by Robert Graves. This celebrated novel charts the rises and falls of Roman emperors, including Augustus, Tiberius and Caligula. At the same time, it tells the story of Claudius, an idiot by reputation, whose patience and quiet cleverness prove otherwise. (ITL429, $14.95)
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)
In Sicily  •  Norman Lewis TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2002 •  HARD COVER  • 169 PAGES • COMING IN In this lovely, personable travelogue, Lewis ranges widely, introducing a cast of friends, journalists and residents from one end of the island to the other. He ranges too across time from his first acquaintance with Sicily more than 60 years ago to 1998. (ITL420, $24.95)
In the Company of the Courtesan  •  Sarah Dunant LITERATURE •  2007 •  PAPER  • 385 PAGES A second historical novel by the author of the mesmerizing The Birth of Venus. Dunant paints a vivid, earthy portrait of Renaissance Venice in this absorbing tale of intrigue, ambition and love. It's narrated by the wily dwarf Bucino Teodoldo, loyal companion of the courtesan of the title, Fiammetta Bianchini. Escaping the 1527 sacking of Rome, they connive and claw and cheat to resume a position of their former glory in Venice. (ITL650, $13.95)
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)
Inferno, The Longfellow Translation  •  Dante Alghieri  •  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow  •  Matthew Pearl LITERATURE •  2003 •  PAPER  • 432 PAGES A Modern Library edition of Dante's Inferno, as translated by Henry Wadsworth Longwellow in 1867 ( the first American translation) and as edited by Matthew Pearl , author of The Dante Club. (ITL400, $10.95)
Innocence  •  Penelope Fitzgerald LITERATURE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 224 PAGES Salvatore is a poor doctor; Chiara is the last progeny of the aristocratic Ridolfi clan; they fall in love, and love makes them miserable. It's a comedy, set in mid-twentieth century Italy, by the inimitable Penelope Fitzgerald. The fantastic first chapter alone would be worth the cover price. (ITL317, $12.00)
Insight City Guide Venice  •  Insight Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 313 PAGES In its trademark style, this handsome Insight Guide gives a profusely illustrated overview of Venice. Featuring concise essays by well regarded authors on the art, architecture, and history of the city, it contains hundreds of photos and maps as well as some limited practical information. This handy book is a popular and highly recommended one-volume introduction to Venice. (ITL23, $16.95)
Insight Compact Guide Italian Lakes  •  Insight Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2001 •  PAPER A compact, illustrated guide with good maps. (ITL482, $8.95)
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 Northern Italy  •  Insight Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 404 PAGES This handsome guide to northern Italy gives a profusely illustrated overview of the region. Featuring concise essays by well regarded authors on the history, culture and nature of the region, it contains hundreds of photos and maps, as well as some limited practical information. (ITL190, $24.95)
Insight Guide Rome  •  Insight Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 291 PAGES This handsome guide gives a profusely illustrated overview of Rome, featuring concise essays by well regarded authors on history, art, and culture. With hundreds of photos and maps, and some limited practical information. (ITL30, $19.95)
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)
Insight Pocket Guide Florence  •  Christopher Catling GUIDEBOOK •  2002 •  PAPER This convenient, slim volume features color photographs, many maps (including a handy fold-out map of the city), good short descriptions of major points of interest, and other practical information. (ITL162, $13.95)
Inventing Leonardo  •  A. Richard Turner BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1994 •  PAPER  • 268 PAGES Turner, a leading art historian of the Renaissance, offers a lively appraisal of the controversial genius. It's an elegant and stimulating book. (ITL79, $22.95)
Ischia/Capri Map  •  Instituto Geografico De Agostini MAP A map of Capri and neighboring Ischia at a scale of 1:28,000. Published in Italy (ITL500, $6.95)
Italia, The Art of Living Italian Style  •  Edmund Howard ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1997 •  HARD COVER  • 192 PAGES A beautifully illustrated tour of Italy's most characteristic and striking architecture, landscapes and design. Howard includes a range of styles from villas, farmhouses and gardens to Baroque churches, mosaics and statuary. Accompanying essays cover the history, artists and background for each photograph. He concludes with a visitor's guide. (ITL398, $40.00)
Italian Architecture from Michelangelo to Borromini  •  Andrew Hopkins ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2002 •  PAPER  • 222 PAGES A wide-ranging, illustrated survey of Italian Renaissance architecture in the excellent "World of Art" series. A great introduction, especially helpful to travelers interested in the history and design of cathedrals, villas, castles, and other large-scale structures to be discovered in Italy. (ITL478, $14.95)
The Italian Baker  •  Carol Hart Field FOOD •  1991 •  HARD COVER  • 443 PAGES An informed guide to ingredients, bread and bread recipes, a must for the Italy-bound baker. Carol Field is also the author of The Hill Towns of Italy. (ITL435, $35.00)
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.