ITALIAN HILL TOWNS More Books 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)   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)   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)   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)   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, $16.00)   Baroque and Rococo Art  •  Germain Bazin ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1985 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES An excellent illustrated survey of Baroque and Rococo art and architecture, this volume in the acclaimed "World of Art" series is a good companion to the golden age of Middle Europe. (EUR53, $21.95)   Bella Tuscany, The Sweet Life in Italy  •  Frances Mayes TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 286 PAGES In this sequel to "Under the Tuscan Sun," best-selling author Frances Mayes goes out in search of Italian Life in the small town of Cortona. (ITL224, $15.00)   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, $15.00)   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)   Cathedrals and Castles, The Cathedral Builders of the Middle Ages  •  Alain Erlande-Brandenburg ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2010 •  PAPER  • 175 PAGES This pocket-size encyclopedia of the art, architecture and culture of the Middle Ages features hundreds of drawings, color illustrations and a brief chronology. Take it along to gain a better appreciation of the Middle Ages and its legacy in Europe. (MED07, $15.95)   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. One Side. 37x49 inches. (ITL103, $14.95)   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 details 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)   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, $30.99)   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 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)   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)   Etruscan Art  •  Nigel Spivey ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1997 •  PAPER  • 216 PAGES In this illustrated and wide-ranging introduction, Nigel Spivey brings the Etruscan world to life, illuminating the social, political and cultural context of the art objects and artifacts that remain the singular achievement of the Etruscans. 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, $47.95)   Eyewitness Guide Italy  •  Eyewitness Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2012 •  PAPER  • 720 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 Sardinia  •  Eyewitness Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2011 •  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 Umbria  •  Eyewitness Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2011 •  FLEXI-BOUND  • 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)   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. Two Sides. 20x26 inches. (ITL59, $8.95)   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)   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)   Fodor's See It Italy  •  Fodor's GUIDEBOOK •  2011 •  PAPER  • 496 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, $24.99)   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)   Frommer's Flornce, Tuscany & Umbria  •  Reid Bramblett GUIDEBOOK •  2010 •  PAPER  • 450 PAGES A practical guide in the popular series, revised annually. (ITL83, $21.99)   The Gothic Enterprise, A Guide to Understanding the Medieval Cathedral  •  Robert A. Scott ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2005 •  PAPER  • 294 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, $21.95)   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, $15.00)   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, $22.00)   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 Maremma, Life and a House in Southern Tuscany  •  David Leavitt  •  Mark Mitchell TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2011 •  PAPER  • 140 PAGES Now with stunning illustrations and color photographs, this newly expanded edition of In Maremma recounts David Leavitt and Mark Mitchell's restoration of a dilapidated 1950s farmhouse in southern Tuscany. Beautifully written, witty, and concise, it recounts the process by which they became initiated into a part of Italian life foreigners rarely see. The pleasures of the olive harvest and picking wild asparagus are juxtaposed with the vagaries of political corruption and self-perpetuating bureaucracy. Landscape and weather provide the stuff of reverie, as do the benefits of boredom and the longing for peanut butter. A celebration and exploration of a little-known part of Italy, In Maremma is a fond if sometimes critical corrective to other more rapturous portrayals of Tuscany. (ITL287, $18.95)   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, $12.00)   Insight Guide Italy  •  Insight Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2011 •  PAPER  • 432 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, $23.99)   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, $28.95)   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, $14.95)   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, $17.00)   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)   Italy and Its Invaders  •  Girolamo Arnaldi HISTORY •  2008 •  PAPER  • 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 for the Gourmet Traveler  •  Fred Plotkin FOOD •  2010 •  PAPER  • 736 PAGES Organized geographically, this encyclopedic guide features eating establishments, cooking schools, markets, shops and other gastronomic treasures in 500 cities and villages, perfect for the food-addled who can't be in the company of the irrepressible master himself. (ITL268, $24.95)   Italy Map  •  Borch Maps 2011 •  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. Two Sides. 27x39 inches. (ITL19, $11.95)   Italy Northeast Map  •  Michelin Travel Publications MAP An excellent map at a scale of 1:400,000, covering the northeast region of Italy including Bolzano, Verona, Bologna, and Firenze. Two Sides. 40x52 inches. (ITL72, $12.95)   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)   Italy, Charming Small Hotels  •  Fiona Duncan GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 468 PAGES A pocket-size guide to unusual places to stay throughout Italy, this useful book features a color photograph and description of each villa, castle or other small hotel. (ITL92, $19.95)   La Dolce Vita  •  Federico Fellini 1960 •  DVD Fellini's celebrated masterpiece which stars Marcello Mastroianni as Marcello Rubini, a Roman tabloid reporter who fully indulges in the decadence of "la dolce vita"-- sex, money, and alcohol. Anita Ekberg is the American starlet whom Marcello takes up with. In Italian with subtitles. Part of the Criterion Collection. (ITL543, $39.98)   Leonardo da Vinci  •  Kenneth Clark BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1993 •  PAPER With 128 well integrated plates and a useful chronology, this authoritative and informative book has become the standard introduction to da Vinci and his work. (ITL78, $21.95)   Leonardo da Vinci, The Mind of the Renaissance  •  Alessandro Vezzosi BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1997 •  PAPER  • 160 PAGES A pocket-size encyclopedia, this colorful book illustrates and documents the life and work of Leonardo, including a long section of excerpts from his writings. (ITL77, $12.95)   Liguria Regional Map  •  Touring Club Italiano MAP A map of the region, including Cinque Terra, at a scale of 1:200,000. Two Sides. 37x58 inches. (ITL118, $14.95)   The Little Flowers of St. Francis  •  W. Heywood  •  Ugolino  •  Madeleine L'Engle LITERATURE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 120 PAGES Classic tales attributed to St. Francis, divided into 50 vignettes, including the story of the wolf of Gubbio, set along the Franciscan Way. (ITL132, $13.00)   The Lives of the Artists, Vol 1  •  Giorgio Vasari  •  Julia Conway and Peter Bondanella BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1987 •  PAPER  • 477 PAGES Vasari offers short biographies of the art and lives of his Renaissance contemporaries in this classic and much-discussed book written in the mid-16th century. He focuses on painters both great and lesser-known, including Giotto, Michelangelo, Titian and others. This edition includes parts one, two and three of the huge original work. (ITL17, $14.00)   Lonely Planet Florence and Tuscany  •  Damien Simonis GUIDEBOOK •  2012 •  PAPER  • 360 PAGES Two expert authors feature 29 driving tours and itineraries, 42 Renaissance masterpieces amd 4000 years of art and architecture in this seventh edition of the Lonely Planet guide to Florence and surroundings. (ITL233, $22.99)   A Long Finish, An Aurelio Zen Mystery  •  Michael Dibdin MYSTERY •  2000 •  PAPER  • 272 PAGES Another enjoyable "Aurelio Zen Mystery" from Michael Dibdin, this time private investigator Zen is in Rome and Alba, enjoying wonderful wine and food while uncovering a murderous plot that may jeopardize the Piemontese wine industry. (ITL193, $13.95)   Love and War in the Apennines  •  Eric Newby TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2008 •  PAPER  • 276 PAGES Eric Newby's powerful account of his days as a young Brit during World War II in German occupied Italy. After leaving a POW camp, he takes flight from advancing German forces and finds allies in some Italian families who take him in and help him hide. Newby has gone on to fall in love with Italy, building a house there and marrying an Italian woman. (ITL171, $14.99)   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, $24.00)   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, $38.50)   Master and Commander, The Far Side of the World  •  Peter Weir LITERATURE •  2003 •  DVD Peter Weir's exciting adaptation of two of Patrick O'Brian's popular novels, "Master and Commander" and "The Far Side of the World," starring Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany. Crowe is Captain Jack Aubrey, whose British ship, the HMS Surprise, is battling a mysterious French ship off the coast of Cape Horn during the Napoleonic Wars of 1805. An extended sequenced filmed on the Galapagos marks one of the first times the islands have been depicted in a feature film. (GPS66, $14.98)   The Middle Sea  •  John Julius Norwich HISTORY •  2007 •  PAPER  • 720 PAGES 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, $21.00)   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)   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)   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)   The Piero Della Francesca Trail  •  John Pope-Hennessy  •  Aldous Huxley ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2002 •  HARD COVER  • 88 PAGES In this slim guide, Pope-Hennessy traces the major paintings and frescoes of Piero found across Tuscany and Umbria. Origianlly published in 1993, this edition includes 52 color illustrations along with Aldous Huxley's infleuntial essay on Piero's Resurrection of Christ from Borgo San Sepolcro (The Best Picture), which inspired art historian Pope-Hennesy. (ITL409, $24.95)   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)   Renaissance Florence, The Invention of a New Art  •  A. Richard Turner ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2005 •  PAPER  • 176 PAGES Taking as his cue the great art and famous monuments of Florence, Turner explores the cultural and social history of the city. It's an art and architecture oriented guide with abundant color illustrations. A volume in the Prentice Hall Perspectives series. Second edition. (ITL50, $42.20)   Rick Steves' Italian Phrase Book & Dictionary  •  Rick Steves LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS •  2008 •  PAPER  • 281 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, $8.95)   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, $14.99)   Romola  •  George Eliot LITERATURE •  1996 •  PAPER  • 641 PAGES No light read, this historical novel features Macchiavelli and Savanarola among its pantheon of characters. At its heart are Romola -- the questing daughter of a Florentine atheist -- and her villainous husband Tito. George Eliot was ever a novelist of ideas, and in this farthest-flung of her books she considers matters of religion, politics and science as they played out in Florence after the expulsion of the Medici. It's a convincing portrait of a complicated age. (ITL318, $15.00)   Rough Guide Italy  •  Ros Belford GUIDEBOOK •  2009 •  PAPER  • 1096 PAGES A comprehensive guide in the British series with a good overview of culture and history, dozens of sketch maps and extensive listings. (ITL328, $24.99)   Rough Guide Tuscany and Umbria  •  Jonathan Buckley  •  Tim Jepson GUIDEBOOK •  2012 •  PAPER  • 836 PAGES A no-nonsense, comprehensive travel guide with region-by-region descriptions and a good overview of history and culture. With chapters on Florence and surroundings, Lucca, Pisa, Maremma, Siena, Arezzo, Peruguia, Assisi, Spoleto and Orvieto. (ITL292, $22.99)   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, $14.00)   Siena Map  •  Litographia Artistica Cartographica MAP A detailed street map of Siena at a scale 1:7,000 with a more detailed inset of the historic center. Two Sides. 25x35 inches. (ITL299, $12.95)   Spartacus  •  Stanley Kubrick 1960 •  DVD Stanley Kubrick's riveting epic about the leader of a Roman slave revolt, starring no less than Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Charles Laughton, Tony Curtis and Peter Ustinov. The screenplay was written by the playwright Dalton Trumbo, who was blacklisted at the time. Part of the Criterion Collection. (ITL544, $49.95)   The Surprise of Cremona: One Woman's Adventures in Cremona, Parma, Mantua, Ravenna, Urbino, and Arezzo  •  Edith Templeton  •  Anita Brookner TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2001 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES • COMING IN A new edition of Templeton's 1954 memoir of romance, travel and adventure in northern Italy. The novelist burnishes her reputation as an entertaining, adventurous Bohemian in this classic. (ITL396, $27.50)   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, $17.99)   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 Keats, and Stanley Crouch, who writes on "Umbria Jazz" in Rome. (ITL182, $18.95)   Travelers' Tales Tuscany  •  Tara Austen Weaver  •  James O'Reilly ANTHOLOGY •  2002 •  PAPER  • 222 PAGES • COMING IN Well-chosen true stories from quality contemporary authors is what this anthology of travel writing and essays about Tuscany, including excerpts from works by Saul Bellow, Matthew Spender, Ferenc Mate, Frances Mayes and Barbara Grizzuti Harrison among others. (ITL315, $16.95)   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)   A Tuscan Childhood  •  Kinta Beevor BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2000 •  PAPER  • 271 PAGES A vibrant, rosy-hued memoir of growing up privileged, bohemian and English between the wars at the family compound near the Tuscan village of Aulla and at Poggio, a villa outside Florence. This book will appeal to teenagers as well as adults. (ITL388, $13.95)   Tuscany in Mind  •  Alice Powers ANTHOLOGY •  2005 •  PAPER  • 400 PAGES These selections, including D.H. Lawrence, Robert Browning, Mary McCarthy, to Eric Newby, Erica Jong and David Leavitt, cover a wide range of subjects, from the region's geography to its history and culture and (of course) the food. Another fine literary anthology from the editor of Italy in Mind. Powers provides an appreciative introduction to each 8-10 page selection, focusing on the transforamtion wrought upon American and British writers. (ITL607, $14.95)   Tuscany Map  •  Borch Maps 2006 •  MAP A handy laminated road map of Tuscany in full color at a scale of 1:400,000, with supplementary maps. Two Sides. 20x26 inches. (ITL281, $10.95)   Two Lives, Reading Turgenev and My House in Umbria  •  William Trevor LITERATURE •  1997 •  PAPER  • 375 PAGES These two Booker Prize-nominated novellas demonstrate the Irish writer William Trevor's great gifts. The second, My House in Umbria, is the story of an ex-prostitute who settles in Umbria to write trashy romance novels, but whose life is disturbed by local political events. It's a beautifully rendered story, redolent with local Umbrian color. (ITL122, $16.00)   Umbria Regional Map  •  Touring Club Italiano MAP A colorful, detailed map of Umbria and surrounding areas, at a scale of 1:200,000. The most detailed map of the area available, imported from Italy One Side. 37x49 inches. (ITL119, $14.95)   Voice of the Violin  •  Andrea Camilleri  •  Stephen Sartarelli MYSTERY •  2004 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES In this fourth installment in the popular Inspector Montalbano series. Camilleri delivers a delightful cast of characters and wry commentary on Sicilian ways, headed by the irresistible Inspector Montalbano, a small town police detective with a healthy appetite, roving intellect and wry sense of humor. It opens with a classic conceit of police procedurals: a beautiful blond woman is found dead. That's the least of it. (ITL537, $14.00)   Walking and Eating in Tuscany and Umbria  •  James Ladsun  •  Pia Davis GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 394 PAGES A practical guide to walking and eating your way through the region, this book includes 40 suggested itineraries, mostly day hikes, with maps, details on local attractions, and illustrations. (ITL97, $20.00)   Wine Country Europe, Touring, Tasting, And Buying At European Regional Wineries  •  Ornella D'Alessio  •  Marco Santini FOOD •  2005 •  HARD COVER  • 324 PAGES Part how-to, part guidebook, part picture book, this charming coffee table treat covers sprawling French vineyards as well as lesser-known hidden treasures in Austria and Hungary. The authors, both Italian journalists and wine connoisseurs, provide helpful tips alongside the hundreds of magnificent color photographs. (EUR191, $35.00)   A World Lit Only By Fire: The Medieval Mind and the Renaissance, Portrait of an Age  •  William Manchester HISTORY •  1993 •  PAPER  • 322 PAGES In this wide-ranging study, Manchester evokes in vivid detail the great figures and daily life of the 16th century, with information on Henry VIII, Magellan, Borgia, da Vinci and Martin Luther. This is his 18th book and Manchester knows how to tell a great story. It's divided into three sections: Renaissance, Reformation and Discovery. (EUR06, $15.99)   Worldly Goods, A New History of the Renaissance  •  Lisa Jardine HISTORY •  1998 •  PAPER  • 470 PAGES Historian Lisa Jardine presents a new slant on the history of the Renaissance. She views the Renaissance as an age made possible by the economic boom of the time. Her arguments are well founded and compelling, making this nicely illustrated book quite readable. (ITL173, $19.95)
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