MOORISH TREASURES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN More Books 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)   Art of the Byzantine Era  •  David Talbot Rice ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1985 •  PAPER  • 286 PAGES An indispensable classic and a thoroughly illustrated introduction to Byzantine art, wide-ranging and literate. Though it focuses on the extraordinary early Christian treasures of Constantinople (including site plans and photographs of mosaics, carving and decoration), the book also includes chapters on Sicily, Venice and Slavonic art of the Balkans. With 250 illustrations, many in color, and accompanying text, it is a compact introduction to the art and architecture of the era. (TKY22, $21.95)   Beyond the Veil, Male-Female Dynamics in Modern Muslim Society  •  Fatima Mernissi CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1987 •  PAPER  • 200 PAGES An examination of sexuality and gender in the modern Muslim world, written by an expert on the roles of women in Islamic society. With a long section on the traditional Muslim view of women, followed by a case study of relations in modern Morocco. (MDE35, $14.95)   The Birth of Venus, A Novel  •  Sarah Dunant LITERATURE •  2004 •  PAPER  • 397 PAGES This tasty tale of art, passion, politics and danger, memorably set in Renaissance Florence in the days after the death of the powerful Lorenzo de Medici in 1492, comes to us from British novelist, broadcaster and critic Sarah Dunant, who brings her experience as the creator of the private investigator Hannah Wolfe to this new era. The malevolent political reformer (and zealot) Girolamo Savonarola figures prominently -- and even Michelangelo makes an appearance. Not surprisingly, Dunant divides her time between London and Florence, which she so vividly depicts. A runaway bestseller. (ITL532, $15.00)   Blue Guide Sicily  •  Ellen Grady GUIDEBOOK •  2012 •  PAPER  • 500 PAGES • COMING IN AUGUST 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)   Bradt Guide Azores  •  David Sayers GUIDEBOOK •  2010 •  PAPER  • 272 PAGES A comprehensive, practical guide to the Azores. The author David Sayers pays particular attention to the natural history and especially the botany of these lush Atlantic islands, located two hours flying time west of Lisbon. With eight pages of color photographs and 33 maps, including plans of Ponta Delgada (Sao Miguel), Angra do Herofsmo (Terceira), and Horta (Faial). Second edition. (PGL29, $23.99)   Bread and Oil, Majorcan Culture's Last Stand  •  Tomas Graves CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2002 •  HARD COVER  • 240 PAGES An appreciative account of peasant traditions, especially food, in rural Majorca. Author Tomas Graves, the son of Robert Graves, was raised on the Spanish island. (SPN179, $24.95)   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)   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)   Catalan Cuisine, Vivid Flavors From Spain's Mediterranean Coast  •  Colman Andrews FOOD •  2005 •  PAPER  • 332 PAGES This exploration of the history, culture and cuisine of Catalan Spain includes 200 recipes. Colman Andrews, editor of Saveur Magazine, includes chapters on sauces, raw ingredients, and the influence of French, Moorish and Roman cooking. (SPN288, $18.95)   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, $15.00)   The Queen of the South  •  Arturo Perez-Reverte MYSTERY •  2005 •  PAPER  • 464 PAGES When the phone rings, Teresa Mendoza knows her boyfriend is dead and that she must run for her life. Her flight spans 12 years and regions of Mexico, southern Spain and Morocco, where she must continue and expand the drug-smuggling ring her former lover began. Intrigue and mystery surround Perez-Reverte's sixth thriller. (SPN275, $16.00)   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, $15.00)   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)   The Classical World  •  Robin Lane Fox HISTORY •  2008 •  PAPER  • 656 PAGES Classicist and popular author Fox (Alexander the Great) illuminates ancient Greek and Roman civilizations with wit and flair in this hugely ambitious, stimulating history. Heroes and tyrants populate his tales, ranging from Homer to Augustus, the exploits of Alexander the Great, Roman rule and the rise of Christianity. (GRE293, $19.99)   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)   D.H. Lawrence and Italy  •  D.H. Lawrence 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)   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)   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, $17.95)   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 Lisbon  •  Eyewitness Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2011 •  PAPER  • 192 PAGES A compact illustrated guide to the city featuring excellent neighborhood maps, and hundreds of color photographs. It also includes chapters on the surrounding areas and Lisbon coast. With select listings of shops, restaurants, cafes, bars and hotels. (PGL04, $20.00)   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 Sicily  •  Eyewitness Guides  •  DK Publishing GUIDEBOOK •  2011 •  PAPER  • 256 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 •  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)   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 •  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)   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)   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  • 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)   Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits  •  Laila Lalami LITERATURE •  2005 •  PAPER  • 195 PAGES Lalami ( moorishgirl.com ) opens her impressive debut novel with four young characters aboard an inflatable raft en route from Morocco to Spain -- and a better life. She offers an insightful look at the struggle to get by in modern Morocco. (MRC67, $21.95)   A House in Sicily  •  Daphne Phelps TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1999 •  PAPER  • 224 PAGES 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)   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, $12.00)   Insight Guide Sicily  •  Insight Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2010 •  PAPER  • 304 PAGES A handsomely illustrated guide to the history, culture and attractions of Sicily and surrounding islands for the traveler featuring dozens of full color maps, hundreds of photographs and short essays on topics of interest. Mary Taylor Simeti contributed the sections on food and the Egadi Islands. The middle of the book is a detailed guide to the island with a focus on ancient sites. (ITL168, $19.99)   Italian Days  •  Barbara Grizzuti Harrison TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 479 PAGES • FAVORITE A literary celebration, portrait and guide to Italy and the Italians. Barbara Grizzuti Harrison writes with warmth and depth of her journey from Milan south to Calabria in this sprightly account. It's one of our favorite books about place. (ITL02, $15.00)   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)   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, $18.00)   On Persephone's Island  •  Mary Taylor Simeti TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  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)   The Italians  •  Luigi Barzini CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1996 •  PAPER  • 352 PAGES The definitive portrait of the Italian people, noteworthy for its insight, grace and wit. It's a classic, scholarly essay on the Italian character, still worthwhile though first published in 1964. Much historical information is included. Highly recommended. (ITL05, $16.00)   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 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, $17.95)   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 South Map  •  Michelin MAP Covering Molise, Campania, Puglia, Basilicata and Calabria at a scale of 1:400,000. One Side. 62x40 inches. (ITL109, $12.95)   Italy, A Short History  •  Harry Hearder HISTORY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 294 PAGES Elegantly written, generous and enormously informative, this compact book takes in the fell sweep of Italian history from the Roman Republic up to the present, including the Renaissance and World War II. It has a welcome focus on the essential unity of Italian civilizations, as well as maps and a chronology. This revised second edition of the late Harry Hearder's classic book includes a new chapter by Jonathan Morris on recent history. (ITL56, $29.00)   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 Rome  •  Knopf Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 555 PAGES This lavishly produced portable guide features dozens of maps, color photographs, historical extracts and great background on the culture and history of Rome. It's a wonderful handbook to the city, small enough to take along and worth poring over. (ITL69, $26.95)   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)   The Leopard  •  Giuseppe Di Lampedusa LITERATURE •  2007 •  PAPER  • 384 PAGES • FAVORITE Evoking a lost world of privilege and tradition, Giuseppe Di Lampedusa's memorable tale, set on a rural Sicilian estate during the days of independence, follows the world-weary Don Fabrizio, Prince of Salina. Burt Lancaster starred in Visconti's terrific film version. This 50th anniversary edition includes new material and a forward by Lampedusa's adopted son. (ITL11, $16.00)   Lisbon Map  •  Streetwise Maps MAP A handy folded, laminated street map of Lisbon in full color at a scale of 1:8,000. Two Sides. 8.5x32 inches. (PGL54, $7.95)   Lonely Planet Malta & Gozo  •  Neil Wilson GUIDEBOOK •  2010 •  PAPER  • 184 PAGES In Lonely Planet's hallmark style, this practical guide to Malta features maps, a good overview of culture, history and nature, and much nuts-and-bolts information on excursions, accommodations and sightseeing. With 41 maps, top swimming spots, a language guide and glossary and an insider's guide to the island's cuisine. It also covers the islands of Gozo and Comino. (MLT09, $16.99)   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)   Malta & Gozo Map  •  Freytag & Berndt MAP This handsome topographic map of the islands of Malta and Gozo (1:30,000) shows contour lines, ferry routes, historic monuments and settlements. With a street plan of Valletta. One Side. 34x44 inches. (MLT06, $14.95)   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)   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, $18.00)   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)   Mogreb-El-Acksa, A Journey in Morocco  •  R B Cunninghame Graham TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1997 •  PAPER  • 358 PAGES Originally published in 1898, this is a classic account of a trek into the Atlas Mountains of Morocco and the forbidden city of Tarudant. It includes, among its many pleasures, an excellent portrait of Berber life at the turn of the century, much enhanced by Graham's offhand bravery and wit. (MRC11, $19.95)   Napoleon  •  Paul Johnson BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2006 •  PAPER  • 208 PAGES Short, enlightening and opinionated, this "Penguin Life" is Paul Johnson's take on Napoleon Bonaparte -- to whose power grab he traces the roots of 20th-century totalitarianism. It chronicles the major events of the emperor's life from his birth on Corsica to his death on St. Helena. (FRN348, $14.00)   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 •  2011 •  PAPER  • 448 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, $18.95)   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)   Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Rome  •  Christopher Scarre HISTORY •  1995 •  PAPER  • 144 PAGES This book vividly traces the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, from its origins through imperial regime. Ingenious color maps trace the growth of cities, trade, economy, defenses, and religious practice throughout the empire. An excellent introduction to Roman antiquities throughout the region from North Africa to the Eastern Mediterranean and Palmyra. Profusely illustrated in full color, with 60 maps and 80 photographs. (ITL29, $18.00)   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)   The Renaissance in Rome  •  Charles L. Stinger HISTORY •  1998 •  PAPER  • 472 PAGES During the Renaissance, Rome was transformed from a relative backwater to a cultural, religious, and political center of power. This is a comprehensive portrait of early 15th century Rome, well written and scholarly. It puts the remarkable art and architecture of the time into its cultural context. With maps, illustrations, chronology of Renaissance Popes and the usual scholarly apparatus. (ITL133, $31.00)   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)   Roman Art and Architecture  •  Sir Mortimer Eric Wheeler ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1985 •  PAPER  • 252 PAGES Sir Mortimer Wheeler describes Roman art, architecture and town planning in this abundantly illustrated book in the World of Art series. (ITL213, $21.95)   Roman Art: Romulus to Constantine  •  Nancy H. Ramage  •  Andrew Ramage ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 352 PAGES An excellent introductory volume for students in Roman art and history. The text covers paintings, sculpture and architecture from the Villanovan and Etruscan forerunners of 2000 B.C. to the period under Constantine the Great in 307 A.D. (ITL228, $64.00)   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 Sicily  •  Rough Guide GUIDEBOOK •  2011 •  PAPER  • 496 PAGES A comprehensive edgy guide to Sicily in the British series with an equal focus on culture, history and travel information. (ITL161, $22.00)   Sea and Sardinia  •  D.H. Lawrence TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1999 •  PAPER  • 211 PAGES A marvelous, wry account of a trip to Sardinia, evoking both the charms and travails of the then-remote island, and the personality of the author. It's a pleasingly exaggerated, accessible portrait of life on the island, circa 1921. (ITL349, $16.00)   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)   Sicily Map  •  Touring Club Italiano 2011 •  MAP A traveler's map of Sicily at the very good scale of 1:200,000, ideal for anyone on a driving trip of the island. The detail is great if you don't mind folding it out to its full poster size. (The laminated version ITL20 conveniently gives you the island at a glance). Two Sides. 37x54 inches. (ITL181, $14.95)   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)   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)   Splendor of Malta  •  Marquis Anthony Cassar de Sain  •  Shirley Jackewicz Johnston ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2001 •  HARD COVER  • 228 PAGES • COMING IN A handsomely illustrated celebration of the island, featuring color photographs of the grand palaces of the Knights of St. John, who in the 16th century built the island into a showcase for Renaissance and Baroque architecture. (MLT10, $85.00)   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)   Twice Round the Loggerhead, The Culture of Whaling in the Azores  •  Bruce Halabisky  •  Lance Lee HISTORY •  2000 •  HARD COVER  • 124 PAGES • COMING IN A loving, richly illustrated account, by two American apprentices, of building an Azorean whaleboat. With essays on the history and folklore of traditional whaling and boat-building. With archival and contemporary photographs, line drawings and 60 watercolor illustrations by Breton marine artist Yvon Le Corre. (PGL37, $35.00)   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)   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)   The Wine-Dark Sea  •  Leonardo Sciascia  •  Avril Bardoni  •  Alberto Mobilio LITERATURE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 201 PAGES The Wine-Dark Sea collects 13 short stories, all set in the writer's native Sicily and featuring mafiosi, carabinieri and villagers. Leonardo Sciascia's dispassionate, unflinching approach to his two perennial subjects, Sicily and the mafia, earned him his literary reputation (and his political notoriety). (ITL408, $14.95)   The Woman of Rome, A Novel  •  Alberto Moravia  •  Lydia Holland LITERATURE •  1999 •  PAPER  • 408 PAGES A 20th-century classic set in Rome during the height of Italian Fascism, "The Woman of Rome" tells the stories of Adriana, a young, regretful prostitute, and the men in her life. Moravia, whose works were censored by Mussolini, creates a biting and revealing portrait of Fascist Italy strong on the geography and flavor of Rome. Originally published in 1949. (ITL151, $27.99)   A Woman Unknown, Voices from a Spanish Life  •  Lucia Graves BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2001 •  PAPER  • 273 PAGES A memoir of growing up in the rarefied intellectual household of Robert Graves on the island of Majorca during the Franco years. The author bridges three worlds -- and three languages -- in this nuanced portrait of life in her English-speaking home, Catalan surroundings and Spanish-speaking Catholic schooling. (SPN156, $15.95)
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