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BEST OF 2011

Wild Coast

John Gimlette

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FOR THE HOLIDAYS

To the Arctic

Florian Schultz

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OUR FAVORITES

Arctic Dreams

Barry Lopez

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GLOBES

The Pioneer

Replogle

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TUSCANY FALL HARVEST & TUSCAN COOKING

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50 Hikes in & Around Tuscany, Hiking the Mountains, Forests, Coast & Historic Sites of Wild Tuscany & Beyond

50 Hikes in & Around Tuscany, Hiking the Mountains, Forests, Coast & Historic Sites of Wild Tuscany & Beyond


by Jeff Taylor

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2007
  • PAPER
  • 288 PAGES

With day and overnight hikes from Liguria to Toscana itself, Umbria, Abruzzo, Le Marche and Emilia-Romagna, with a cluster of suggested mountain hikes in the Apennine's and coastal walks in Maremma. (ITL827, $16.95)

The Accidental Connoisseur, An Irreverent Journey Through the Wine World

The Accidental Connoisseur, An Irreverent Journey Through the Wine World


by Lawrence Osborne

  • FOOD
  • 2005
  • PAPER
  • 262 PAGES

With a winning wit and not a drop of pretense, Osborne sets out to discover what's what with wine, traveling through Sonoma and Napa, France, Italy and other European wine meccas, 11 adventures in all. He meets plenty of interesting characters along the way, revealing much about the pleasures of wine (and travel!). (TVL31, $15.00)

After Hannibal

After Hannibal


by Barry Unsworth

  • LITERATURE
  • 1998
  • PAPER
  • 250 PAGES

Unsworth's vivid novel takes in the history, landscape, pleasures and the other Americans and Europeans, like himself, who live in Umbria. (ITL100, $17.95)

Al Dente, The Adventures of a Gastronome in Italy

Al Dente, The Adventures of a Gastronome in Italy


by William Black

  • FOOD
  • 2004
  • PAPER
  • 368 PAGES

William Black tosses a few receipts into this mix of travel, gastronomy and family history. (ITL548, $13.95)

Amazing Disgrace

Amazing Disgrace


by James Hamilton-Paterson

  • LITERATURE
  • 2006
  • PAPER

Darker than Hamilton-Paterson's previous outing (Cooking With Fernet) starring Gerald Samper, this hilarious sequel skewers British pretension and the glories of expatriate life in Tuscany. (ITL806, $14.95)

And Then You Die

And Then You Die


by Michael Dibdin

  • MYSTERY
  • 2003
  • PAPER

Dibdin's stylish, dark detective is hiding out at a beach resort in Tuscany in this installment of the Aurelio Zen series. (ITL619, $14.00)

Architecture in Italy 1500-1600

Architecture in Italy 1500-1600


by Wolfgang Lotz | Deborah Howard

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 1995
  • PAPER
  • 205 PAGES

A classic, comprehensive introduction to Italian architecture of the 16th century. (ITL247, $40.00)

The Architecture of the Italian Renaissance

The Architecture of the Italian Renaissance


by 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. Ideal for travelers to Italy with an interest in architecture. (ITL34, $20.40)

The Art of Florence

The Art of Florence


by John Hunisak | Glen Andres | A. Richard Turner

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 2000
  • HARD COVER
  • 1312 PAGES

A magnificent, prize-winning survey of Florentine painting, architecture and sculpture. With 1,500 illustrations and essays by leading historians on painting, architecture and sculpture. (ITL474, $185.00)

The Art of the Renaissance

The Art of the Renaissance


by Peter Murray

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 1992
  • PAPER
  • 286 PAGES

A classic, illustrated survey of the world of the Renaissance and its art. With chapters on Florence and its artists, the Netherlands, early illustrated books and many individual artists. (ITL14, $18.95)

Insight Guide Tuscany

Insight Guide Tuscany


by Insight Guides

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2009
  • PAPER
  • 304 PAGES

An illustrated guide in the popular series, noteworthy for its maps and illuminating essays on history, art, food and culture. (ITL156, $18.99)

The Arts of Tuscany, From the Etruscans to Ferragamo

The Arts of Tuscany, From the Etruscans to Ferragamo


by Marina Belozerskaya

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 2008
  • HARD COVER
  • 272 PAGES

Lavishly illustrated and rich with stories of Tuscan arts and their creators, this handsome book is an excellent introduction to the history and culture of this celebrated region. (ITL973, $50.00)

The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini

The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini


by Benvenuto Cellini | George Bull

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 1999
  • PAPER
  • 465 PAGES

The story of a sculptor and goldsmith during the Italina Renaissance. (ITL172, $16.00)

Bella Tuscany, The Sweet Life in Italy

Bella Tuscany, The Sweet Life in Italy


by 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)

Birds of Europe

Birds of Europe


by Lars Svensson

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 2010
  • PAPER
  • 416 PAGES
  • FAVORITE

Featuring 3,500 glorious paintings by Killian Mullarney and Dan Zetterstrom, the second revised edition of this exquisite guide has been brought up to date with revised text and maps. (FG47, $29.95)

The Birth of Venus, A Novel

The Birth of Venus, A Novel


by Sarah Dunant

  • LITERATURE
  • 2004
  • PAPER
  • 397 PAGES

A rich novel of art, passion and patronage, memorably set in late 15th-century Florence and prominently featuring the famously pious reformer Savonarola. (ITL532, $15.00)

Blue Guide Tuscany

Blue Guide Tuscany


by Alta Macadam

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 400 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)

Bonaventure: The Life of St. Francis


by Ewart Cousins

  • RELIGION
  • 2005
  • PAPER
  • 142 PAGES

The Church's official life of St Francis, written by the Franciscan monk Bonaventure in the 13th century. (ITL602, $11.99)

The Book of the Courtier


by Baldasar Castiglione

  • HISTORY
  • 1976
  • PAPER

Written between 1513-1518, Castiglione's classic book of etiquette 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, $15.00)

Cadogan Guide Tuscany, Umbria & the Marches


by Dana Facaros | Michael Pauls

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2007
  • PAPER
  • 704 PAGES

A comprehensive guide in the British series covering the entire region from Florence and Siena to Chianti, the Tuscan Coast, Umbria and the Marches in detail. (ITL493, $22.95)

The Cambridge Companion to Dante


by Rachel Jacoff

  • LITERATURE
  • 1993
  • PAPER
  • 290 PAGES

An engaging collection of 15 scholarly essays on Dante's life and work. (ITL436, $24.00)

Carmen and Other Stories


by Prosper Merimee | Nicholas Jotcham

  • LITERATURE
  • 1999
  • PAPER
  • 361 PAGES

A collection of nine stories, including Carmen, memorably set in southern Spain -- and source for the Bizet opera of the same name. (FRN201, $13.95)

Casa Rossa

Casa Rossa


by Francesca Marciano

  • LITERATURE
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 340 PAGES

A vivid novel following the lives of a mother, daughter, and granddaughter from Puglia over the course of the 20th century, opening as the narrator prepares to sell Casa Rossa, the family farm. (ITL534, $14.95)

Central Italy Map

Central Italy Map


by Touring Club Italiano

  • MAP

A regional map of Central Italy, including Tuscany, Umbria and Rome, at a scale of 1:400,000. (ITL103, $14.95)

Charming Small Hotel Guides, Tuscany & Umbria : Including Florence and Siena

Charming Small Hotel Guides, Tuscany & Umbria : Including Florence and Siena


by Fiona Duncan | Leonie Glass

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 208 PAGES

A full page with a color photograph is dedicated to each entry in this guide focused on hotels with 20 bedrooms or less. (ITL771, $15.95)

The City of Florence, Historical Vistas and Personal Sightings

The City of Florence, Historical Vistas and Personal Sightings


by R.W.B. Lewis

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1996
  • PAPER
  • 350 PAGES
  • FAVORITE

A vivid tour of the city and its riches by the fine biographer of Edith Wharton and Henry James. Lewis has written what he calls "a partial biography of Florence," beautifully interweaving the personal and the historical. (ITL47, $21.99)

The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy


by Jacob Burckhardt | S. G. C. Middlemore | Peter Gay

  • HISTORY
  • 2002
  • PAPER
  • 401 PAGES

A classic survey of life, society and culture suring the Italian Renaissance. (ITL307, $15.95)

The Civilized Shopper's Guide to Florence


by Louise Fili

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2007
  • PAPER
  • 192 PAGES

An insider's guide to the 80 finest shops in Florence for designer clothes, antique jewelry, gourmet foods and other handcrafted wonders. (ITL880, $12.95)

Classic Italian Jewish Cooking

Classic Italian Jewish Cooking


by 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. (ITL383, $29.95)

A Concise History of Italy

A Concise History of Italy


by Christopher Duggan

  • HISTORY
  • 1994
  • PAPER
  • 320 PAGES

A history of Italy from the fall of the Roman Empire to the present day. (ITL35, $30.99)

Cooking With Fernet Branca

Cooking With Fernet Branca


by James Hamilton-Paterson

  • LITERATURE
  • 2005
  • PAPER
  • 288 PAGES

A glimpse into the quirkily peaceful life of Gerald Samper, an Englishman who spends his days in his Tuscan home inventing eccentric recipes, from the author of Playing With Water. (ITL642, $14.95)

The Tuscan Year, Tuscan Life and Food in an Italian Valley

The Tuscan Year, Tuscan Life and Food in an Italian Valley


by Elizabeth Romer

  • FOOD
  • 1996
  • PAPER
  • 182 PAGES
  • FAVORITE
  • OUT OF PRINT

An intimate portrait of life on a Tuscan farm as seen primarily through the robust food and a Longitude favorite. Romer captures the goings-on in the countryside, and especially in the Cerotti kitchen, where traditional Tuscan rural food is prepared with loving care. Every chapter includes concisely described recipes. (ITL131, $14.00)

D.H. Lawrence and Italy

D.H. Lawrence and Italy


by D.H. Lawrence

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 495 PAGES

This omnibus Penguin Classics edition includes Lawrence's three travel tales, each very different in tone and all wonderful: Sea and Sardinia is a nostalgic look at traditional ways of life; Twilight in Italy, an evocation of Lawrence's memorable stay on Lake Garda; and Etruscan Places his musings on ancient sites, including the painted tombs of Tarquinia. (ITL62, $18.00)

Dante


by R.W. Lewis

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2001
  • HARD COVER
  • 224 PAGES

A brief, literate biography of the exceptionally literate Dante Alighieri. (ITL313, $19.95)

A Day in Tuscany, More Confessions of a Chianti Tour Guide

A Day in Tuscany, More Confessions of a Chianti Tour Guide


by Dario Castagno

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2007
  • HARD COVER
  • 256 PAGES

This second book from Dario Castagno is a delightfully honest mix of memoirs from life in the hills of Tuscany's legendary Chianti region. Set on the day the author arrived home after a three-month tour of the United States promoting his first book, A Day in Tuscany compels readers to experience this enchanted corner of Italy through the heart and mind of a true Tuscan. (ITL838, $18.95)

The Divine Comedy


by Dante Alighieri | Charles H. Sisson

  • LITERATURE
  • 1998
  • PAPER
  • 771 PAGES

In this classic, Dante molds a universe in which reason and faith shape social order. (ITL310, $17.95)

Dreaming of Tuscany

Dreaming of Tuscany


by Barbara Milo Ohrbach

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 2006
  • HARD COVER
  • 224 PAGES

With over 300 color photographs, this coffee-table slice of life celebrates the food, architecture, people and landscapes of Tuscany. (ITL762, $45.00)

Edith Wharton's Italian Gardens

Edith Wharton's Italian Gardens


by 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. (ITL716, $45.00)

The English Patient

The English Patient


by Michael Ondaatje

  • LITERATURE
  • 1996
  • PAPER
  • 305 PAGES

Ondaatje's luminous novel, even better than the movie, unfolds at a villa in Tuscany and in the North African desert during World War II. (ITL703, $15.95)

Etruscan Art

Etruscan Art


by 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. (ITL68, $18.95)

The Etruscans

The Etruscans


by Graeme Barker | Tom Rasmussen

  • HISTORY
  • 2000
  • PAPER
  • 379 PAGES

This illustrated history incorporates the most recent archaeological evidence, bringing to life Etruscan culture, economics and innovations, and the artistic achievements and artifacts that continue to capture our imagination. (ITL169, $44.95)

Travelers' Tales Tuscany

Travelers' Tales Tuscany


by Tara Austen Weaver | James O'Reilly

  • ANTHOLOGY
  • 2002
  • PAPER
  • 222 PAGES
  • OUT OF PRINT

An anthology of great excerpts from travel essays about Tuscany, with pieces from Saul Bellow, Frances Mayes and Ferenc Mate, among others. (ITL315, $16.95)

Eyewitness Guide Florence & Tuscany

Eyewitness Guide Florence & Tuscany


by Eyewitness Guides

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 336 PAGES

Superbly illustrated, this compact guide shows the neighborhoods, museums, shops and sites of Florence and surroundings in full color. (ITL46, $25.00)

Eyewitness Guide Italy

Eyewitness Guide Italy


by Eyewitness Guides

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2011
  • FLEXI-BOUND
  • 720 PAGES

This superb guide features 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 Guide Sardinia


by 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 Guide Umbria


by 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. (ITL512, $20.00)

Family Chronicle


by Vasco Pratolini | Martha King

  • LITERATURE
  • 1998
  • PAPER
  • 121 PAGES

A portrait of two brothers, set against a Florence just after WWII. (ITL479, $12.50)

Florence Map

Florence Map


by Borch Maps

  • 2006
  • MAP

A detailed, plastic-covered city map of Florence at a scale of 1:7,000. (ITL59, $8.95)

Florence, The City and its Architecture


by Richard Goy

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 320 PAGES

An authoritative and handsomely illustrated overview of the city. Richard Goy, who has also written a book on the architecture of Venice, pays particular attention to the topography and character of the city. (ITL697, $39.95)

Fodor's Exploring Italy


by Fodor's

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 288 PAGES

An excellent, up-to-date overview of Italy and its attractions. (ITL73, $22.00)

Fodor's See It Italy

Fodor's See It Italy


by Fodor's

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 496 PAGES

Fodor's informative guide to touring Italy, notable for its especially vibrant presentation of the country. (ITL550, $24.99)

For the Beauty of the Earth: Birding, Opera, and Other Journeys

For the Beauty of the Earth: Birding, Opera, and Other Journeys


by 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 Florence & the Best of Tuscany Day by Day

Frommer's Florence & the Best of Tuscany Day by Day


by Darwin Porter

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2009
  • PAPER
  • 228 PAGES

A compact shirt pocket guide, ideal for a short visit, featuring remarkably good suggestions for everything from food, hotels and neighborhoods to shopping. With a separate foldout map of the city center. (ITL737, $13.99)

Frommer's Flornce, Tuscany & Umbria

Frommer's Flornce, Tuscany & Umbria


by Reid Bramblett

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2010
  • PAPER
  • 450 PAGES

A practical guide in the popular series, revised annually. (ITL83, $21.99)

Galileo's Daughter, A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith and Love


by Dava Sobel

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2000
  • PAPER
  • 448 PAGES

Sobel evokes the daily life of 17th-century Italy in this engaging tale, drawing on letters to Galileo from his illegitimate daughter, a nun in a Franciscan convent in San Matteo. (ITL176, $17.00)

The Gothic Enterprise, A Guide to Understanding the Medieval Cathedral

The Gothic Enterprise, A Guide to Understanding the Medieval Cathedral


by Robert A. Scott

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 2005
  • PAPER
  • 294 PAGES

An enthusiast, Scott presents history, design, architecture and wonder of the medieval cathedral and the great Abbey churches. (EUR190, $21.95)

Here Is Where We Meet

Here Is Where We Meet


by 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. (EUR189, $15.00)

Il Postino


by Michael Radford

  • 1995
  • DVD

A shy Italian postman who learns the ways of poetry and romance while delivering mail to the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda. (ITL541, $19.99)

Images & Shadows: Part of a Life

Images & Shadows: Part of a Life


by Iris Origo

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 1999
  • PAPER
  • 588 PAGES

The marvelously written, engrossing memoirs of a privileged life, including the accomplished author's efforts to shelter refugees and others during WWII. (ITL442, $16.95)

In Tuscany


by Bob Krist | Frances Mayes

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2000
  • HARD COVER
  • 269 PAGES

An edition of Maye's warm, anecdotal account of life on her now-restored Tuscan estate, much enhanced by Bob Krist's color photographs. (ITL348, $35.00)

The Inferno of Dante, A New Verse Translation


by Dante Alighieri | Robert Pinsky

  • LITERATURE
  • 1996
  • PAPER
  • 355 PAGES

The celebrated modern translation of Dante's "Inferno." (ITL411, $12.00)

Innocence


by Penelope Fitzgerald

  • LITERATURE
  • 1998
  • PAPER
  • 224 PAGES

A comic novel set in mid-twentieth century Italy, by the inimitable Penelope Fitzgerald, author of "The Blue Flower". (ITL317, $13.95)

Insight Guide Italy

Insight Guide Italy


by Insight Guides

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 432 PAGES

An illustrated overview of Italy with essays on its attractions, history and culture. (ITL108, $23.99)

Inventing Leonardo


by 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)

Iris Origo: Marchesa of Val D'Orcia

Iris Origo: Marchesa of Val D'Orcia


by Caroline Moorehead

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2004
  • PAPER
  • 368 PAGES

In this biography of a privileged Anglo-Italian, Moorehead captures the World War II-era expatriate community in Tuscany, life at D'Orcia, and the accomplishments, both literary and social of the remarkable Marchesa. (ITL441, $19.95)

Italian Days

Italian Days


by Barbara Grizzuti Harrison

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 1998
  • PAPER
  • 479 PAGES
  • FAVORITE

Grizzuti Harrison writes with warmth and depth of her journey from Milan south to Calabria in this sprightly account of Italy and the Italians. (ITL02, $15.00)

Italian English Bilingual Visual Dictionary


by 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). (ITL626, $14.95)

Italian Folktales

Italian Folktales


by Italo Calvino

  • LITERATURE
  • 1992
  • PAPER
  • 763 PAGES

A treasured collection of 200 lively folk tales presented by none other than the great Italo Calvino, a modern master with great affection for the folkloric traditions of his childhood. (ITL314, $25.00)

Italian Hours

Italian Hours


by 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


by Audio-Forum

  • LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS
  • CASETTE TAPE

A short audio program wiith 50 common words and phrases for travelers. (ITL401, $9.95)

Italian, A Language Map

Italian, A Language Map


by Kristine K. Kershul

  • LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS
  • 1999
  • PLASTIC CARD

This durable, foldout card, featuring 1,000 words and phrases, works as a quick reference for travelers. (ITL645, $7.95)

The Italians

The Italians


by Luigi Barzini

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1996
  • PAPER
  • 352 PAGES

The definitive portrait of the Italian people, this is a classic, scholarly essay on the Italian character. Though first published in 1964, it's still worth reading for its insight, grace and wit. (ITL05, $16.00)

Italy and Its Invaders

Italy and Its Invaders


by Girolamo Arnaldi

  • HISTORY
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 240 PAGES

A wide-ranging history of the many empires and world powers that have invaded Italy, 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

Italy in Mind


by 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. (ITL39, $17.95)

Italy Map

Italy Map


by Borch Maps

  • 2011
  • MAP

A handy, laminated map. (ITL19, $11.95)

Italy Northeast Map

Italy Northeast Map


by 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. (ITL72, $12.95)

Italy, A Short History

Italy, A Short History


by Harry Hearder

  • HISTORY
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 294 PAGES

Elegantly written, generous and informative, this compact book takes in the sweep of Italian history from the Roman Republic through the Renaissance, World War II and up to the present. (ITL56, $29.00)

Italy, A Traveler's Literary Companion

Italy, A Traveler's Literary Companion


by Lawrence Venuti

  • ANTHOLOGY
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 256 PAGES

Not just a literary companion, this anthology is also a who's who of contemporary Italian writers that captures the spirit, history and allure of the country. (ITL466, $14.95)

Italy, Charming Small Hotels

Italy, Charming Small Hotels


by Fiona Duncan

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2005
  • PAPER
  • 468 PAGES

A pocket-size guide to unusual places to stay throughout Italy. (ITL92, $19.95)

Karen Brown's Tuscany & Umbria, Exceptional Places to Stay & Itineraries

Karen Brown's Tuscany & Umbria, Exceptional Places to Stay & Itineraries


by June Brown | Clare Brown | Nicole Franchini

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2010
  • PAPER
  • 278 PAGES

A survey of inns and other lodging of character, along with suggested itineraries and highlights of the region. (ITL768, $19.95)

Knopf Mapguide Florence

Knopf Mapguide Florence


by Knopf Guides

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2009
  • PAPER
  • 48 PAGES

A practical and handy passport-sized guide to the city, featuring fold-out maps. (ITL807, $10.95)

Leonardo da Vinci


by 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)

The Little Flowers of St. Francis

The Little Flowers of St. Francis


by 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

The Lives of the Artists, Vol 1


by Giorgio Vasari | Julia Conway and Peter Bondanella

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 1987
  • PAPER
  • 477 PAGES

Written in the mid-16th century, Vasari starts with Giotto as painting's prophet and ends with Michelangelo as its messiah in these short, influential biographies. (ITL17, $14.00)

Lonely Planet Italian Phrasebook

Lonely Planet Italian Phrasebook


by Lonely Planet

  • LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 260 PAGES

A handy palm-size phrasebook for the traveler. (ITL531, $8.99)

Lonely Planet Tuscany

Lonely Planet Tuscany


by Damien Simonis

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2009
  • PAPER
  • 432 PAGES

A practical guide to Tuscany. (ITL233, $22.99)

Love and War in the Apennines

Love and War in the Apennines


by Eric Newby

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 276 PAGES

This unassuming memoir of remarkable wartime adventures in German-occupied WWII Italy is perhaps Newby's best book. Escaping a POW camp, he takes refuge with Italian families who hide him from advancing German forces. It's here that he meets Wanda, the love of his life. They marry in 1946. (ITL171, $14.99)

M, The Man Who Became Caravaggio


by 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

Mammals of Europe


by 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. (FG61, $38.50)

The Name of the Rose

The Name of the Rose


by Umberto Eco

  • LITERATURE
  • 1980
  • PAPER
  • 536 PAGES

Umberto Eco's masterwork is, among other things, a murder mystery, a riff on the Book of Revelations, and a meticulous recreation of medieval Europe, particularly of Benedictine monastic life in Italy. (ITL413, $15.95)

On The Road with Francis of Assisi

On The Road with Francis of Assisi


by Linda Bird Francke

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 256 PAGES

Assisi wandered for 20 years, affording Newsweek editor Francke and her patient husband plenty to see and do in the piazzas, sanctuaries and chapels of Assisi, Siena, Bologna, Venice, Gubbio, Rome and other choice spots. (ITL647, $15.95)

One-Hundred & One Beautiful Small Towns in Italy

One-Hundred & One Beautiful Small Towns in Italy


by Paolo Lazzarin

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2004
  • HARD COVER
  • 276 PAGES

Each charming town gets an appreciative essay and evocative color photographs in this handsome tribute and excellent guide. (ITL546, $45.00)

Painting in Late Medieval and Renaissance Siena (1260-1555)


by Diana Norman

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 2003
  • HARD COVER
  • 352 PAGES

An illustrated survey of the remarkable, original art of Siena. (ITL698, $45.00)

The Piero Della Francesca Trail

The Piero Della Francesca Trail


by John Pope-Hennessy | Aldous Huxley

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 2002
  • HARD COVER
  • 88 PAGES

A slim guide to the major paintings and frescoes of Piero found across Tuscany and Umbria. Originally published in 1993, this edition includes 52 color illustrations along with Huxley's influential essay on Piero's Resurrection of Christ. (ITL409, $24.95)

Pimsleur Quick & Simple Italian


by 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. (ITL630, $19.95)

Rancid Pansies


by James Hamilton-Paterson

  • LITERATURE
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 304 PAGES

In the third in Hamilton-Patterson's Gerald Samper series -- full, as always, of disgusting recipes, sidesplitting laughs and brilliant prose -- his hero salvages his tuscan home with help from a deceased one-armed yachtswoman and Princess Diana, soon-to-be Saint Diana. (ITL970, $15.95)

Reluctant Saint, The Life of Francis of Assisi

Reluctant Saint, The Life of Francis of Assisi


by Donald Spoto

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 272 PAGES

Spoto draws on fascinating new research to explore the travels, spirit and work of the beloved saint. This engaging portrait provides an excellent overview of the life of St. Francis. (ITL849, $16.00)

Renaissance Florence


by Gene A. Brucker

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 1983
  • PAPER
  • 311 PAGES

A classic overview of early 15th-century Florence, its architecture, economic and political character, social and cultural life, and development. Revised edition. (ITL695, $24.95)

Rick Steves' Florence & Tuscany

Rick Steves' Florence & Tuscany


by Rick Steves

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2012
  • PAPER
  • 388 PAGES

With his focus on value and the authentic, travel enthusiast Rick Steves offers excellent practical advice on where to go, what to do and where to eat and sleep in Tuscany. (ITL794, $19.99)

Rick Steves' Italian Phrase Book & Dictionary

Rick Steves' Italian Phrase Book & Dictionary


by Rick Steves

  • LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 281 PAGES

This compact phrase book, organized thematically and with a brief dictionary, also includes Steves' insight into how to break the ice and make friends around the world. (ITL424, $8.95)

The Rise of Christianity


by 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." (MED64, $14.99)

Romola

Romola


by George Eliot

  • LITERATURE
  • 1996
  • PAPER
  • 641 PAGES

George Eliot is best-known for novels of English country life, but in this book she recreates Renaissance Florence. (ITL318, $15.00)

Rough Guide Italy

Rough Guide Italy


by 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

Rough Guide Tuscany and Umbria


by Jonathan Buckley | Tim Jepson

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2009
  • PAPER
  • 836 PAGES

This comprehensive travel guide includes 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)

Salvation, Scenes from the Life of Saint Francis

Salvation, Scenes from the Life of Saint Francis


by Valerie Martin

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2002
  • PAPER
  • 268 PAGES

A new and splendid biography of Saint Francis of Assisi. It's a vivid literary accompaniment to Giotto's frescoes in the basilica of San Francesco, Assisi. (ITL282, $13.00)

Short Stories in Italian, Racconti in Italiano


by Nick Roberts

  • LITERATURE
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 174 PAGES

These modern tales in the bilingual series of Penguin Parallel Texts make for good reading in any language. (ITL730, $14.00)

Siena Map

Siena Map


by Litographia Artistica Cartographica

  • MAP

A very detailed map of Siena, scale 1:7000. (ITL299, $12.95)

Siena, City of the Virgin

Siena, City of the Virgin


by Titus Burckhardt

  • HISTORY
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 144 PAGES

Burckhardt's classic portrait includes dozens of illustrations, maps and photographs of architecture and early Renaissance art of Siena. (ITL974, $22.95)

Sienese Painting, The Art of a City-Republic

Sienese Painting, The Art of a City-Republic


by Timothy Hyman

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 224 PAGES

An illustrated introduction to Duccio, Lorenzetti and other important Sienese artists from the 13th to the 15th century. Covering the influence of the Black Death, the Fransciscan movement and the importance of local saints, this book in the "World of Art" seris places the art in its hisorical and cultural context. (ITL689, $16.95)

Sixteen Pleasures


by Robert Hellenga

  • LITERATURE
  • 1995
  • PAPER
  • 369 PAGES

A compelling novel about a young woman who went to Florence to save books after the devastating flood of 1966. (ITL699, $17.00)

The Stones of Florence

The Stones of Florence


by Mary McCarthy

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 1989
  • PAPER
  • 230 PAGES

The classic history of the art, architecture and culture of Florence. Novelist McCarthy takes us on a quick and vivid tour of the history of the Medicis and the city of Florence, focusing on Renaissance art. (ITL15, $14.00)

The Surprise of Cremona: One Woman's Adventures in Cremona, Parma, Mantua, Ravenna, Urbino, and Arezzo

The Surprise of Cremona: One Woman's Adventures in Cremona, Parma, Mantua, Ravenna, Urbino, and Arezzo


by Edith Templeton | Anita Brookner

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 256 PAGES
  • OUT OF PRINT

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


by Anthony Minghella

  • 1999
  • DVD

A suspenseful thriller of obsession and jealousy starring Matt Damon and Jude Law, based on the popular mystery by Patricia Highsmith. (ITL542, $14.99)

Tea With Mussolini


by Franco Zeffirelli

  • LITERATURE
  • 2001
  • DVD

Zeffirelli's enchanting autobiographical film about a boy in Florence in the years before World War II, with a cast of great English and American actresses. (ITL700, $14.95)

That Fine Italian Hand


by Paul Hoffman

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1991
  • PAPER
  • 246 PAGES

An affectionate -- and insightful -- portrait of a people. (ITL346, $17.99)

Too Much Tuscan Sun, Confessions of a Chianti Tour Guide

Too Much Tuscan Sun, Confessions of a Chianti Tour Guide


by Roberto Rodi | Dario Castagno

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2004
  • PAPER
  • 224 PAGES

With affection and humor, Castagno recalls his experience as a tour guide in Tuscany, and the remarkable travelers he meets along the way. His ease with and taste for Chianti combine to evoke intoxicating images of the much-loved Tuscan region. (ITL547, $14.95)

Travelers' Tales Italy

Travelers' Tales Italy


by Ann Calcagno | Jan Morris

  • ANTHOLOGY
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 437 PAGES

A collection of 48 stories on traveling in Italy and Italian life, featuring the writing of Barbara Grizzuti Harrison, Frances Mayes, Jonathan Keats, Stanley Crouch and others. (ITL182, $18.95)

A Traveller in Italy

A Traveller in Italy


by H.V. Morton | Barbara Grizzuti Harrison

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2002
  • PAPER
  • 640 PAGES

The much-beloved, enduring account of Morton's ramblings in the temples, tombs and villas of Tuscany, Lombardy, Emilia and the Veneto. (ITL417, $25.00)

A Traveller's History of Italy

A Traveller's History of Italy


by 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

A Tuscan Childhood


by Kinta Beevor

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2000
  • PAPER
  • 271 PAGES

A vibrant, rosy-hued memoir of growing up privileged, bohemian and English in Tuscany during the interwar period. (ITL388, $13.95)

Tuscany For Beginners

Tuscany For Beginners


by Imogen Edwards-Jones

  • LITERATURE
  • 2005
  • PAPER
  • 323 PAGES

In this deliciously wicked tale, British novelist Edward-Jones skewers the pretensions of the English abroad, taking as her target the sodden proprietress of a mediocre B&B in Tuscany. (ITL609, $13.95)

Tuscany Map


by Borch Maps

  • 2006
  • MAP

A convenient, laminated map of Tuscany, scale 1:400,000. (ITL281, $10.95)

Two Lives, Reading Turgenev and My House in Umbria

Two Lives, Reading Turgenev and My House in Umbria


by William Trevor

  • LITERATURE
  • 1997
  • PAPER
  • 375 PAGES

The second of these two Booker Prize-nominated novellas is the beautifully rendered story of an ex-prostitute who settles in Umbria to write romance novels, but whose life is disturbed by local political events. (ITL122, $15.00)

Umbria Regional Map

Umbria Regional Map


by Touring Club Italiano

  • MAP

A detailed map at a scale of 1:200,000. (ITL119, $14.95)

Under the Tuscan Sun


by Audrey Wells

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2003
  • DVD

The movie of the bestselling book as starring the always wonderful Diane Lane. (ITL549, $29.95)

A Valley in Italy, The Many Seasons of a Villa in Umbria

A Valley in Italy, The Many Seasons of a Villa in Umbria


by Lisa St. Aubin de Teran

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 1995
  • PAPER
  • 224 PAGES

This short memoir chronicles a year in the small Umbrian village of San Orsola--especially the delights and frustrations of renovating a decayed villa. Taking in food, wine, local customs and landscapes, the book is an excellent introduction to the region (ITL98, $14.99)

Vineyard in Tuscany, Shooting for the Moon

Vineyard in Tuscany, Shooting for the Moon


by Ferenc Mate

  • FOOD
  • 2009
  • PAPER
  • 250 PAGES

A loving account of learning (and succeeding at!) the art of wine-making in the Tuscan hills. (ITL883, $15.95)

War in Val D'Orcia: An Italian War Diary, 1943-1944

War in Val D'Orcia: An Italian War Diary, 1943-1944


by Iris Origo | Denis Mack Smith

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 1995
  • PAPER
  • 239 PAGES

A diary of day-to-day heroism and fortitude. The author and her family take children, deserters, escaped prisoners, and Jews fleeing the advancing Germans into their home in Tuscany. (ITL219, $14.95)

Wine Country Europe, Touring, Tasting, And Buying At European Regional Wineries

Wine Country Europe, Touring, Tasting, And Buying At European Regional Wineries


by 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. (EUR191, $35.00)

Worldly Goods, A New History of the Renaissance


by Lisa Jardine

  • HISTORY
  • 1998
  • PAPER
  • 470 PAGES

A history of the influence of commerce on the Renaissance. (ITL173, $19.95)

 

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