Profiles some of the most celebrated personalities of European history, including Marco Polo, Galileo, Titian, Petrarch, Vivaldi, and Casanova, to reveal how the Republic of Venice became the first great economic, cultural, and naval power of the modern Western world.

One of The Economist's Books of the Year A provocative, entertaining account of Italy's diverse riches, its hopes and dreams, its past and present Did Garibaldi do Italy a disservice when he helped its disparate parts achieve unity? Was the goal of political unification a mistake? The question is asked and answered in a number of ways in The Pursuit of Italy, an engaging, original consideration of the many histories that contribute to the brilliance-and...

"Hidden Tuscany vividly displays the coastal areas of Tuscany, a territory often overlooked by visitors to Italy eager to see Chianti, Florence or Siena. Veteran journalist and Italophile John Keahey points out the keen distinctions that the western cities maintain: in food, lifestyle, and the way its artists are paving new directions in art that differ mightily from the Renaissance-rich interior. Keahey interviews sculptors and their artigiani,...

Recently there has been a seemingly endless stream of books praising the glories of ancient and modern Rome, fretting over Venice's rising tides and moldering galleries, celebrating the Tuscan countryside, wines and cuisine. But there have been curiously few writings that deal directly with Italy as the country of origin for the grand- and great-grandparents of nearly twenty-six million Americans. The greatest majority-more than eight out of ten-of...

The astonishing life of an Italian Renaissance noblewoman who was a wife, mother, leader, and warrior fierce enough to make Machiavelli wince.
A strategist to match Machiavelli; a warrior who stood toe to toe with the Borgias; a wife whose three marriages would end in bloodshed and heartbreak; and a mother determined to maintain her family's honor, Caterina Riario Sforza de' Medici was a true Renaissance celebrity, beloved and vilified...

Italian Days is one of the richest and most absorbing travel books written-a journey that traverses the Italian peninsula and immerses readers in a culture which provides the reader with a definition of the good life.

"From discovering the history of ancient Rome and seeing photographs of the floating city of Venice to learning about the fashion of Milan and following recipes for authentic Italian food, readers go on a cultural journey in this updated guide to life inItaly. The detailed main text is paired with fun fact boxes that teach the Italian language, highlight points of interest, and offer tips for future world travelers. In addition, sidebars spotlight...

"Ilaria Tuti's thriller debut explores a remote community in northern Italy--a place of secrets, eerie folktales, and primal instincts. In a quiet village surrounded by ancient woods and the imposing Italian Alps, a man is found naked with his eyes gouged out. It is the first in a string of gruesome murders. Superintendent Teresa Battaglia, a detective with a background in criminal profiling, is called to investigate. Battaglia is in her mid-sixties,...

Hill Towns is a classic novel of remarkable emotional power, insight, and sensitivity from Anne Rivers Siddons, whose books live on the New York Times bestseller list and in the hearts of millions of her adoring fans. One of the acknowledged masters of contemporary Southern fiction-the author of such phenomenally popular works as Nora, Nora; Outer Banks, Islands; and Sweetwater Creek-Siddons carries the reader from the mountains of Tennessee to the...

In 1537 Francesco Guicciardini, adviser and confidant to three popes, governor of several central Italian states, ambassador, administrator, military captain--and persona non grata with the ruling Medici after the siege of Florence--retired to his villa to write a history of his times. His Storia d'Italia became the classic history of Italy--both a brilliant portrayal of the Renaissance and a penetrating vision into the tragedy and comedy of human...