A Reading List for Italophiles

books I got a note recently from an Italy Logue reader called Leah asking about my Italy-related reading list:

“My story is that I’m a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar, and (after having spent a few years in the real world of cubicles of conference rooms) I’ll be heading to the University of Bologna to study for a Master in International Relations. That starts in November - starting in September, I’ll be doing a month of language training somewhere in the South (perhaps in Calabria) and another month in Florence. …it sounds like you have a reading list going? I’d love to see it, if you don’t mind sharing! I just read Ross King’s ‘Michelangelo and the Pope’s Ceiling’ - it got me fired up, and I’d love to check out some other Italophile books, too.”

Thanks for your note, Leah! Many of the books I’d been reading involved living and working in Italy, rather than soaking up the culture, but it sounds like the practical books would be useful to you as well. So, for you and for any other readers who are interested, here’s the list of the books I’ve either read or had strongly recommended to me:

The Dark Heart of Italy, Tobias Jones - Everyone’s heard of Frances Mayes’ Under the Tuscan Sun and countless people have read it; but people in the know seem to agree that while it’s a lovely story, it only gives you half of the picture. Jones’ book is an unflinching look at Italy, a country he lives in and loves - so it’s not a scathing book exposing all of what’s terrible about the country, rather it’s an interesting (and more complete) historical and cultural portrait of Italy and Italians. Highly recommended for anyone who’s contemplating living in Italy, or just really interested in the culture.

Live & Work in Italy, Victoria Pybus - There are several books dedicated to living, working and studying in Italy; this just happens to be the first one I read so it’s the only one I read through completely. It’s rife with spelling errors, but the information is good. It’s less of a cultural portrait and more of a practical hands-on guide to living and working in the country. The information is likely to be outdated quickly, however, especially as it relates to laws - so be sure to consult with a lawyer who specializes in this area before assuming the book is correct.

Living Abroad in Italy, John Moretti - I didn’t read this one in its entirety, but it provided a bit more of a look at the culture of Italy and why Italians do the things they do. Still, it’s basically a practical guide for living in Italy.

Culture Shock! Italy, Raymond Flower & Alessandro Falassi - Anyone who knows the Culture Shock! series won’t need this recommendation; each book in the series is an excellent practical guide to the cultural differences of the country in question and how you can avoid looking stupid - or worse, rude.

The Italians, Luigi Barzini - I’ll admit, I haven’t yet finished this one. It’s dense; it was written in the 1960s, and the language is tough to plow through sometimes. But it’s still considered a great portrait of the people who live in il Bel Paese.

The Agony & the Ecstasy, Irving Stone - This is a fictional account of the life of Michelangelo, but it’s based in enough fact as to be called a “biographical novel” and is widely regarded as a masterpiece. Whether or not you take it to be an accurate portrayal of all of the episodes in Michalenaglo’s life, it’s a good look at what life was like in Renaissance Italy - and you’ll never look at a work of Michelangelo the same way again.

Brunelleschi’s Dome, Ross King - Leah mentioned having read Michelangelo and the Pope’s Ceiling, King’s other famous book about Italian art, so this one is also worth noting. The husband read both of them (I’ve read neither) and of the two he preferred Brunelleschi’s Dome. This one focuses on the construction of the dome on Florence’s beautiful cathedral, a structure that’s been imitated ever since.

A couple of other books which have been recommended to me - but which I haven’t read and don’t yet own - are:

Living & Working in Italy, Graeme Chesters (and it looks like there’s a new one coming out later this year)

Living, Studying and Working in Italy, Travis Neighbor Ward

Working and Living: Italy, Kate Carlisle (and a new one coming out this summer)

And finally, for anyone who plans to eat well while in Italy (that means all of you), whether you’re there for a week or a lifetime:

The Hungry Traveler: Italy, Becker & Mayer, Ltd. - This is the ideal pocket-sized guide to what’s in season where and when, what the local specialties are and what those weird words on the menu really mean. As far as I’m concerned, this book is indispensable.

Italy for the Gourmet Traveler, Fred Plotkin - I’ve only begun thumbing through this heavy book (I have the old one), but it’s been a wealth of information so far. It’ll not only help you figure out what to order at a restaurant, it’ll help you do your food shopping, too. Just don’t plan to carry it with you, it’ll break your back. Photocopy what you need or take good notes.

I hope that helps, Leah. I wish you the best of luck on your grand adventure, and do keep in touch - I’d love to hear how you’re doing! I loved Bologna when I visited for the first time last year; I think you’ll find it to be a really exciting place to be.

And if anyone has suggestions for books that should be added to this list, please let me know by leaving a comment on this post or sending me a note.