Collection of nine travel essays by Pulitzer Prize-winning author.

Embark on a journey through the rich tapestry of Italian culture and history with Edith Wharton’s "Italian Backgrounds." This fascinating collection of essays explores the depth and vibrancy of Italy, offering readers an insightful look into the country’s historical and cultural landscape. In "Italian Backgrounds," Wharton delves into the complexities of Italy’s past, examining everything from its ancient pagan traditions to the profound impact of Christianity. Her essays provide a unique perspective on how Italy’s rich heritage has shaped its modern identity, revealing the intricate interplay between historical beliefs and cultural evolution. What if the ancient gods you thought were mere myths were, in fact, a reflection of deeper spiritual conflicts? How does the clash between old and new beliefs influence the cultural fabric of a nation? Explore the intriguing contrasts and conflicts that define Italy’s historical and cultural landscape. Wharton’s eloquent observations offer a captivating glimpse into the ways in which ancient traditions continue to resonate in contemporary Italy. Are you ready to uncover the layers of history and culture that make Italy unique? Dive into "Italian Backgrounds" and experience Edith Wharton’s masterful exploration of Italy’s rich heritage. This collection is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the profound influences that have shaped Italian society. Don’t miss the chance to enrich your knowledge of Italy’s past. Purchase "Italian Backgrounds" today and delve into the fascinating history that defines a nation. Unveil the historical and cultural depths of Italy. Buy "Italian Backgrounds" now and immerse yourself in Wharton’s insightful exploration of one of Europe’s most storied countries.

For ten days we had not known what ailed us. We had fled from the August heat and crowd of the Vorderrheinthal to the posting-inn below the Splügen pass; and here fortune had given us all the midsummer tourist can hope for—solitude, cool air and fine scenery. A dozen times a day we counted our mercies, but still privately felt them to be insufficient. As we walked through the larch-groves beside the Rhine, or climbed the grassy heights above the valley, we were oppressed by the didactic quality of our surroundings—by the aggressive salubrity and repose of this bergerie de Florian. We seemed to be living in the landscape of a sanatorium prospectus. It was all pleasant enough, according to Schopenhauer’s definition of pleasure. We had none of the things we did not want; but then we did not particularly want any of the things we had. We had fancied we did till we got them; and as we had to own that they did their part in fulfilling our anticipations, we were driven to conclude that the fault was in ourselves. Then suddenly we found out what was wrong. Splügen was charming, but it was too near Italy. One can forgive a place three thousand miles from Italy for not being Italian; but that a village on the very border should remain stolidly, immovably Swiss was a constant source of exasperation. Even the landscape had neglected its opportunities. A few miles off it became the accomplice of man’s most exquisite imaginings; but here we could see in it only endless material for Swiss clocks and fodder. The trouble began with our watching the diligences. Every evening we saw one toiling up the pass from Chiavenna, with dusty horses and perspiring passengers. How we pitied those passengers! We walked among them puffed up with all the good air in our lungs. We felt fresh and cool and enviable, and moralized on the plaintive lot of those whose scant holidays compelled them to visit Italy in August. But already the poison was at work. We pictured what our less fortunate brothers had seen till we began to wonder if, after all, they were less fortunate. At least they had been there; and what drawbacks could qualify that fact? Was it better to be cool and look at a water-fall, or to be hot and look at Saint Mark’s? Was it better to walk on gentians or on mosaic, to smell fir-needles or incense? Was it, in short, ever well to be elsewhere when one might be in Italy?

This work explores Dickens’s perception of Italy as it appears in the travel book Pictures from Italy. Corpus methodologies, alongside the notion of intersectionality, display the writer’s multi-faceted interpretation of the Italians and his efforts to highlight their multidimensionality and heterogeneity. The book debates that Pictures from Italy departs from conventions – it investigates the function of travel in the construction of Italian identity and discusses Dickens’s relationship with Italy. Corpus linguistics methodologies analyse the language of the book and shed newlight on the relationship between body language and culture.

“The primary goal of this volume is to help prepare foreign visitors for what awaits them, and to offer a deeper insight into a culture and way of life that has held so many millions in its thrall.” Interpreting Italians is a socio-cultural travel guide designed for people whose interest in Italy goes beyond the readymade impression or the hackneyed cliché. It is a serious effort to understand what the ‘Italian temperament’ actually is, how it came to be, and the impact it has had both on Italians themselves and on the outsiders who attempt to live intimately and knowledgeably among them. To this end, it offers a thoughtful interpretation of those aspects of Italian culture and history – furbiziaand bella figura, the piazza and the casa, the role of the mother, the extravagance of the Baroque and the personal as well as architectural significance of the façade – that have at once reflected and compounded Italians’ attitudes to foreigners and to each other by examining their approaches to love and sex, religion and politics, food and the family, language and bureaucracy, regionalism and immigration, sport and the Mafia. The book consists of eighteen concise but well-documented essays and five appendices that, in addition to an extensive reading list, provide practical suggestions to visitors relating to the preparation of menus and the selection of walking tours and excursions to sites often overlooked by the casual tourist.Interpreting Italians will be a useful aid to anyone truly curious about discovering what makes Italians tick.

Now available as an epub, the Rough Guide to The Italian Lakes is the most authoritative guide to this exquisitely beautiful region. Clear maps and detailed coverage of every attraction, from dramatic Lake Garda and dreamy Lake Como to scenic journeys and unforgettable hideaways on charming Lake Maggiore and lesser-known lakes such as Orta, Iseo and Lugano. Discover the majestic beauty of Verona, as well as the best shopping in Milan and the finest art in Bergamo and Mantua (Mantova). Itineraries suggest tailored trips, while knowledgeable accounts bring the area's Baroque gardens and Renaissance palaces to life. Rely on up-to-date recommendations of the best restaurants, bars, cafés, shops and hotels for every budget and to suit every taste. Follow epic walks and cycle ways, explore lakeside villas, visit medieval villages. Relax, draw breath and lose yourself in the spectacular Italian Lakes, with sharp, intelligent writing from experienced authors. Make the most of your time on EarthTM with The Rough Guide to The Italian Lakes.