Snakes of Italy

Snakes of Italy
Author :
Publisher : Springer
Total Pages : 192
Release :
ISBN-10 : 9783319141060
ISBN-13 : 3319141066
Rating : 4/5 (60 Downloads)

Synopsis Snakes of Italy by : Gabriele Achille

This book offers a comprehensive review of the biology of snakes, focusing on Italian species. The snakes of Italy belong to the two families Colubridae and Viperidae, and for each species the systematic classification and chorology including distribution maps are presented. Furthermore, readers will learn how to carry out field studies, how to handle snakes and how to photograph them. The book concludes with a chapter on the iconography of historical Italian snakes and their importance in popular science, and one on myths and legends. This SpringerBriefs volume will appeal to herpetologists and technical staff. The section on iconography may also be of interest to museum staff.

The Snakes of Europe

The Snakes of Europe
Author :
Publisher :
Total Pages : 350
Release :
ISBN-10 : MSU:31293010954836
ISBN-13 :
Rating : 4/5 (36 Downloads)

Synopsis The Snakes of Europe by : George Albert Boulenger

John Bull's Italian Snakes and Ladders

John Bull's Italian Snakes and Ladders
Author :
Publisher : Cambridge Scholars Publishing
Total Pages : 0
Release :
ISBN-10 : 1847182623
ISBN-13 : 9781847182623
Rating : 4/5 (23 Downloads)

Synopsis John Bull's Italian Snakes and Ladders by : Annemarie McAllister

This book examines representations of Italy and Italians in the mid-nineteenth century and the uses made of them by English writers and readers. Italians were shown on the one hand as despised public nuisances, personified by organ grinders, but were also depicted in the most glamorous and fashionable settings such as opera houses. The range of meanings accorded to the sign â ~Italianâ (TM) was vast and this is the source of the title metaphor: as John Bull played his Italian Snakes and Ladders, his self esteem and self-image waxed and waned correspondingly. In tracing this, the study examines how and why Italy operated as an important mechanism in the construction of â ~Englishnessâ (TM), and the factors combining to make the mid-nineteenth century such a crucial period. The versions of â ~Italiannessâ (TM) in circulation established an iconography of â ~the Italianâ (TM), emblematic representations which could be repeated or alluded to as a taxonomy, building up a complex map of discourses about Italy. Sometimes these might conflict, or they may be traced as combining to create a field of prejudice as, for example, the construction of Italians as primitive, closer to nature, and more instinctive. Such a view could shade either into ideas of dirtiness, disreputability and evil or, conversely, into Italy as a site of unspoilt, â ~naturalâ (TM) bliss. The study focuses particularly on the middle-class male reader and traces reasons for, and advantages conferred by, the circulation of such myths. Masculinity, nationality and class positioning can be seen as fragile walls to the edifice of self-esteem, supporting each other from similar foundations. The sources for analysis are chosen with this readership in mind; there is a wide range of texts from high and popular culture, including contemporary periodicals, and a key feature is the central use of visual texts in the argument, with over fifty illustrations. Italy, and Italians, can be seen to have held an important place in Victorian self-fashioning. Annemarie McAllisterâ (TM)s book on the representation of Italian culture in the nineteenth century draws on both a range of cultural theory and a wide diversity of sources to suggest some of the ways in which stereotypes and popular perceptions were constructed and used within Victorian society. Particularly compelling and original is her analysis of music as a site for building popular beliefs and assumptions about Italy and its people, but her study includes such topics as Italian history, gender, and sensuality as the focus for debate. McAllisterâ (TM)s use of illustrations, and her detailed knowledge of the illustrated press, offer original and telling ways into the constructions of national identities so central to the Victorian way of thinking and believing. Brian Maidment Professor of English, University of Salford. â oeI am delighted to have the chance to comment on this book. I read the doctoral thesis on which it is based with great interest and enjoyment, and learnt enormously from it. As a historian of nineteenth-century Britain with a particular interest in the construction of identities (and as an Italophile) I found it highly rewarding. The topic is of intrinsic interest and considerable significance. The author identifies a key period in the emergence of the English idea(s) of â ~Italiannessâ (TM) and interrogates the topic through a variety of thoughtfully chosen case studies and via a rich array of appropriate primary sources. Most of the material was new to me and even topics that I felt some familiarity with, notably street music, were presented in a novel and rewarding way. I think the topic alone is worthy of a book-length study; matters Italian were at the heart of much political and cultural discussion in the mid-Victorian period and shaped both international political discourses and notions of British/English identity. However, what I think gives added value to this particular treatment is its approach. The work is inter-disciplinary in the best sense of the word. Dr McAllister is confident with the historical component (knowledge of context, strength and weakness of sources) but also with a number of approaches drawn from the field of cultural studies. Crucially, she manages to fuse the two so as to avoid the empirical overload that can blight the former and the linguistic opacity and wilfulness that can mark the later. The result is a subtle work that adds much to our knowledge but is also a model of how to write this type of study.â Professor David Russell, Department of History, University of Central Lancashire â oeThe book sets out to examine a range of representations of Italy, Italians and, more, of â ~Italiannessâ (TM) in mid-nineteenth-century England, with a view to exploring how ideas of Englishness were defined against Italian archetypes. Taking the mid-century years of the Risorgimento as her focus, Dr McAllister demonstrates, in a well-orchestrated and well-illustrated argument, the significance of a taxonomy of â ~Italiannessâ (TM) to Victorian self-understanding and self-fashioning. She is particularly interested in its meanings for middle-class English men, and its role in the construction of Victorian masculinity. The reach of this study is wide, taking in high and popular cultural texts, both literary and visual, including novels, poetry, painting, the periodical press and its illustrations, travel literature, and critical and historical writing in the context of the Risorgimento struggle for Italian unification and independence. Dr McAllisterâ (TM)s book makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of the high profile of Italy and the Italian in the mid-nineteenth-century English imagination and of the impact of such cross-cultural negotiations on the self-definition of the middle-class male.â Professor Hilary Fraser, Geoffrey Tillotson Chair in Nineteenth-Century Studies, School of English & Humanities, Birkbeck University of London

Snakes in Myth, Magic, and History

Snakes in Myth, Magic, and History
Author :
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing USA
Total Pages : 204
Release :
ISBN-10 : 9780313352935
ISBN-13 : 0313352933
Rating : 4/5 (35 Downloads)

Synopsis Snakes in Myth, Magic, and History by : Diane Morgan

The snake is one of humankind's most powerful and ambiguous symbols: it has at various times represented immortality and death, male and female, deity and demon, circle and line, killer and healer, the highest wisdom and the deepest subconscious. By virtue of its mysterious movement, potent poison, fearful grip, unblinking gaze and lightning quick strike, the power and image of the snake has wound its way into every culture. Whether snakes are worshipped as gods, feared as devils, or handled in religious ceremonies to test faith, snakes have played a critical role in the human heritage. This book explores the cult of the snake in world history, religion, and folklore. Fascination with snakes has been around since the dawn of time. Even today, images of snakes attract attention, fear, disgust, or admiration. Morgan examines that obsession with this mysterious creature, covering in vivid details such topics as mythical snakes like the Plumed Serpent, serpent iconography, tall tales, as well as the psychological symbolism that has attached itself to snakes. Cultures as diverse as pre-Columbian America, India, Egypt, China, sub-Saharan Africa, Celtic Europe, and the United States have all accorded the serpent a special place in their culture—apparently regardless of whether or not real snakes play an important part in the life of the people. Here, the mysterious nature of the snake unfolds, enchanting readers with a colorful and lively discussion of its place in our history, stories, religions, and cultures.

Mundunur: A Mountain Village Under the Spell of South Italy

Mundunur: A Mountain Village Under the Spell of South Italy
Author :
Publisher : Via Media Publishing
Total Pages : 337
Release :
ISBN-10 : 9781893765580
ISBN-13 : 189376558X
Rating : 4/5 (80 Downloads)

Synopsis Mundunur: A Mountain Village Under the Spell of South Italy by : Michele Antonio Di Marco

Montenero Val Cocchiara is usually referred to simply as Montenero, or Mundunur in the local dialect. Montenero is a typical mountain village on the border of the Abruzzo and Molise regions, but it is more than that. Its history was tinted by contacts with numerous powerful groups over many centuries. The village and its people prove to be unique, but they also are highly embued with elements common to all in South Italy. Of course it is the hope of the author that anyone with roots in South Italy will benefit from reading this book. However, his much greater aspiration is that others will equally enjoy the story of Montenero as a metaphor of their own ancestral village or town, regardless of country or even see the village as a microcosm of the world where the forces of history and culture forge the character of people.

Italy

Italy
Author :
Publisher : Rough Guides
Total Pages : 1246
Release :
ISBN-10 : 1843530600
ISBN-13 : 9781843530602
Rating : 4/5 (00 Downloads)

Synopsis Italy by : Ros Belford

From Mantua's Pallazo Ducale to the precipitous coves of the Tyrrhenian coast, this book guides the independent-minded traveler through one of the most adored countries in the world. of color photos. 82 maps.

Snakes of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East

Snakes of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East
Author :
Publisher : Princeton University Press
Total Pages : 384
Release :
ISBN-10 : 9780691172392
ISBN-13 : 0691172390
Rating : 4/5 (92 Downloads)

Synopsis Snakes of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East by : Philippe Geniez

This is a fully up-to-date and comprehensive photographic field guide to the snakes of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Lavishly illustrated with 387 color photographs, it includes coverage of all 122 snake species found in these regions. The guide's detailed introduction discusses snake anatomy, biology, habitats and taxonomy. It also explores the health of snakes in captivity and conservation measures, and provides a succinct explanation of the chemical composition, physical effects and cultural uses of snake venom. Species accounts are arranged taxonomically and provide identification features, a description of the species' habitat and behavior and information about whether a snake is venomous. Abundant distribution maps describe each species' geographic variation and usual habitats. Clear photos aid identification and are supplemented with illustrations highlighting key anatomical features. A table of all species, country by country, is included at the back of the book. The first dedicated field guide on snakes to appear in many years, Snakes of Europe, North Africaand the Middle East will be indispensable for anyone interested in learning more about these unique reptiles. Highlights all 122 snake species found in the region Features 387 excellent photos supplemented with diagrams Reflects most recent classification and scientific research Provides each species' identification details, habitat, behavior and much more Includes distribution maps for all species

The Book of Snakes

The Book of Snakes
Author :
Publisher : University of Chicago Press
Total Pages : 658
Release :
ISBN-10 : 9780226832869
ISBN-13 : 0226832864
Rating : 4/5 (69 Downloads)

Synopsis The Book of Snakes by : Mark O'Shea

Updated to reflect the most recent species classifications, a second edition of the beautifully illustrated and beloved guide to 600 members of the suborder Serpentes. For millennia, humans have regarded snakes with an exceptional combination of fascination and revulsion. Some people recoil in fear at the very suggestion of these creatures, while others happily keep them as pets. Snakes can convey both beauty and menace in a single tongue flick, and so these creatures have held a special place in our cultures. Yet, for as many meanings as we attribute to snakes—from fertility and birth to sin and death—the real-life species represent an even wider array of wonders. Now in a new edition, reflecting the most recent species classifications, The Book of Snakes presents 600 species of snakes from around the world, covering roughly one in seven of all snake species. It will bring greater understanding of a group of reptiles that have existed for more than 160 million years and that now inhabit every continent except Antarctica, as well as two of the great oceans. This volume pairs spectacular photos with easy-to-digest text. It is the first book on these creatures that combines a broad, worldwide sample with full-color, life-size accounts. Entries include close-ups of the snake’s head and a section of the snake at actual size. The detailed images allow readers to examine the intricate scale patterns and rainbow of colors as well as special features like a cobra’s hood or a rattlesnake’s rattle. The text is written for laypeople and includes a glossary of frequently used terms. Herpetologists and herpetoculturists alike will delight in this collection, and even those with a more cautious stance on snakes will find themselves drawn in by the wild diversity of the suborder Serpentes.

Snakes of the Eastern United States

Snakes of the Eastern United States
Author :
Publisher : University of Georgia Press
Total Pages : 426
Release :
ISBN-10 : 9780820349701
ISBN-13 : 0820349704
Rating : 4/5 (01 Downloads)

Synopsis Snakes of the Eastern United States by : Whit Gibbons

More than sixty species of snakes are found in the eastern United States, the region of highest biodiversity of all reptiles and amphibians in North America. In this brand new guide, stunning photographs, colorful geographic range maps, and comprehensive written accounts provide essential information about each species—including detailed identification characteristics, general ecology and behavior, and conservation status. Carefully researched and written by an expert herpetologist, the guide is directed toward a general audience interested in natural history. Additional information supports the already fact-filled snake species profiles. A chapter on urban and suburban snake ecology focuses on species most commonly found in some of the country’s largest cities and residential settings. A chapter on snake conservation includes information on threats faced by native species in many regions of the eastern United States. Another chapter provides the latest updates on the status of invasive species of pythons and boa constrictors that have now become naturalized permanent residents in certain areas of the country. This is the most accessible and informative guide to snakes of the eastern United States available anywhere. Covers snakes in these states (plus Washington, DC): Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Features: More than 385 stunning color photographsColorful geographic range mapsSpecies accounts that cover identification, general ecology and behavior, and conservation statusExtra information on snakes in urban and suburban areasStrong conservation message, with a focus on environmental threats to native speciesCoverage of invasive snakes