She and her father are among the thousands of Jewish refugees scrambling over the Alps toward Italy, where they hope to be safe at last, now that the Italians have broken with Germany and made a separate peace with the Allies. The Blums will soon discover that Italy is anything but peaceful, as it becomes overnight an open battleground among the Nazis, the Allies, resistance fighters, Jews in hiding, and ordinary Italian civilians trying to survive.Mary Doria Russell sets her first historical novel against this dramatic background, tracing the lives of a handful of fascinating characters. Through them, she tells the little-known but true story of the network of Italian citizens who saved the lives of forty-three thousand Jews during the war’s final phase. The result of five years of meticulous research, A Thread of Grace is an ambitious, engrossing novel of ideas, history, and marvelous characters that will please Russell’s many fans and earn her even more.

    But why was there such an artistic, cultural, and intellectual explosion in Italy at the start of the 14th century? Why did it occur in Italy? And why in certain Italian city-states such as Florence? Professor Bartlett probes these questions and more in 36 dynamic lectures. This is your opportunity to appreciate the results of the Italian Renaissance and gain an understanding of the underlying social, political, and economic forces that made such exceptional art and culture possible. At the heart of Renaissance Italy were the city-states, home to the money, intellect, and talent needed for the growth of Renaissance culture. You'll look at the Republic of Florence, as well as other city-states that, thanks to geographical and historical circumstances, had much different political and social structures. This course contains a wealth of details that will give you a feel and appreciation for the Italian Renaissance - its contributions to history, the ways it was similar and dissimilar to our times, and how the people of the time, both famous and ordinary, experienced it. You'll come away surprised by how much of our modern life was made possible by the Renaissance. Our concept of participatory government, our belief in the value of competition, our philosophy of the content and purpose of education, even our notions of love all have roots in the Renaissance period. Its loftiest ideals - the importance of the individual, the value of human dignity and potential, and the promotion of freedom - are ones we embrace as our own.

    Possessed of enormous talent and ambition, these two artists -- one trained as a sculptor, the other as a stonecutter -- met as contemporaries in the building yards of St. Peter's in Rome and ended their lives as bitter enemies. Over the course of their careers they became the most celebrated architects of their era, designing some of the most beautiful buildings in the world and transforming the city of Rome.The Genius in the Design is an extraordinary tale of how these two men plotted, schemed, and intrigued to get the better of each other. Full of dramatic tension and great insight into personalities, acclaimed writer Jake Morrissey's engrossing and impeccably researched account also shows that this legendary rivalry defined the Baroque style that immediately succeeded the Renaissance and created the spectacular Roman cityscape of today.Almost exactly the same age -- Bernini was born at the end of 1598, Borromini nine months later -- they were as alike and as different as any two men could be, each a potent combination of passion and enterprise, energy and imperfection. Bernini was a precocious talent who as a youth caught the attention of Pope Paul V and became Rome's most celebrated artist, whose patrons included the wealthiest families in Europe. The city's greatest sculptor -- the creator of such masterpieces as Apollo and Daphne and the Ecstasy of St. Teresa -- Bernini would also have been Rome's preeminent architect had it not been for Francesco Borromini, the one man whose talent and virtuosity rivaled his own. In contrast to Bernini's easy grace, Borromini was an introvert with a fiery temper who bristled when anyone interfered with his vision; his temperament alienated him from prospective patrons and precipitated his tragic end.Like Mozart and Salieri, these two masters were inextricably linked, their dazzling work prodding the other to greater achievement while taking merciless advantage of each other's missteps. The Genius in the Design is their story, a fascinating narrative of beauty and tragedy marked at turns by personal animosity and astonishing artistic achievement.

    Venice's rich history is explored by a resident historian, and descendent from a patrician Ventian family in this beautifully illustrated study.  Readers are guided from 5th century Venice to present day, uncovering historical facts, legends and catching glimpses into the lives of it's people, many of which are the authors own colorful ancestors.

    "A full-color picture book for adults that tells a wrenching story of eternal love.”—NPR Books"To truly love another, you must follow the lover’s path wherever it may take you . . . .”Filamena Ziani is the much younger sister of the most famous courtesan in sixteenth-century Venice, Tullia Ziani. Orphaned as an infant, Filamena has come of age bent like a branch to her sister’s will, sheltered and lonely in the elegant but stifling confines of their palazzo by the sea. Then a dark-haired stranger offers a gift that will change the course of her life forever: a single ripe plum, and an invitation to walk along the lover’s path, wherever it may lead.THE LOVER’S PATH, a moving tale of forbidden love, is an illustrated novella told in multiple layers. Through a sumptuous combination of Filamena’s narrative, famous love stories from history and mythology, ornate illustrations, and interactive maps, Filamena’s path is beautifully described and, finally, stunningly revealed.Praised by The New York Times Book Review for her “quality of myth and magic,” Waldherr brings to life a remarkable period in Venetian history. Her glorious celebration of romance, the feminine spirit, and the power of love to transform will inspire and move readers everywhere.

    Moving beyond the names, dates, and statistics of ordinary guidebooks, George Sullivan's eye-opening essays celebrate the special character of Rome's buildings, fountains, piazzas, streets, and ruins. From the largest landmark down to the smallest hidden gem, Not Built in a Day explores the city in comprehensive detail, offering detailed visual and historical analyses that enable readers to see and understand exactly what makes the architecture of Rome so important, influential, and fascinating.Not Built in a Day is supported by a companion website (NotBuiltInADay.com) that offers, among other features, detailed illustrative photographs for readers who want to experience the book's walking tours at home and large printable maps for readers using small electronic devices on-site in Rome.

    “I’m the chief of staff for the papal nuncio to the United States, Francis Cardinal Kettering. Your name was given to me as someone to be trusted, someone who can help. And I very much need your help.” “Why, has your cardinal murdered somebody?” Justin asked with a deliberate lightheartedness meant to convey to Capelletti that his use of dramatics was not necessary.“That’s exactly what’s happened, Mr. Scott,” the priest said, his words barely audible. After hearing that utterance from a terrified priest, ex-FBI agent Justin Scott soon finds himself in the fight of his life. Hired by the Vatican to ferret out the truth – or so it says, Justin uncovers a hair-raising conspiracy involving powerful Vatican prelates and Italian and Russian crime syndicates, all racing against the clock and each other to take possession of the richest prize in Christendom. With time fast running out, Justin’s high-stakes quest leads him to the very steps of the Throne of Peter, then back to Washington DC where he confronts a psychopathic murderer in a cat-and-mouse stalking that plays out to its deadly finish on the mean streets of the nation’s capital.

    The kindhearted young rat enjoys the simple pleasures of his world–until his eyes are opened to the possibilities of all that could be accomplished with a larger, faster vessel. As Guido is persuaded to acquire bigger and better boats, life becomes increasingly complicated. Just how far will he go in his search for true satisfaction?You and your child will giggle your way through this enchanting story of a small rat with a big heart, who learns the hard way that it’s the little joys of life that matter most.

    Famous for generations after his death, Salvatore Fabris became the personal fencing master to the equally famous King Christianus of Denmark. Towards the end of his career, and at the king's request, the great master set down the sum of his art in clear in a clear, concise manual of footwork, guards, attacks, defenses, and conterattacks with the rapier, used alone or with a dagger or cloak. A landmark work brought to English for the very first time, Tomasso Leoni offers a complete translation that accompanies the 200 17th century engravings.

    A cookbook that showcases the cuisine and food artisans of one of the world's most beautiful cities, "Williams-Sonoma Rome is required reading for anyone with a passion for Italy.

    That problem is what to make of the Comedy's claim to the status of revelation, vision, or experiential record - as something more than imaginative literature. In this book Moevs offers the first sustained treatment of the metaphysical picture that grounds and motivates the Comedy, and the relation between those metaphysics and Dante's poetics. Moevs arrives at the radical conclusion that Dante believed that all of what we perceive as reality, the spatio-temporal world, is in fact a creation or projection of conscious being. Armed with this new understanding, Moevs is able to shed light on a series of perennial issues in the interpretation of the Comedy.

    In addition, some of the most striking photographs include an aerial image of Castel Sant' Angelo and the Tiber River, the Spanish Steps and Piazza Navona in Rome, Byzantine mosaics in Villa del Casale in Sicily and the striking gothic facade of Milan's Duomo.

    Eventually Galielo was found guilty of heresy by the Roman Catholic Church, and forced to live under house arrest for the final years of his life. Includes source notes and timeline.

    Colour illustrations, an in depth look at the Vatican inside and outside, a stunning production, contents include: Preface; Introduction; General Overview; The Tomb of Peter; The Basilica; The Palaces; The Museums, the Library & the Archives; The City; The Piazza; Bibliography, map endpapers ....an absolutely wonderful book , any image directly beside this listing is the actual book and not a generic photo Preface; Introduction; General Overview; The Tomb of Peter; The Basilica; The Palaces; The Museums, the Library & the Archives; The City; The Piazza; Bibliography Petrosillo, Orazio / The Vatican / Eugene Rizzo & Lisa Dasteel, Translators / Ufficio Vendita Pubblicazioni e Riproduzioni, Musei Vaticani, Vatican City / Preface By Rosalio Jose Cardinal Castillo Lara Vatican City Rome Italy Catholic Church Roman Catholicism Pope Papal

    But historians have focused on their political accomplishments to the exclusion of their religious life, going so far as to call them "purely secular contrivances." When religion is considered, the subjects are usually saints, heretics, theologians, and religious leaders, thereby ignoring the vast majority of those who lived in the communes. In Cities of God, Augustine Thompson gives a voice to the forgotten majority-orthodox lay people and those who ministered to them. Thompson positions the Italian republics in sacred space and time. He maps their religious geography as it was expressed through political and voluntary associations, ecclesiastical and civil structures, common ritual life, lay saints, and miracle-working shrines. He takes the reader through the rituals and celebrations of the communal year, the people's corporate and private experience of God, and the "liturgy" of death and remembrance. In the process he challenges a host of stereotypes about "orthodox" medieval religion, the Italian city-states, and the role of new religious movements in the world of Francis of Assisi, Thomas Aquinas, and Dante. Cities of God is bold, revisionist history in the tradition of Eamon Duffy's Stripping of the Altars. Drawing on a wide repertoire of ecclesiastical and secular sources, from city statutes and chronicles to saints' lives and architecture, Thompson recaptures the religious origins and texture of the Italian republics and allows their inhabitants a spiritual voice that we have never heard before.

    Grinding poverty, unstable families, and the death of a parent could make caring for these young children a burden. Many were abandoned, others orphaned. At a time when political rulers fashioned themselves as the "fathers" of society, these cast-off children presented a very immediate challenge and opportunity.In Bologna and Florence, government and private institutions pioneered orphanages to care for the growing number of homeless children. Nicholas Terpstra discusses the founding and management of these institutions, the procedures for placing children into them, the children's daily routine and education, and finally their departure from these homes. He explores the role of the city-state and considers why Bologna and Florence took different paths in operating the orphanages. Terpstra finds that Bologna's orphanages were better run, looked after the children more effectively, and were more successful in returning their wards to society as productive members of the city's economy. Florence's orphanages were larger and harsher, and made little attempt to reintegrate children into society.Based on extensive archival research and individual stories, Abandoned Children of the Italian Renaissance demonstrates how gender and class shaped individual orphanages in each city's network, and how politics, charity, and economics intertwined in the development of the early modern state.

    His desire is to present a Venice that is as close to the detailed and precisely proportioned city as portrayed by artists such as Ponti, Naya, and Canaletto.

    The book is divided into five main sections: verbs' present indicative tenses; their past indicative tenses; future and conditional tenses; subjunctive tenses, and the imperative and other tenses. Verbs are presented with fundamental conjugation information, illustrative dialogues, and additional learning features that include crossword puzzles, tips and notes on verb usage, and a review chapter that concludes each of the book's five sections. The book is filled with exercises designed to improve students' fluency in speaking, writing, and comprehending Italian. The type is set in two colors.

    Despite his many achievements as a child of the Italian Cinecitta studios, however, Sergio Leone has been judged severely by writers who find his films lacking in ideas and moralists who find his films unduly cynical. Nevertheless, Leone's greatest cinematic achievement, Once Upon a Time in the West, served to refute these criticisms while exposing the director's unique romanticism and artistic ambition. As Leone's fourth successful American western film, Once Upon a Time in the West earned him acclaim for liberating the western genre, restoring it to a place of antique American simplicity. The principal goal of this book is to sharpen an appreciation for Sergio Leone and his most famous American western. The first two chapters deal with the relationship between Once Upon a Time in the West and the western films that preceded it, particularly those of John Ford. Subsequent chapters concentrate on the central characters ofOnce Upon a Time in the West, with special attention to Jill, Leone's first female protagonist and a surprisingly successful character, central to the plot and accorded a kind of existential strength usually reserved for men in Westerns. The sixth, seventh and eighth chapters address Leone's visual style, which represents a unique fusion of Hollywood classicism and modernism, and reveals the influences of Italian Surrealism and the French New Wave. The final chapters explore the rhythm, romanticism, and musical character of Once Upon a Time in the West, espousing the theory that Leone's approach to film is, above all, musical.

    Early commercial operas were elaborate spectacles, featuring ornate costumes and set design along with dancing and music. As ambitious works of theater, theseproductions required not only significant financial backing, but also strong managers to oversee several months of rehearsals and performances. These impresarios were responsible for every facet of production from contracting the cast to balancing the books at season's end. The systems they createdstill survive, in part, today.Inventing the Business of Opera explores public opera in its infancy, from 1637 to 1677, when theater owners and impresarios established Venice as the operatic capital of Europe. Drawing on extensive new documentation, the book studies all of the components necessary to opera production, from thefinancial backing of various populations of Venice, to the commissioning and creation of the libretto and the score; the recruitment and employment of singers, dancers, and instrumentalists; the production of the scenery and the costumes, and, the nature of the audience; and, finally, the issue ofpatronage. Throughout the book, the problems faced by impresarios come into new focus. The authors chronicle the progress of Marco Faustini, the impresario most well known today, who made his way from one of Venice's smallest theaters to one of the largest. His companies provide the most personalview of an impresario and his partners, who ranged from Venetian nobles to artisans. Throughout the book, Venice emerges as a city that prized novelty over economy, with new repertory, scenery, costumes, and expensive singers the rule rather than the exception. The authors examine the challengesfaced by four separate Venetian theaters during the seventeenth century: San Cassiano, the first opera theater, the Novissimo, the small Sant'Aponal, and San Luca, established in 1660. Only two of them would survive past the 1650s.Through close examination of an extraordinary cache of documents--including personal papers, account books, and correspondence -- Beth and Jonathan Glixon provide a comprehensive view of opera production in mid-seventeenth century Venice. For the first time in a study of opera, an emphasis is placedon the physical production -- the scenery, costumes, and stage machinery -- that tied these opera productions to the social and economic life of the city. This original and meticulously researched study will be of strong interest to all students of opera and its history.

    He translates the spirit of his homeland's regional food culture in this latest book, Carluccio's Italia the recipes and customs of the regions, a follow up to Carluccio's Complete A-Z of Italian Food. By weaving together his own impressions of the regions with geography, culinary traditions and 100+ recipes, Carluccio's" "Italia guides readers on a gastronomic tour embracing every one of the 20 regions of the country. Carluccio's introduction of each region is complemented by Alastair Hendy's photographs, which illustrate the stories of Italy's landscapes, people, fresh ingredients and regional recipes. Carluccio introduces each region with an overview of geography's impact on cuisine. He then focuses on the specific culinary traditions & specialties that originated from each region, such as crostini in Tuscany and Parmesan cheese in Emilia-Romagna. After piquing the taste buds, Carluccio presents a handful of signature recipes from each region, such as Bagna Cauda (Hot garlic and anchovy dip) from Piedmont and Umbria's Strascinate di Cascia (Pasta with pancetta and sausage) and Pinocchiate (Pine nut toffee). Recipes from Sicily include Caponatina di Melanzane (Sicilian eggplant relish) and Insalata di Limoni e Arance (Orange and lemon salad). A simple recipe for Calabrian baked honey figs is included, as is another popular Calabrian dish, Pesce Spada a Ghiotta (Braised Swordfish). From Campania, where tomatoes were first appreciated, there are recipes for Polpi Affogati (Stewed Octopus) and Pizza Margherita. Carluccio identifieshallmark regional products such as cheeses, wines, and beef, such as buffalo mozzarella and calzone from Campania and Basilicata's pork salami pezzenta, all the while sharing his own anecdotes. Defying his sense of campanilismo, or loyalty to one's own region, Carluccio writes with enthusiasm about Italian food from every region.

    But seething below this surface is a long and shadowy history of corruption, cruelty, and the generally bizarre. For centuries it has been overrun by waves of invaders, all contributing their own questionable bits of culture, and all wantonly adding to the confusion. So, how is a poor visitor supposed to make sense of this anarchic place? Co-creator of the cult favorite Paris Out of Hand, Barbara Hodgson has neatly brushed away the chaos and assembled an eclectic treasury of forgotten and overlooked oddities: long-lost popes, bloodthirsty mercenaries, tempestuous artists, and inexplicable follies. Italy Out of Hand is not a traditional guidebook, with hotel addresses and hours of operation. Rather, it is an idiosyncratic tour of a country that is too overwhelming and extravagant for most of us to comprehend without a little guidance. Illustrated with an equally eclectic selection of photographs, portraits, and art, Italy Out of Hand is the perfect companion for those who like their truths to be stranger than fiction.

    Challenging the myth of Italian benevolence during the Fascist period, the authors investigate the treatment of Jews by Italians during the Holocaust, and the native versus foreign roots of Italian fascist anti-Semitism. Each essay in this volume each illustrates a different aspect of Italian Jewry under Fascist and Nazi rule. Areas of inquiry include the role of the Catholic Church with special reference to Pope Pius XII, Mussolini's attitude and anti-Jewish policies leading to the onset of the 1938 Italian racial laws, and the Italian popular reactions to anti-Jewish persecution. Included also is an examination of cover images and articles from the Italian racist newspaper La Difesa della Razza intended to lay bare the influence of the Italian media on the general Italian public.

    All of Italy unfolds in a sumptuous collection of aerial images taken by photographers who know and love their own country. This is a "trophy" book on a land that, from above, appears to have been laid out by a master eye. Specially commissioned photographers have explored everywhere to bring the reader unusual perspectives on the country's breathtaking beauty and its many identities, from folk to high art. The Alps in the north and the volcano-hewn coastlines of the south, majestic cathedrals and Roman ruins, colorful cities and hidden villages-these are all part of Italy. The photos in this book invite the reader to ponder these treasures anew, while appreciating the human life in their midst. Fascinating images of familiar landmarks appear, but surprises hide around every corner.This book captures the many flavors of Italy in ways that few books can. All of Italy's regions spring to life dramatically in these gorgeous photos. Italy has cultivated beauty, art, and science for centuries, and in this book the Bel Paese itself-its terrain, its monuments, its people-appears as a masterpiece.

    When, two centuries later, the Normans seized control of the island, they found a Muslim state just entering its cultural prime. Rather than replace the practices and idioms of the vanquished people with their own, the Normans in Sicily adopted and adapted the Greco-Arabic culture that had developed on the island. Yet less than a hundred years later, the cultural and linguistic mix had been reduced, a Romance tradition had come to dominate, and Sicilian poets composed the first body of love lyrics in an Italianate vernacular.Karla Mallette has written the first literary history of the Kingdom of Sicily in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Where other scholars have separated out the island's literature along linguistic grounds, Mallette surveys the literary production in Arabic, Latin, Greek, and Romance dialects, in addition to the architectural remains, numismatic inscriptions, and diplomatic records, to argue for a multilingual, multicultural, and coherent literary tradition.Drawing on postcolonial theory to consider institutional and intellectual power, the exchange of knowledge across cultural boundaries, and the containment and celebration of the other that accompanies cultural transition, the book includes an extensive selection of poems and documents translated from the Arabic, Latin, Old French, and Italian. The Kingdom of Sicily, 1100-1250 opens up new venues for understanding the complexity of a place and culture at the crossroads of East and West, Islam and Christianity, tradition and innovation.

    An instant cult film, it became a great classic of modernity and continues to affect generation after generation, legendary yet always contemporary.Dolce Vita Style draws on the history that inspired the film in the theatrical Rome of the 50's and sums up the innumerable influences that this cult film has had on so many of those in the worlds of movies, popular music, society, life, and fashion.Image by image, this book retraces the astonishing itinerary of a work that is a supreme emblem and a source of inexhaustible style.

    This scrumptious survey of a wide variety of cuisine--Mexican, Irish, Chinese, Moroccan, Turkish, Ethiopian, Nigerian, and many more--blends together an appetizing mix of kid-friendly recipes and fun food facts throughout each chapter. Kids will have a great time learning about each culture's distinctive foods and traditions while they cook up easy and yummy recipes, including: NAAN, a bread made with yogurt, which is a staple of Indian cooking SAVORY SHRIMP OVER RICE, a recipe from Northern Italy passed down through generations BRATWURST WITH SAUERKRAUT, a favorite dish of Wisconsin, where many Germans settles in the nineteenth century BANANA STRAWBERRY BATIDOS, icy Cuban drinks that are as common as cola in cities with many Cuban residents, such as Miami DUTCH WINDMILL COOKIES, which are traditionally made in the Netherlands at Christmas time THE COMING TO AMERICA COOKBOOK also includes information on cooking tools and skills, with important rules for kitchen safety and cleaning up.

    In this account of the Battle of Britain, Peter Haining tells the story of Italian-led air raids on England, the fighter pilot with Mafia connections, eyewitness testimonies from civilians and RAF squadrons, as well as crashes, imprisonments, and escapes.

    The second edition of National Geographic Traveler: Sicily showcases the Mediterranean’s largest island, a fascinating melting pot of great Mediterranean civilizations famed for its architecture, art, culture, and smoldering Mount Etna, Europe’s greatest active volcano.

    As the war ended, Nicole married an American officer, then sailed to the United States as a "war bride" in 1946.Mektoub is Nicole's story of her coming-of-age amid the uncertainties of war in North Africa and Europe. This memoir chronicles her experiences during World War II and her relationships with people she loved and lost.

    It is graphic design's most sinister manifestation made to change perceptions, destory morale, and help takes lives. Paper War offers a rare opportunity to understand the dynamics of propaganda. A timeless tale of the flexible and immediate use of information in one battle, on a single day-Cassino, Italy, May 11, 1944. Through leaflets that he collected that day, a British solider who was serving as a liaison officer in the Indian army recounts the Nazi's skilful but ultimately unsucessful campaign to win the battle through showering the enemy with paper, as well as bombs. The images in the propaganda pieces from that day are varied, vivid, and arresting; particularly when considering the logistics of design, production and delivery in the heat of battle. The solider tells the compelling story of how the Nazis misidentified the Allied troops, firing a total of 14 different leaflets in a succession of four languages; English, Polish, Urdu and Hindi, Very different messages accompanied by very different graphics were used to appeal to - and terrify - each intended audience, and they are all reproduced here at full size, with complete translations. Appealing to anyone interested in military history, communication arts & design, and propaganda. The book contains an introduction by Randall Bytwerk, an acknowledged expert and author on the propaganda of Nazi Germany.

    It takes as its point of departure the dramatic political tensions of the early 1990s and evaluates these against the background of an analysis of the 'First Republic' that predates these changes.

    Italian filmmakers have defined, influenced and indeed created whole genres. This collection offers an overview of a rich cinematic culture, profiling and paying homage to its artists and designers. The Art of Italian Film Posters follows Italian film from its early mythological phase, through the development of Neorealism, the transitional 1950s, the creative peak of the 60s and the politically troubled 70s. In terms of poster design this period was also a golden age. Artists were not subject to today's style guidelines where a global marketing plan governs all publishing material; different versions were executed by both obscure and well known artists, and were printed in thousands of copies. The cultural heritage of the film poster functions not only as supporting document for the history of cinema, but also as a history of our times, as we see social trends mirrored and challenged by cinema.

    When the Lombard tailor Rosa Genoni created the first Italian fashion house, she broke free of the prevailing French style and launched a national industry. Illustrated with archival material from the design houses as well as illustrations from the earliest Italian fashion magazines, the book focuses on the most important designers from the period: Gabriella di Robilant, the Italian “inven­tor” of sportswear; Salvatore Ferragamo and his famous orthopedic shoes; and Elsa Schiaparelli, the first great protagonist of Italian style. These are the designers who shaped Italian fashion, and their influence continues to be felt today.

    Sosia Camillina is on the run from a couple of street toughs, and after rescuing her, Falco wants to find out why. It soon becomes clear that Sosia knows a dangerous secret about a stockpile of silver ingots—or "pigs"—and there are those who will stop at nothing to prevent her telling what she knows. Hoping for future favors from Sosia's rich, influential uncle, Falco embarks on an intricate case of smuggling, murder, and treason that reaches as far as the Emperor's palace, and beyond the seven hills of Rome. Soon, Falco finds himself in an inhospitable outpost of the Empire called Britain, where the weather is filthy, the natives restless, and the women angry. There he meets Helena Justina, a spirited aristocrat who becomes an important part of his life. But if he does not tread carefully, the treacherous puzzle of the silver pigs could be the death of him. . . Anton Lesser stars as Falco with Fritha Goodey as Helena Justina in this BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatization of Lindsey Davis's first Falco novel.

    They perceived him to be a conduit of classical and Christian truths, and an example of the life of the intellect reconciled to a life of faith. This book traces the availability and the reception of Augustine from the fourteenth to the mid-sixteenth century, and discusses the saint's influence on thinkers and humanists, such as Petrarch, as well as his representation in works of art. The religious order who claims him as their founder sponsored several major fresco cycles portraying the life of the saint, while, in single portraits, artists alluded to Augustine's aesthetic theory as it was manifest in his concept of divine illumination. The Sistine Chapel represents the fulfillment of his theological and philosophical legacy, one that began in the fifteenth century and extended through the completion of Michelangelo's 'Last Judgment'.