Please don’t let it be the boy, Colomba thought. Her silent prayer didn’t go unanswered. The corpse belonged to the mother.'THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN STOP HIM IS THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY...Dante Torre spent eleven young years in captivity - held by a man known only as The Father - before outwitting his abductor. Now working for the police force, Torre's methods are unorthodox but his brilliance is clear. When a young child goes missing in similar circumstances in Rome, Torre must confront the demons of his past to attempt to solve the case.Paired with Deputy Captain Colomba Caselli, a fierce, warrior-like detective still reeling from having survived a bloody catastrophe, all evidence suggests The Father is active after being dormant for decades, and that he’s looking forward to a reunion with Dante...

    When Vesuvius erupted in an explosion of flame and ash, the entire town would be destroyed. Some of its citizens died in the chaos, some escaped the mountain's wrath . . . and these are their stories: A boy loses his innocence in Pompeii's flourishing streets. An heiress dreads her wedding day, not knowing it will be swallowed by fire. An ex-legionary stakes his entire future on a gladiator bout destined never to be finished. A crippled senator welcomes death, until a tomboy on horseback comes to his rescue. A young mother faces an impossible choice for her unborn child as the ash falls. A priestess and a whore seek redemption and resurrection as the town is buried. Six authors bring to life overlapping stories of patricians and slaves, warriors and politicians, villains and heroes who cross each others' path during Pompeii's fiery end. But who will escape, and who will be buried for eternity?

    Literally.A woman can sell her body also for a noble cause.Giancarlo Vestali chose his tie colour carefully as he knew what shade he would end up.A flower in a pool can make the difference between freedom and jail.Chase Williams wants to live a normal life in Tursenia, Italy. But it's not as easy as it appears.The saga of unusual crimes on which ex Scotland Yard detective Chase Williams stumbles every day continues. It's all about Chase's snooping abilities and his exceptional perceptiveness from which nothing escapes.10 detective short stories of 1000 words each, where proud prostitutes alternate with young lovers, sloppy drug dealers, hunting dogs, elderly people tired of living, amazing chefs and, as usual, Chase's neighbors who are always gossipy, fanatically religious and very nosey.10 open, shiny windows overlooking the less dramatic crime stories of Tursenia, a Medieval town in the heart of Italy, where a former detective like Chase Williams - now dedicated to living his placid office lifestyle - can get a run for his money. Anyone and everyone could be a criminal. And Chase well knows it.DISCLAIMER: Although the first volume of the Cutting Right to the Chase series is suitable to children and young adults, Cutting Right to the Chase Vol.2 is suitable for an older audience due to the graphic nature of some stories.

    Although she knows how to disappear in a crowd, Elodie is too terrified to slip by the German officers while carrying her poorly forged identity papers. She is frozen until a man she’s never met before claims to know her. In desperate need of shelter, Elodie follows him back to his home on the cliffs of Portofino.   Only months before, Elodie Bertolotti was a cello prodigy in Verona, unconcerned with world events. But when Mussolini’s Fascist regime strikes her family, Elodie is drawn into the burgeoning resistance movement by Luca, a young and impassioned bookseller. As the occupation looms, she discovers that her unique musical talents, and her courage, have the power to save lives.   In Portofino, young doctor Angelo Rosselli gives the frightened and exhausted girl sanctuary. He is a man with painful secrets of his own, haunted by guilt and remorse. But Elodie’s arrival has the power to awaken a sense of hope and joy that Angelo thought was lost to him forever.

    Enlivened by Francesca Marciano’s wit, clear eye, and stunning evocations of people and places, The Other Language is an enthralling tour de force rich with many pleasures.

    Reluctantly, Isabella agrees -- and then watches in horror as the woman climbs to the top of the town's clock tower and steps over the edge.This tragic encounter draws vivid memories to the surface, forcing Isabella to probe deeper into the secrets of her own past as she tries to protect the young girl from the authorities. Together with charismatic photographer Roberto Falco, Isabella is about to discover that secrets run deeper, and are more dangerous, than either of them could have possibly imagined . . .From the glittering marble piazzas, to the picturesque hillside villages and winding streets of Rome, Kate Furnivall's epic new novel will take you on an breathtaking journey of intrigue, romance and betrayal.

    When she accidentally comes across a clue that her father is Italian, it opens up a burning curiosity in Anna. Soon she’s cooking Italian food, signing up for an Italian class and even considering dusting off her passport to go and find her dad in person… Sophie is serving gelato to tourists in Italy when she gets the call that her father has had a serious heart attack. In a rush, she grabs her well-worn backpack and heads back to the one place she’s been avoiding for so long – home. Living with her mum again while her dad recuperates, and taking a job teaching Italian to make ends meet, Sophie has to face up to the secrets she’s kept buried in the past. Catherine has no idea what the future holds. Her children have left for university, her husband has left her for another woman and her bank account is left empty after dedicating her life to raising her family. She needs a job and an identity all of a sudden. At an Italian evening class she makes a start in finding new friends Anna and Sophie. And she’s going to need good friends when she discovers her husband’s lies run even deeper than his infidelity… As Anna embarks on the trip to Italy that could answer all of her questions, will the truth live up to her dreams?

    She liked to hang her laundry on a line outside, so that the sun and wind would make it dry. The old woman usually used clothespins to secure her laundry, so that the wind would not blow her things into the lake. Among all the colorful plastic clothespins, there was only one made from wood. The old woman rarely used it because she could not find its mate. Most of the time, the wooden clothespin just hung on the line by itself and looked out at the forest, located on the other side of the lake. One day, the lonely wooden clothespin realized that she was related to those beautiful trees, and decided to visit them. She jumped down from the clothesline and headed toward the lake... Read this fun and entertaining bedtime story now!

    Sicily, 1862. In the newly united Italy, Judge Surra arrives in Montelusa to take charge of the local court, in a town where conflict has been kind to a select few. At first, Surra is baffled by the quaint local customs: cryptic anonymous notes, mutterings in the street, tasty - if tasteless - gifts of disembodied animal heads. However, buoyed by his twin passions for justice and fine dining, Surra is determined to settle into island life, no matter who stands in his way. Distilling his customary humour and tension into this miniature masterpiece, Andrea Camilleri casts an ironic eye on the corruption and charm of a turbulent small town, testing his naïve but noble hero against the darkest arts of the Mafia.This story is available in print as a part of the collection Judges, published by MacLehose Press.

     Although initially drawn to Italy for its art, architecture, and Vogue, often described in other books, it is evident that still lifes and stilettos do not hold this author’s attention as much as living people do. The author’s open, sympathetic viewpoint captures the characters’ quirky charm and the local color. Although you wouldn’t call this a philosophical book, how the author observes and deals with individuals and situations in her life shows that she follows her own philosophy, one that is worth looking into. While the author is not so naïve as to think that all Italians’ lives flow as smoothly as their olive oil, she has not met anyone in Italy who is bitterly disappointed with life. So pour yourself a glass of Italian wine, add a dose of accordion music, and spend some time in Ivanka Di Felice’s Italy. This book can be read as a stand-alone or feel free to tag along for more laugh out loud adventures in Italy by reading A Zany Slice of Tuscany and Zany Renovations. THIS IS NOW ONE OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS. Italy without FAMIGLIA isn't really Italy! - Whistlers Mom TOP 500 REVIEWER If you enjoy ex-pat stories, you've probably read a pile of books by people who've moved to Italy. They marvel at the ancient wonders. They do battle with horrendously complicated Italian bureaucracy. They agonize over tardy repairmen. They spend most of their time with other ex-pats, but have cute stories to tell about the natives and they ALL consider themselves experts on Italian life. These people know NOTHING! Italian life is about family and this author knows all about Italian families because she married into one. Her handsome husband was born in Canada to Italian parents. Then he married a woman who was in love with him and with the idea of living in Italy and slowly she chipped away at his resistance until he agreed to move to his ancestral village. And there she meets the FAMIGLIA - an assortment of grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins who believe that Italy is the ONLY place to live and that there can never be too much food or wine or too many loud, crowded family gatherings. Eventually the young couple relocates to Tuscany and their adventures continue as they locate a house, buy a car, get to know the neighbours, seek work, and (of course) entertain visiting relatives. This is the true Italy.No matter how much you've read about Italy and Italians, this will be a real eye-opener and you'll have to stop so often to laugh that it will take you much longer to read than you anticipate.

    Along the way Helena Attlee traces the uses of citrus essential oils in the perfume industry and describes the extraction of precious bergamot oil; the history of marmalade and its production in Sicily; the extraordinary harvest of 'Diamante' citrons by Jewish citron merchants in Calabria; the primitive violence of the Battle of Oranges, when the streets in Ivrea run with juice. She reveals the earliest manifestations of the Mafia among the lemon gardens outside Palermo, and traces the ongoing links between organised crime and the citrus industry. By combining insight into the country's cultural, political and economic history with travel writing, horticulture and art, Helena Atlee gives the reader a unique view of Italy.Helena Attlee is the author of four books about Italian gardens, and others on the cultural history of gardens around the world. Helena is a Fellow of the Royal Literary Fund and has worked in Italy for nearly 30 years.

    But this is only the beginning. As more hidden secrets come to light, Juliet discovers that the tragic tale of her famous namesake might have had a very different outcome... A favourite classic story with a major new twist.

    The wrong side of Hadrian's Wall.After Kane is accused of murder just minutes into their painful arrival, Elizabeth does everything she can to free him. When the body count rises, the investigation takes a dark turn, and she becomes desperate to prove him innocent.She has to find the real killer - or risk losing Kane forever.*Includes a preview of Second Chances, Book Three of the Love in Time series.

    After the death of her mother, she flees her childhood home and her cruel, domineering father for a new life in the remote Trentino Mountains of northern Italy. There she finds Bren, a beautiful village rich in lush forests and rushing streams—and unwelcoming locals. Despite the community’s frosty reception of this outsider with sad eyes, Emilia decides to make Bren her home, and she soon settles into a quiet new routine.But the simple small-town life she’d longed for suddenly becomes complicated when she meets handsome, mysterious carpenter Aris. Although their initial attraction is startlingly strong, between their veiled pasts and the village’s stark disapproval, can Emilia and Aris build a home to shelter their burgeoning love?

    With a foreword by historical novelist Christian Cameron, in this book renowned swordsman and author Guy Windsor will take you through the principles and practice of medieval knightly combat with the longsword. The tactics and techniques come from Il Fior di Battaglia, written in 1410 by Fiore dei Liberi, one of the greatest trainers of knights in the Middle Ages. In this book Guy covers everything you need to get started, including principles of swordsmanship, training mindset, and choosing equipment; as well as a complete system of physical practice, from basic footwork all the way up through sword handling and pair drills to free fencing. Beginners will find this a complete and approachable guide to taking up the Art of Arms; experienced swordsmen will also find many tips and tricks for developing their skills. Guy Windsor has been training martial arts for almost 30 years, and teaching professionally since 2001, when he founded The School of European Swordsmanship. The School now has branches and study groups on all over the world. Guy’s other books include The Swordsman’s Companion, The Duellist’s Companion, Veni Vadi Vici, and Mastering the Art of Arms vol 1: The Medieval Dagger.

    Michelle Browning is 33, drunk and a former beauty queen who nears death after six years of homelessness. Judith Glynn is divorced with grown children and struggles to support herself in her adopted city. After their first hello, neither woman is the same as they embark on a remarkable journey for two years. This memoir is a raw yet enlightening read that graphically depicts the homeless subculture. But as Judith sets out all alone to rescue Michelle is her fixation worth the sacrifice? At stake is whether Michelle will choose possible death in a gutter over Judith's guiding light back into society. Enrolled in Kindle Book Lending that allows users to lend their book after purchasing to their friends and family for a duration of 14 days. For full details, review the Kindle Book Lending Program.

    Ernő Egri Erbstein was one of the greatest coaches there has ever been, a pioneering tactician and supreme man-manager who created Il Grande Torino, the team that dominated Italian football in the years immediately after the Second World War.His was an extraordinary life that was characterised by courage and resourcefulness in the face of adversity.Erbstein was part of the great Jewish coaching tradition developed in the coffee houses of Budapest and, playing in Hungary, Italy and the USA, he moved to Bari to embark on a coaching career that soon became noted for its innovativeness.That he and his family survived the Holocaust was a matter of astonishing good fortune, but just four years after the end of the war, Erbstein was killed with his team in the Superga air crash.Dominic Bliss, through a combination of interviews, painstaking archival research and careful detective work, pieces together the lost history of one of football's most influential early heroes.What people have said about Erbstein: football's forgotten pioneer"Erbstein's story, largely untold before today, is one of those tales that makes us realise just how – for better and worse – European history is mirrored in football." – Gabriele Marcotti“A powerful and moving account of one of football's forgotten heroes." - Anthony Clavane

    Among the immortals--Leonardo, Rembrandt, Picasso--Michelangelo stands alone as a master of painting, sculpture, and architecture. He was not only the greatest artist in an age of giants, but a man who reinvented the practice of art itself. Throughout his long career he clashed with patrons by insisting that he had no master but his own demanding muse and promoting the novel idea that it was the artist, rather than the lord who paid for it, who was creative force behind the work. Miles Unger narrates the astonishing life of this driven and difficult man through six of his greatest masterpieces. Each work expanded the expressive range of the medium, from the "Pieta "Michelangelo carved as a brash young man, to the apocalyptic "Last Judgment," the work of an old man tested by personal trials. Throughout the course of his career he explored the full range of human possibility. In the gargantuan "David "he depicts Man in the glory of his youth, while in the tombs he carved for the Medici he offers a sustained meditation on death and the afterlife. In the Sistine Chapel ceiling he tells the epic story of Creation, from the perfection of God's initial procreative act to the corruption introduced by His imperfect children. In the final decades of his life, his hands too unsteady to wield the brush and chisel, he exercised his mind by raising the soaring vaults and dome of St. Peter's in a final tribute to his God. A work of deep artistic understanding, Miles Unger's "Michelangelo" brings to life the irascible, egotistical, and undeniably brilliant man whose artistry continues to amaze and inspire us after 500 years.

    From anarchist radicals to “Rosie the Riveter” to Nancy Pelosi, Andrew Cuomo, and Bill de Blasio; from traditional artisans to rebel songsters like Frank Sinatra, Dion, Madonna, and Lady Gaga, this book is both exploration and celebration of the rich legacy of Italian-American life.Readers can discover the history chronologically, chapter by chapter, or serendipitously by exploring the trove of supplemental materials. These include interviews, newspaper clippings, period documents, and photographs that bring the history to life.

    "The more you know, the more you will enjoy" is the philosophy behind Eataly, and it is the idea behind this essential compendium of Italian cooking. Here, Eataly’s team of experts, including Mario Batali and Lidia Bastianich, covers everything you need to know about Italian food, starting from the ground up. Learn how to assemble an antipasto platter, how to eat breakfast like an Italian, and how to use pantry flavor boosters like capers and anchovies. The first secret to the best cooking, of course, is the best-quality ingredients. How to Eataly tells you what to look for in the market, then offers one hundred recipes for contemporary classics such as Acorn Squash with Lentils, Vesuvio Pasta with Sausage, and Panna Cotta with Streusel. In addition, the book is packed with simple ideas for what to do with staples, from olive oil to mozzarella. Whether you are cooking from scratch or using some store-bought components, How to Eataly empowers you to create delicious meals by fostering a total understanding of Italian cooking.

    With a captivating foreword by bestselling author Frances Mayes, Dream of Venice will inspire you to listen to the silence of the canals and lose yourself in the ethereal mist of Piazza San Marco. The luminous photographs compliment the intimate thoughts, memories, poems and stories of notable contributors from the worlds of art, literature, design, cuisine, music, and filmmaking. You ll find anecdotes from actors and directors who have worked on location in Venice, including Woody Allen (Everybody Says I Love You), Linus Roache (The Wings of the Dove), and Julie Christie (Don t Look Now). A portion of the proceeds from each book will be donated to Save Venice, Inc. to support vital art and architecture restorations in La Serenissima.

    This diversity is reflected in the fact that Italy grows the largest number of native wine grapes known, amounting to more than a quarter of the world’s commercial wine grape types. Ian D’Agata spent thirteen years interviewing producers, walking vineyards, studying available research, and tasting wines to create this authoritative guide to Italy’s native grapes and their wines. Writing with great enthusiasm and deep knowledge, D’Agata discusses more than five hundred different native Italian grape varieties, from Aglianico to Zibibbo. D’Agata provides details about how wine grapes are identified and classified, what clones are available, which soils are ideal, and what genetic evidence tells us about a variety’s parentage. He gives historical and anecdotal accounts of each grape variety and describes the characteristics of wines made from the grape. A regional list of varieties and a list of the best producers provide additional guidance. Comprehensive, thoroughly researched, and engaging, this book is the perfect companion for anyone who wants to know more about the vast enological treasures cultivated in Italy.

    Nowadays the name of Vittore Carpaccio (1460–1520) suggests raw beef, but to Morris it conveyed far more profound meanings. Thus began a lifelong infatuation, reaching across the centuries, between a renowned Welsh writer and a great and delightfully entertaining artist of the early Renaissance. Handsomely designed with more than seventy photographs throughout, Ciao,Carpaccio! is a happy caprice of affection. In illuminating the life of the artist and his paintings, Morris throws in digressions about Venetian animals, courtesans, babies, ships, architecture, and history, and caps it all with thoughtful analyses of Carpaccio’s spiritual convictions. Part biography, part art interpretation, part personal odyssey, and all lots of fun, Ciao, Carpaccio! will no doubt help to rescue the name of a noble artist from its popular interpretation as an item of cuisine.

    . . a prime work for Roman history lovers." - InD'Tale Magazine Caesar and Brutus. Marius and Sulla. Cicero, Antony, Clodius and Augustus. The century before the current era gave us a host of larger-than-life characters hailing from Rome. Only one was named Great. In the year 90 B.C.E., chaos and unrest erupts across the Italian peninsula. Rome's allies have rebelled and taken up arms against the most powerful military on earth. Leading Rome's legions - and his only son - to the city's defense, an unproven and unloved commander will taste victory and defeat outside the capital's gates. The name Pompey had yet to be praised and revered, but fate would soon alter the course of one man's life.  RISING SUN is the first book in Robert Allen Johnson's captivating MAGNUS trilogy. Narrated by the last living son of Gnaeus Pompey, RISING SUN sets the stage for the man historians would later name the Roman Alexander.

    Abandoned as a baby at the Ospedale della Pietà, Isabella dal Cello has spent her entire life wondering why her mother deserted her. Now she is an ambitious teen who has worked hard to earn a place playing her cello in the orphanage’s prestigious orchestra. This remarkable ensemble of girls is directed by none other than Don Antonio Vivaldi, the colorful and complex maestro, destined to be remembered as a great composer, conductor, and violinist. Don Vivaldi recognizes Isabella as a kindred spirit and nurtures her talent. One night, however, Isabella defies the rules of the Ospedale and sneaks out with her best friend. The unusual punishment devised for Isabella changes her life in a most unexpected way, testing her devotion to her musical goals—and her friends. Can Isabella satisfy an impossible choice that is put before her? Challenged by loss and betrayal, she will have to call on her pluck and perseverance if she has any chance of claiming her dream before it slips away.

    From the dark sottoporticos of the Arsenal, to the wealthy mansions of Castello, and deep within the secret passages of the Ducal Palace, The Mascherari is an occult tale rich with history. VENEZIA, 1422. Doge Tommaso Mocenigo lies on his death bed. An evil has come to Venice. An evil that will set the course for the future of La Serenissima. On the eve of Carnivale, five wealthy Venetian merchants set upon a mask maker in the ancient district of Santa Croce. They are led by Giacomo Contarini, a ruthless patrician. The following day, the Venice Republic's security council, the most feared Council of Ten, summons Florentine inquisitor, Antonio da Parma, to hold an inquest on a most baffling case. During a sumptuous banquet, Giacomo Contarini and his partners have met a chilling death. Newly widowed and fresh from Florence, Antonio da Parma's reputation precedes him. He is known for his susceptibility to the occult and is sternly warned that The Council of Ten want none of that. Yet in the throes of this macabre investigation Antonio is lured by his dreams and visions and by the mysterious silver pendant that he discovers on one of the dead merchants. Enter the dashing Esteban del Valle, a formidable swordmaster of Nubian origins. Esteban grieves his stolen inheritance and the death of his Catalan adopted father. He survives, mysteriously, through the influence of high ranking patricians. He never removes his mask and has sworn to reclaim his wealth. Noble Catarina Contarini has a sad tale to tell. Her husband's death weighs upon her and so too, do the scandalous accusations that have been raised against him. In her grief, she confides in Antonio and reveals her shocking secrets. But Catarina's darkest secret concerns a witch; a Napoletana named Magdalena. Antonio is drawn ever closer to the magnetic Magdalena. He unveils the truth behind the merchants' murders and comes face to face with a machination of monstrous evil. Through this fascinating Magdalena, an enchanter of admirals and merchants alike, Antonio begins to realize that his true quest is one he could never have imagined. Weaving historical mystery and the supernatural, The Mascherari evokes a Venice that will leave your breathless.

    When Anna takes a career break in Venice she is unprepared for the extraordinary pull of the city's past over the present. Nor does she envisage being befriended by art historian, Vittore Anzelieri, and his nephew, Raffi. As her involvement with this charismatic family deepens, she finds herself embroiled in unravelling the secrets of a Renaissance masterpiece, and also having to fight for all that she holds dear - just as Ginevra had to, 500 years before. Although living very different lives, the hopes and aspirations of these two women are surprisingly similar, as are the corrupt powers that threaten to snatch away their happiness in this beautiful, but most illusionary, of cities. Stealing Venice is a love story, an art mystery, a powerful evocation of the world's most iconic city, a study of grief and of having the courage to find and follow one's true vocation in life. A captivating tale of two cities - London and Venice; of art and history; of theft and food.

    The four generations of Di Palos who have run this Italian specialty market have made it their mission to bring customers the finest old-world selections from Italy—handcrafted mozzarella, buttery prosciutto, estate olive oils, traditional artisanal pastas from throughout the country. Now, in one colorful volume, Lou Di Palo, great-grandson of the founder and steward of the family legacy, shares the vibrant history of this storied establishment and a lifetime of wisdom about the cuisine beloved around the world.  Di Palo’s Guide to the Essential Foods of Italy takes you on a gourmet excursion through Italy’s twenty distinct regions, from Sicily to Umbria to Alto Adige. Each chapter highlights a specific food and its rich history, along with practical tips for selecting, storing, and serving it at home. Many include signature family recipes that have been handed down through the generations, including Grandma Mary’s Sicilian Caponata and Concetta Di Palo’s Meatballs, or recipes gathered from trips to Italy over the years, such as Trapani-Style Salted Sea Bass and Polenta con Formaggio Crucolo Fuso. Readers will discover, among many other things, the secret to a balsamic vinegar worthy of sharing only with one’s closest friends, the proper way to prepare the perfect espresso, and the importance of looking for the Denominazione d’Origine Protetta—or the Protected Designation of Origin seal—which certifies that your food is a traditional, regional product. Complete with dozens of mouthwatering photographs, engaging anecdotes, and candid stories, and featuring a foreword by Academy Award–winning director Martin Scorsese, this immersive volume is part family narrative, part culinary odyssey, and part cookbook. Di Palo’s Guide to the Essential Foods of Italy is your ticket to the best Italian foods—without having to wait in line!   Praise for Di Palo’s Guide to the Essential Foods of Italy  “Of all the stores in all the world, Di Palo’s is probably my favorite.”—Ruth Reichl   “Lou Di Palo is single-handedly preserving the history of Little Italy in New York City. Shopping at Di Palo’s is an authentic, personal experience. When you walk into the shop, you feel like you’re in the center of the universe. I’ve been waiting for Lou to write this book for years. He’s a good friend and an American treasure.”—Tyler Florence   “Di Palo’s has been one of the Seven Wonders of New York since 1925. This book is a beautiful story of their commitment to keeping Italian traditions, and shows the passion they’ve had for the artisanal best for almost one hundred years.”—Chef Daniel Boulud   “Lou Di Palo’s depth and breadth of knowledge of Italian foods extends from the Alpine hills to the Sicilian coastline and he manages to bring it all home to us in this wonderful book.”—Chef Michael Lomonaco   “I love this book because it explains to an American how to elevate and enjoy great Italian ingredients. The pride that comes from Lou and his family translates to the store and, now, to the pages of this book. I found myself hungry after reading it. You will too.”—Chef Alex Guarnaschelli

    Venetians are increasingly abandoning their hometown—there's now only one resident for every 140 visitors—and Venice's fragile fate has become emblematic of the future of historic cities everywhere as it capitulates to tourists and those who profit from them. In If Venice Dies, a fiery blend of history and cultural analysis, Settis argues that "hit-and-run" visitors are turning landmark urban settings into shopping malls and theme parks. This is a passionate plea to secure the soul of Venice, written with consummate authority, wide-ranging erudition and élan.Salvatore Settis is an archaeologist and art historian and former director of the Getty Research Institute of Los Angeles and the Scuola Normale Superiore of Pisa. He is chairman of the Louvre Museum's Scientific Council., Settis, often considered the conscience of Italy for his role in spotlighting its neglect of national heritage, is the author of several books on art history.

    Yet, even with this great mix, there was something else he offered--he was a great geologist. So now, he's going to be our guide to Italy, revealing many of the secrets this land has held for millennia. Many ancient scientists, historians and writers tried to understand this fascinating place, but whatever progress they made was eliminated either by time or by scientific positions which held that the ideas were folklore. Interestingly, it is now the advances in science and scientific testing instruments which are proving that which the ancients knew. You'll learn about: • radioactive waters that are good for our health, found on an island thought to have a fountain of youth • the secret of living in areas with positive and negative magnetic fields, and how they influence our health and well being • a visit to the real Underworld, with scorching steam and noxious vapors • how amber has healing properties to reduce body pain and cure throat ailments • mysterious roads carved 30 meters into volcanic rock which crisscross necropolises • ancient votive offerings in the form of body parts which can be found today as religious candles • sacred cave drip waters used by women to insure fertility and abundant breast milk • the stairway to Heaven as noted in the Bible and the Led Zeppelin song • unexplained "earthquake lights" that are thought to be UFOs • the ominous or auspicious meaning of thunder occurring on certain days • the oracles who forecasted the future while in a trance induced by inhaling gases emitted from the earth You'll see how the dramatic geological landscape of Italy has provided abundant Earthly inspiration for some of the greatest cultural, literary and artistic achievements of mankind.

    Martha soaks up the peace and tranquility of the beach and luxuriates in the beauty of the Ligurian coast. On the last night of their vacation, however, Martha has several disturbing dreams that leave her wondering why her past is suddenly invading her present. Puzzling over the dreams’ content, Martha fears they might also be premonitory. Fast-forward to almost a year later as Martha sits in her office, just days before she and Carl leave again for their annual trip. Disturbing news about one of Varigotti’s well-known residents reminds Martha of her frightening dreams and makes her wonder which of her other dreams might come true. Upon arriving in Varigotti, Martha runs into Bjorn, an old acquaintance with whom she’s had no contact—save his appearance in one of her troubling dreams. His presence leaves Martha wondering what her subconscious is trying to tell her about her life and the choices she has made. IL MOLO is essentially a story about relationships and how unexpected, sometimes tragic, events can alter these relationships forever.

    Will she find happiness in the Eternal City or are her dreams of happiness only an illusion?Book Synopsis:Laura longs for warmth and excitement in her marriage and her life. Her impulsive response to a job posting in Italy leads her to cook Jake’s favorite Italian dinner to persuade him to take the leap from the comfortable confines of Seattle to unknown Rome. But the move turns out to be anything but a holiday. Behind the fountains, trattorias, and facades of ancient buildings lurk scheming art dealers and a Machiavellian co-worker who impact Laura’s marriage in ways she never imagined.Will Laura find love among the ruins? Or will her dreams turn out to be illusions?

    Guido Ruggiero's work is based on archival research and new insights of social and cultural history and literary criticism, with a special emphasis on everyday culture, gender, violence and sexuality. The book offers a vibrant and relevant critical study of a period too long burdened by anachronistic and outdated ways of thinking about the past. Familiar, yet alien; pre-modern, but suggestively post-modern; attractive and troubling, this book returns the Italian Renaissance to center stage in our past and in our historical analysis.

    Fifteen-year-old Isabella longs to sing in Monteverdi’s Choir, but only boys (and castrati) can do that. Her singing teacher, Margherita, introduces her to a new wonder: opera! Then Isabella finds Margherita murdered. And now people keep trying to kill Margherita’s handsome rogue of a son, Rafaele.Was Margherita killed so someone could steal her saffron business?Or was it a disgruntled lover, as Margherita—unbeknownst to Isabella—was one of Venice’s wealthiest courtesans?Or will Isabella and Rafaele find the answer deep in Margherita's past, buried in the Jewish Ghetto?Isabella has to solve the mystery of the Saffron Crocus fast, before Rafaele hangs for a murder he didn’t commit, though she fears the truth will drive her and the man she loves irrevocably apart.

    This indispensable guide is guaranteed to save you twenty times the cost of the book plus make the most of your time. Hundreds of tips, including: Jet Lag no more. This really works! Preparing for the trip, from packing smart to which attractions need to be booked in advance and which are walk-up. Group package tour or devise your own plan? Pros and Cons to help you decide.Get a great price on airfare, improve your seat assignment after you buy the ticket, reduce hassle with the TSA, and tricks to making the flight more comfortable-yes, it can be done!Understanding Italian restaurants: why Americans think they give lousy service, and when you find out why, you'll wish we had the same high caliber staff in the US!How to sleep on the plane, use a bidet, wander care-free in Venice, and three things to leave in the hotel when city sightseeing.Time is your most precious resource. Find out the best way to wake up on time when far away from home.Why spend forty hours online weeding through confusing contradictions yet never finding the answers you need? This up-to-date guide doesn't recommend restaurants that are closed or state just-plain-wrong information about the attractions, which happens frequently in the big-name tourist books. You only get one first-trip-to-Italy, make it memorable for the right reasons!

    NASA is right now looking for the worlds Bruno predicted. But Bruno is downright funny in his play, as he is "dead serious" in the works for which he died. Here we're more likely to die--laughing. Bony thinks he's bedding his lover, but it's his wife. The scientist Bart spends every moment trying to make gold, until his ignored wife takes a lover. The teacher Manny reads his poems to his boys hoping to attract them as they attract him. How the boys defeat Manny is humorous. Several Naples street hooligans put on security jackets and steal from Manny and others. At least one character above is bisexual. Is this a contemporary play, or Candelaio from nearly 440 years ago? Bruno only wrote one play, the best first play ever written. Printed in Paris in 1582, the play waited four hundred years for the world to catch up to Bruno--not just in astronomy. Many know Giordano Bruno's martyrdom, but nobody thinks him outrageously funny, until they read this play, and this version. See 15 min of Bridewell Theatre performance, Youtube: “Candelaio Final Edit”

    His paintings ranged from decorative fresco schemes and portraits to allegorical, biblical, and historical subjects, produced for an aristocratic international audience. This definitive reappraisal of the artist also provides a fascinating account of painting and patronage in 16th-century Venice. Xavier F. Salomon traces Veronese’s career from its beginnings in Verona, where he developed an art shaped by the rediscovery of antiquity, to Venice, where he established a successful workshop. Salomon’s discussion of Veronese’s entire output, including his monumental banquet scenes, illuminates the original function of every work, many of them designed for specific locations. Generous illustrations, including numerous details, reveal the distinctive tactile qualities of Veronese’s technique and the beauty of his palette, whether rendering rich textiles, precious metals or female complexions.  This splendid book makes a significant contribution to scholarship in the field of 16th-century Venetian painting.

    Each novel in this wholly addictive, entirely magical series, set in Sicily and starring a detective unlike any other in crime fiction, blasts the brain like a shot of pure oxygen... transporting. Long live Camilleri, and long live Montalbano."--A.J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window Set on the Sicilian coast, a collection of eight short stories featuring the young Inspector MontalbanoIn 1980s Vigta, a restless Inspector Montalbano brings his brash yet clear-sighted investigative style to eight enthralling cases. Death at Sea finds the detective seeking to bring justice to crimes--from those involving jilted lovers and deadly family affairs to an encounter featuring the assassination attempt against the Pope to murders in unexpected places--always with the mafia not far behind. This collection is an essential addition to any Inspector Montalbano fan's bookshelf and an excellent way to introduce new readers to Andrea Camilleri's unforgettable slice of Sicily.

    Preying on the brilliant, voluptuous grad students of Rome’s universities, the Sculptor excises and molds their finest features for his personal gallery of adulation. The Sculptor, Italy’s most notorious serial killer since the Monster of Florence, has confounded Rome’s police force. Their slew of suspects is growing as fast as their list of victims. Mara Silvestri is a saucy female grad student seeking to shed her past. When she discovers that the Sculptor is stalking her in a twisted game of cat and mouse, she becomes wary of her relationships with fellow students, art professors, her business mentor, and Jesse, a sexy lothario and mysterious colleague. Barely thwarting the Sculptor’s attacks in Rome, Venice, Tuscany, and the Swiss Alps, Mara uncovers the family secrets in her past that draw him to her. Can Mara turn the tables on the Sculptor before he finally claims her as his prized masterpiece?

    With her mother working as an archaeologist halfway around the world, her sister away at college, and her father as her only friend, she keeps mostly to herself and her sketchbook.On the morning of her fifteenth birthday, Viola’s life changes forever when her father takes her to visit the mansion of a cryptic old woman she’s never met before. Viola walks down a dark corridor full of art in Long Island, New York, and ends up traveling over 500 years back in time to Florence, Italy.Armed with Idan, a mysterious pocket watch that offers guidance along her journey, Viola must navigate the perilous city to find a way home--before she falls victim to the threats of Lorenzo the Magnificent. She takes a job in an artist’s workshop, where she encounters incredible work by some of the most talented artists from the Renaissance. Along the way, the shy teenager befriends the infamous artist Leonardo da Vinci and gains the affections of the charming nobleman Giuliano de' Medici.Will Viola be able to overcome her fears and harness her artistic abilities to return home as the foreboding sound of Idan ticks in her ear? Lost in the City of Flowers brings a relatable contemporary protagonist into an intricately woven historical landscape to tell an enduring story about power, creativity, feuds, friendships, and a young woman finding her voice.

    However, they stick to the rules and soon realize the umbrella has magic powers: When two people share it, they fall in love! Travis in California, Ainsley in Edinburgh, Carlo in Florence, and Josie in Paris go through the most amazing year of their lives and meet up again a year later. Join the cousins during this tender, amusing, touching and romantic year, and you’ll finish their story with a happy feeling deep within. This is a sweet and clean, contemporary romantic comedy

    Our local experts vet every recommendation to ensure you make the most of your time, whether it’s your first trip or your fifth. MUST-SEE ATTRACTIONS from Positano to Sorrento PERFECT HOTELS for every budget BEST RESTAURANTS to satisfy a range of tastes GORGEOUS FEATURES on baroque art and Neapolitan cuisine VALUABLE TIPS on when to go and ways to save INSIDER PERSPECTIVE from local experts COLOR PHOTOS AND MAPS to inspire and guide your trip

    Its authors have won awards for their earlier treatment of Tuscany (in a smaller volume) and here devote their talents to the three broader areas that most visitors choose to visit. But in the Easy Guide tradition, they don't attempt to note hundreds of hotels, restaurants, museums and shops, but a smaller, more manageable number that they prefer. The reader benefits.

    Antonio Gramsci was one of the most important theorists of class, culture, and the state since Karl Marx. His influence has penetrated beyond the left and his stature has so increased that every serious student of Marxism, political theory or modern Italian history must now read him.

    The Sistine Chapel is the irresistible attraction, the object of desire of international museum-goers. The Sistine Chapel, however, though part of a museum visit, is not a museum itself. As a consecrated chapel it defines a unique religious space. Moreover the Chapel truly defines the identity of the Roman Catholic Church. "Thus writes Antonio Paolucci, Art Historian and Director of the Vatican Museums, in the opening lines of his book. This book is an essential tool in helping visitors to understand the reasons which, between the fifteenth and the sixteenth century, led to the creation of the Sistine Chapel, "the greatest representation of human art and spirituality."It aspires to enable visitors to understand the extraordinary theological design which governs the space, as well as helping them to appreciate the different styles and artists (Michelangelo, Botticelli, Perugino, Ghirlandaio and Signorelli) who gave form to the message.

    Here Europe, Asia and Africa met, with magical results. Bilingualism was the norm, women's rights were defended, and the environment was protected. Literacy among Sicilians soared; it was higher during this ephemeral golden age than it was seven centuries later.But this book is about more than Sicily. It is a singular, enduring lesson in the way multicultural diversity can be encouraged, with the result being a prosperous society. While its focus is the civilizations that flourished during the island's multicultural medieval period from 1060 to 1260, most of Sicily's complex history to the end of the Middle Ages is outlined. Idrisi is mentioned, but so is Archimedes.Introductory background chapters begin in the Neolithic, continuing to the history of the contested island under Punics and Greeks. Every civilization that populated the island is covered, including Romans, Goths, Vandals, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Germans, Angevins, Aragonese and Jews, with profiles of important historical figures and sites. Religion, law, geography and cuisine are also considered.The authors' narrative is interesting but never pedantic, intended for the general reader rather than the expert in anthropology, theology, art or architecture. They are not obsessed with arcane terminology, and they don't advocate a specific agenda or world view. Here two erudite scholars take their case to the people.Yes, this book actually sets forth the entirety of ancient and medieval Sicilian history from the earliest times until around 1500, and it presents a few nuggets of the authors' groundbreaking research in medieval manuscripts. Unlike most authors who write in English about Sicily, perhaps visiting the island for brief research trips, these two are actually based in Sicily, where their work appears on a popular website. Sicily aficionados will be familiar with their writings, which have been read by some ten million during the last five years, far eclipsing the readership of any other historians who write about Sicily. Alio and Mendola are the undisputed, international "rock stars" of Sicilian historical writing, with their own devoted fan base. Every minute of the day somebody is reading their online articles.This is a great book for anybody who is meeting Sicily for the first time, the most significant 'general' history of the island published in fifty years and certainly one of the most eloquent. It has a detailed chronology, a useful reading list, and a brief guide suggesting places to visit. The book's structure facilitates its use as a ready reference. It would have run to around 600 pages, instead of 368 (on archival-quality, acid-free paper), were it not for the slightly smaller print of the appendices, where the chronology, the longest Sicilian timeline ever published, is 20 pages long.Unlike most histories of Sicily, the approach to this one is multifaceted and multidisciplinary. In what may be a milestone in Sicilian historiography, a section dedicated to population genetics explains how Sicily's historic diversity is reflected in its plethora of haplogroups.Here medieval Sicily is viewed as an example of a tolerant, multicultural society and perhaps even a model. It is an unusually inspiring message. One reader was moved to tears as she read the preface.Can a book change our view of cultures and perhaps even the way we look at history? This one just might.Meet the peoples!

    As head chef at the iconic River Cafe he won a michelin star for his Italian menus and his restaurant Theo Randall at the InterContinental is consistently voted on of the best Italians in the UK. In his new book, Theo wants to show you how to make his favourite Italian dishes at home - the food he cooks and eats when he's not working at his restaurant. Theo focuses on what he loves best - a few top quality ingredients making perfectly balanced flavour combination - and offers over 100 recipes with simple methods that work in a home kitchen. For Theo, food is a pleasure to be shared with friends and family and cooking should be relaxing, enjoyable. With this in mind, Theo's recipes take from just 15 minutes to make from scratch so you can pick a dish depending on the time you have, then spend more time eating, enjoying and sharing the food you've prepared. Chapters are split by meal times with an emphasis on simplicity, with big and small sharing plates and lots of one-pots on offer. There are speedy starters, mains and puddings but Theo shows you how to make Italian staples from scratch too. So, when you do have time and want to make your own pastry or bake your own pizza, you have the best recipes to hand. Fresh and innovative, Theo's approach means you can relax at mealtimes while enjoying delicious food every day of the week.

    After forty years Edmondo De Amicis returns to Sicily for a grand tour of the island. Keen observer of both places and people, De Amicis gives us flowing accounts of its landscapes, history, and people. At each point in the journey, Messina, Palermo, the interior, the coastlines, Catania, Syracuse, and Taormina, he combines social and historical information with just enough detail to make you feel as though you are his traveling companion. Filled with rich metaphors, you will smell the fresh Sicilian air, feel the Sicilian sun on your face, and hear the Sicilian chatter on the busy streets. Step back in time and tour the island as it was in 1908 with a master narrator as your guide.

    For the glassmakers of Murano are forbidden to ever leave the islands of the Venetian lagoon. When Chiara's uncle is caught on the mainland and thrown into the dungeon of the Doge's Palace, she must use all her talents, including magic, to help free him. But the gift she creates for the prince of Venice has unintended consequences, and now Chiara must decide whether to give up everything — and everyone — she knows and loves in order to save her dream. Set in an alternate historical Venice with alchemists, witches and magic, the story uses familiar motifs from the beloved fairy tale "Cinderella" to tell a tale with a very different message. Island of Glass is the first book in The Glassmakers Trilogy.

    Hop aboard with Stephani Chance and her Sicilian papa Tony Filaci for the most magical and fairytale adventures of your life as they take you to Italy and beyond. After fourteen-plus years of taking groups of Americans to Italy twice a year, Stephani finally shares some of the "true stories" of what the Americans experience on her Italy tours. These true and unbelievable adventures will take you on a ride like no other. You will be speechless as she takes you to hidden jewels inside the remote parts of Sicily and, while holding on tightly, you zigzag to amazing places all over Italy. You will eat with family and friends for the Last Harvest of the Grapes and dine with a genuine count in the rolling hills of Tuscany. You will laugh until you cannot anymore, and then you will stand in awe when she takes you inside places that existed before Christ; such as Little Jerusalem, located in a remote area of Italy. Come on--hop aboard with Stephani, ride with the Americans off the tourist paths, and stay in fairytale places that will remind you of stories such as Jack in the Bean Stalk. Hang on to your seat as you explode with every imaginable emotion that will surely ricochet from hilarious laughter to spellbound tears.While you're still begging for more, Stephani will take you behind the "pine curtain" of East Texas, and reveal an intimate look at how the flip of a magazine page moved her out of the legal world into this life of travel and adventure.

    It's about changing the habit and quiet addiction to salt, but still eating the food you love...like Italian; where the food is full of intensity, as if the land, sun, sea and history are intrinsic ingredients.Discover how easy and fast it is to cook delicious LOW SALT recipes in your home kitchen. Authentic Mozzarella, Ricotta, Mascarpone, Chicken stock, Vegetable stock, Basil pesto, Sumo di pomodoro, Caramelised onion balsamic jam, Tomato brochette, Crostini di pepperoni, Stuffed mushrooms, Purea di fave, Mescciua, Ribolita, Tuscan bean and barley soup, Minestrone soup, Spaghetti Bolognese, Bolognese ragu, Cannelloni Ricotta spinach, Linguine al pomodoro, Pasta e fagioli, Potato gnocchi with sage butter, Pumpkin gnocchi, Gnocchi ragu of mushrooms, Penne alla arrabbiata, Spagetti alla aglio, Spagetti carbonara, Spagetti with squid, Pasta al pesto, Calamari fritti, Grilled squid with cannelli beans, Salmon and orange salad, Tonno alla Palermitana, Breaded ocean fish, Insalata Fruitta di mare, Scabeggio, Salmon fettuccine, Osso Buco, Agnello alla gringlia, Medaglioni di maiale, Roast pork with fig sauce, No salt pork and beef sausages, No salt classic Italian sausages, Arrosto di maiale al limone, Pork with prunes, De Sarno's lasagne, Classic Italian lasagne, Ragu Napolentano, Bistecca Florentina, Chicken with herb sauce, Fettuccine with chicken, Pollo alls cacciatora, Pollo alls bruno, Barbecued chicken legs, Italian lemon herb chicken, Fennel and orange salad, Insalata Caprese, Condigiun, Pepperonata, Caponata Ricotta spinach lasagne, Insalata di Broccolini, Roasted vegetable lasagne, Roast pumpkin and spinach lasagne. Rosemary focaccia and 15 authentic pizzas. DELICIOUS DESSERTS: Sopranos tiramisu, Pistachio biscotti, Anise and orange biscotti, Zabaglione, Amaretto stuffed peaches, Italian lemon ice, Vanilla bean panna cotta, Sicilian ricotta cassata cake, Fresh summer fruitcake, Strawberry mousse, Balsamic strawberries, Ricotta with honey."Every life-changing event happens for a reason. If "Meniere Man In The Kitchen" finds you on the same Meniere's journey, there are two essential ingredients I'd like to add here. HOPE and my heartfelt and sincere BEST WISHES for a full recovery very soon. If I can do it, then so will you." M.M "This copyright holder prohibits the use and distribution of their content from unauthorized sources. Support them by purchasing or accessing from authorized sources only. www.dmcaforce.com is the authorized DMCA Agent for this copyright holder." Related tags: Low-Salt Cookbook, low-sodium diet, Low Salt, Health, low salt recipes, low salt cooking, low salt foods, low sodium, low sodium diet, health, recipes, cook, Italian Food, Mediterranean, Italian Cooking, Italian Recipes.

    Written in a deliciously irreverent tone, The Princess Guide To Rome (2014) covers all the fabulous stuff that’s so often missing from other travel guide books on Rome and Italy.The first half is all the practical advice that a woman needs to plan a dream vacation to the Eternal City:recommendations on where to stay, including the pros and cons of each neighbourhood in Rome; an extensive guide to the most magnificent Renaissance palaces and villas; a tour of Bernini’s Baroque fountains of Rome, including the Trevi Fountain, the Triton, and the Fountain of the Four Rivers; the loveliest Renaissance-style parks and gardens; the best art museums; favorite cafés for people-watching and lingering over a cappuccino; modern and vintage Italian fashion boutiques; the best espresso and gelato stops; small classes in authentic Italian cooking and wine tasting in the Rome, Lazio region; gourmet food shops for picnic supplies; day spas and salons; antique shopping and specialty artisan shops for unique made-in-Italy souvenirs; the prettiest rooftop terrace bars and restaurants with a view of Rome; exploring Rome by night; private tours by Vespa, à la Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday. PLUS: where to find custom-made shoes, leather jackets, wallets, etc; how to get the most out of your budget; how to keep your bag safe; how to order a coffee in Rome like a local; a list of recommended private walking tour guides. The second half is filled with the stories behind the works of art. So often a foreign visitor cannot appreciate what’s right beneath her nose, and is left wondering what all the fuss is about. This section helps you to understand the symbolism and significance of what you’re looking at, along with the drama and occasional intrigue involved. Many of the stories reference the great Renaissance and Baroque artists—Michelangelo, Raphael, Pietro da Cortona, Bernini, Borromini, Maderno, Sangallo, Della Porta—and the Roman families who were their patrons.You get: the inside scoop on the principal families that built the city during the Renaissance and Baroque; brief bios and backstories of their most famous (and infamous) members; a review of their Roman properties; a handy guide to each family’s coat of arms to help you identify their churches, fountains and palazzos as you stroll around the city; Recommended Extras: lists of the best Music, Movies, Apps, and Books on Rome to feed your dream before your trip, and sustain you when you come home.Written for the modern independent woman traveler who secretly harbours a princess fantasy (or two), with a special section for those on a shoestring budget, this book will save you time, money, and many headaches. Sure to motivate you (or a friend) to pack your bags and head straight to Italy.The Princess Guide To Rome (2014) focuses on the beauty of Rome’s Renaissance and Baroque palaces, art, fountains and gardens, versus the ruins of Ancient Rome and the Vatican, which are amply covered by free online sources and general guidebooks such as the Rick Steves’ Rome and Italy series, Lonely Planet, Rough Guide, etc.Whether this is your first visit to the Eternal City, or you’re a confirmed Roma-holic, you are sure to find something new (or very old) to delight your senses.“Solid logistical advice to minimize stress and delays, plus juicy storiesabout what you’re seeing to make the experience much more meaningful.”

    She might have managed to put him behind bars, but Verbovszky hasn’t forgotten her: after he escapes from jail, he heads out to get his revenge. Meanwhile, Niki is hot on a new trail, investigating a story in Naples about dogs smuggled out of Hungary, for possibly something other than their pedigree. Niki takes along her mother, who reunites with an old flame from her youth, Alessandro. The unfinished business between Niki’s mother and the former tailor – who has since become a successful name of Italian Haute Couture – sparks more than just a yearning for the past. Alessandro’s son, Giacomo, also feels increasingly attached to Niki, but the criminal on her trail and Niki’s complicated love affair with Andras, a detective back in Budapest, combined with the intricacies of her grandmother’s dangerous new job, all come together, causing a twist in Niki’s vacation in Naples… perhaps changing the lives of two families forever. Is it possible to rekindle a relationship after thirty years? Can love be passed down from mother to daughter? Can a son make a decision for his father when a business and a family are at stake? Can a detective still insist on doing the right thing if his actions endanger himself and the people he loves? Love and career, revenge and forgiveness, tradition and renewal; three generations, two families, a decision for life: all this in Eva Fejos’s best novel yet. Come along on her Vacation in Naples.

    For many, Gramsci's philosophical reflections in prison offered a new foundation for the philosophy of the future. His reflections on the philosophy of praxis and absolute historicism find echoes in much of what today is considered to be a materialist philosophy. That form of materialism was unable to provide a sound foundation for a progressive social project, the possibility of a meaningful and creative ethical life, and the forms of activity or praxis that would be conducive to creating good society.In this book, Esteve Morera connects Marxist philosophy to the broader philosophical discussion of materialism in metaphysics, the philosophy science, philosophy of mind, and naturalised ethics. Each chapter deals with a particular aspect related to materialism and its consequences, the sorts of things that, if materialism is true, need to be confronted. Morera critiques, and rejects Gramsci's conception of matter and materialism and concludes that that philosophical materialism is compatible with freedom, and as a consequence, offers a good foundation for ethical life.Gramsci, Materialism, and Philosophy is an original contribution to the philosophically vital debates around the meaning, limitations, implications, and possibilities of philosophical materialism as it is a contribution to the critical literature on Gramsci.

    Mellyn reconstructs the myriad ways families, communities, and civic and medical authorities met in the dynamic arena of Tuscan law courts to forge pragmatic solutions to the problems that madness brought to their households and streets. In some of these cases, solutions were protective and palliative; in others, they were predatory or abusive. The goals of families were sometimes at odds with those of the courts, but for the most part families and judges worked together to order households and communities in ways that served public and private interests.For most of the period Mellyn examines, Tuscan communities had no institutions devoted solely to the treatment and protection of the mentally disturbed; responsibility for their long-term care fell to the family. By the end of the seventeenth century, Tuscans, like other Europeans, had come to explain madness in medical terms and the mentally disordered were beginning to move from households to hospitals. In Mad Tuscans and Their Families, Mellyn argues against the commonly held belief that these changes chart the rise of mechanisms of social control by emerging absolutist states. Rather, the story of mental illness is one of false starts, expedients, compromise, and consensus created by a wide range of historical actors.

    Focusing in particular on the writings which either refer to or quote canonical authors directly, Milnor uncovers the influence--in diction, style, or structure--of elite Latin literature as the Pompeian graffiti show significant connections with familiar authors such as Ovid, Propertius, and Virgil.While previous scholarship has described these fragments as popular distortions of well-known texts, Milnor argues that they are important cultural products in their own right, since they are able to give us insight into how ordinary Romans responded to and sometimes rewrote works of canonicalliterature. Additionally, since graffiti are at once textual and material artefacts, they give us the opportunity to see how such writings gave meaning to, and were given meaning by, the ancient urban environment.Ultimately, the volume looks in detail at the role and nature of popular literature in the early Roman Empire and the place of poetry in the Pompeian cityscape.

    Monuments Man John Skilton arrives in the bombed-out city of Würzburg with orders—and a personal mission—to rescue art from the ravages of war. Among the ruins, he discovers a series of magnificent frescoes that have miraculously survived the devastation. But who painted them? More importantly, how will Skilton save them from total destruction?The answers will bring him face to face with the Tiepolos: Giambattista, the Venetian painter whose vibrant, witty style catapulted him to fame in the 18th century and made him the most successful painter if his day. And Cecilia, his beautiful, cunning wife, mother to their tribe of talented children and the model for the lush, leonine beauties that appear everywhere in her husband’s works.Set largely against the background of the Venetian Republic in its final flowering, The Merchants of Light tells the true story of a family that lives, loves and dies by painting. In a narrative underpinned with painstaking research, a cast of historical characters including Casanova, Counsel Joseph Smith and Enlightenment thinker Francesco Algarotti lend their voices to a tale that spans three centuries and reveals the human passion and hard-nosed business dealing that lie just beneath the surface of some of the world’s most heavenly works of art.With enduring resonance for our own times, The Merchants of Light is also the story of Skilton, the modest curator-turned-soldier whose struggle to save Tiepolo’s masterpiece is itself an act of creativity, one that turns him into a new kind of hero for our times.

    In 1581 the then Pontiff, Pope Gregory XIII, commissioned the famous cosmographer, geographer and mathematician of the time, Ignazio Danti, to manage the ambitious project of depicting the entire Italian peninsula along the gallery walls. The friar was joined in the Capital by a well-known group of artists, such as the brothers Matteo and Paolo Bril, Girolamo Muziano and Cesare Nebbia. They decorated the walls with forty maps depicting the Italian regions and islands including perspective views of its most prominent port cities (Genoa, Venice, Civitavecchia and Ancona) as well as two fundamental episodes from the history of Christianity: the Siege of Malta by the Turks, and the Battle of Lepanto with the defeat of the Turkish navy.History seems to seep into the geography through the depiction of famous episodes from the past. Thus Italy is depicted from north to south, from Liguria to Calabria, from the Duchy of Milan to Puglia, with its mountains, valleys, forests and lakes, as well as through the events that brought about its identity and glory. Through an extremely vivid and detailed depiction, Julius Caesar is seen crossing the Rubicon River near Rome whilst Hannibal defeats the Roman troops at Lake Trasimeno.The same team of artists, who worked on the series of geographic maps, also received the challenge of painting the vault, on which the lives and miracles of the patron saints of each region are illustrated: from Ambrose to Januarius, from Agatha to Francis of Paola. The Gallery presents the visitor with an already modern idea of Italy, a country bound together not by politics, but by history, culture and religion.

    Dan Brown masterfully takes his characters on a journey through Florence, Venice and Istanbul as they try to find the lethal virus that threatens to eradicate at least half of mankind. As they put the pieces together using Dante's fourteenth century collection of poems called The Divine Comedy and an eerie video left by the virus' creator Bertrand Zorbist, stark realities are brought to light and nothing is as it appears to be.This book is worth a 3.5 star rating. The plot is intriguing but sometimes a bit ridiculous and the book's most compelling feature is really its vivid descriptions of the issue of overpopulation. With fewer descriptions and historical facts, this book could be an even better read and worth a 5 star rating. Scroll up and grab your copy today

    In 66 BCE, after decades of inconclusive struggle, the tribune Manilius proposed a bill that would give supreme command in the war against Mithridates to Pompey the Great, who had just swept the Mediterranean clean of another menace: the pirates. While powerful aristocrats objected to the proposal, which would endow Pompey with unprecedented powers, the bill proved hugely popular among the people, and one of the praetors, Marcus Tullius Cicero, also hastened to lend it his support. In his first-ever political speech, variously entitled pro lege Manilia or de imperio Gnaei Pompei, Cicero argues that the war against Mithridates requires the appointment of a perfect general and that the only one to live up to such lofty standards is Pompey. In the section under consideration here, Cicero defines the most important hallmarks of the ideal military commander and tries to demonstrate that Pompey is his living embodiment. This course book offers a portion of the original Latin text, study aids with vocabulary, and a commentary. Designed to stretch and stimulate readers, the incisive commentary will be of particular interest to students of Latin at both AS and undergraduate level. It extends beyond detailed linguistic analysis and historical background to encourage critical engagement with Cicero's prose and discussion of the most recent scholarly thought.

    A bounty prized by invaders from the Greeks, Romans, and Vandals to the Byzantines, Arabs, and Normans, Sicily’s violently beautiful landscapes are haunted by a vibrant mix of cultures, and her soil has always been fertile ground for the literary and artistic imagination. This compelling guide uncovers the island’s multifaceted personality through the experiences of those literary figures who have managed to get under her skin, including Pindar, Cicero, Aeschylus, Shakespeare, Cervantes, DH Lawrence, Coleridge, Oscar Wilde, Truman Capote, Tennessee Williams, Ezra Pound, and Lawrence Durrell; as well as local writers who have defined the modern Italian novel, including Giuseppe di Lampedusa and Leonardo Sciascia. Through their words and lives we witness the beauty, pain, and power of the Sicilian cultural landscape and discover how the potent mix of influences on the island’s society have been preserved forever in literature.

    It depicts most of the inhabited world as it was known to the ancients, from Britain's southern coastline to the farthest reaches of Alexander's conquests in India, showing rivers, lakes, islands, and mountains while also naming regions and the peoples who once claimed the landscape. Onto this panorama, the mapmaker has plotted the ancient Roman road network, with hundreds of images along the route and distances marked from point to point. This book challenges the artifact's self-presentation as a Roman map by examining its medieval contexts of crusade, imperial ambitions, and competition between the German-Roman Empire and the papacy.