The Italians
By: John Hooper
Published: 2015
Language: eng
Number of pages: 316
ISBN-13: 9780525428077
Subjects: Social conditions; Ethnic identity; Civilization; Italians
Description: How can a nation that spawned the Renaissance have produced the Mafia? How could people concerned with bella figura (keeping up appearances) have elected Silvio Berlusconi as their leader, not once, but three times? Sublime and maddening, fascinating yet baffling, Italy is a country of seemingly unsolvable riddles. John Hooper's entertaining and perceptive new book is the ideal companion for anyone seeking to understand contemporary Italy and the unique character of the Italians. Digging deep into their history, culture, and religion, Hooper offers keys to understanding everything from their bewildering politics to their love of life and beauty. Looking at the facts that lie behind the stereotypes, he sheds new light on many aspects of Italian life-- football and Freemasonry, sex, symbolism, and the reason why Italian has twelve words for a coat hanger, yet none for a hangover. Even readers who think they know Italy well will be surprised, challenged, and delighted by The Italians.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: The beautiful country; title: A violent past; title: Echoes and reverberations; title: A hall of mirrors; title: Fantasia; title: Face values; title: Life as art; title: Gnocchi on Thursdays; title: Holy orders; title: Le Italiane attitudes change; title: Lovers and sons; title: Family matters; title: People who don't dance; title: Taking sides; title: Restrictive practices; title: Of Mafias and Mafiosi; title: Temptation and tangenti; title: Pardon and justice; title: Questions of identity.