An Italian Journey: A Harvest of Revelations in the Olive Groves of Tuscany

by James Ernest Shaw, Jonathan Edward Shaw (Illustrator)

"I have read a lot of books about Italy. "An Italian Journey" is by far my favorite. He's written a beautiful story of heart and soul." ~ Sherry Gentry

"If you're planning a trip to Italy, read this so you don't miss out on the Italy that tours never visit. If you're staying at home, just sit back and enjoy the ride. Preferably with a nice Tuscan wine at your side." ~ Dianne Hales, author of LA BELLA LINGUA

"Many of us would love to live this book. James Shaw has done it for us and allowed us to come along. I like it all, an adventurous journey with a compassionate author. Well Done, Well Done." ~ Roscaloni

An adventure of the heart in the mold of literature's classic spiritual journeys. It began with a girl. Then it was Italian food. After that it was books and discovering that even Mark Twain had fallen for Italy. E.M. Forster was smitten. Love and understand the Italians, for the people are more marvelous than the land. What is it about Italy and Italians? Italian movies immortalize the mystique. Fellini called it La Dolce Vita. Tornatore's Cinema Paradiso took James Shaw back to the sweet memories of his childhood and the Italian family who operated the hometown theater. And just like in the movie, young James had an Alfredo who, by example, taught him about serving people. James learned that Italians don't feel they're special. Luigi Barzini, author of The Italians, repeatedly asked, Why are we the way we are? and found no conclusive answer. But James was convinced there was a reason why the Renaissance was born in Tuscany and Italy has given the world Saint Francis, Michelangelo, da Vinci, Galileo and now Benigni, whose film Life Is Beautiful, showed the world that the Italian zest for living can even make a heaven of a hell. And so, after a lifetime of thinking about Italy James became convinced that the way to find out why Italians are the way they are, would be to eat with them at their kitchen tables. Day after day he picked their olives and the Italians began treating him like family. And James began seeing their unique human quality that attracts people to Italy and keeps pulling them back again and again. But the story doesn't end in the olive groves of Tuscany. To discover the heart of Italian life, James had to travel back to World War II Italy. An Italian Journey will inspire you to follow your passions, your enthusiasms, to your own Beautiful Discoveries. Bella Scoperta!

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Memoir, Italy

246 pages, Paperback

First published December 12, 2011

About the author

James discovered at a very young age he had a fondness for travel, for bicycles, for meeting people, and for Italy and Italians. Born of those passions was his first book, An Italian Journey: A Harvest of Revelations in the Olive Groves of Tuscany, an adventure of the heart in the mold of literature's classic spiritual journeys.

He shares his love of Italy and photography on his Italian Journeys Facebook page with his readers and followers.

An Italian Love Story: Surprise and Joy on the Amalfi Coast is the continuing story of his love affair with Italy.

Reviews

[Hal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Anyone who has lived in Italy as I did or who has even vacationed there, I believe, would agree that Italy and Italians are among the friendliest on the planet. This book concerns an American man of late middle age who wanted to experience the life of an Italian and feel that loved. He bicycled across Tuscany working for his keep on seven farms by picking olives. He experienced what he was seeking. And I was enjoying it thoroughly.

I was prepared to give the book five stars. But then I got to the 60% mark and everything changed.

He got completely lost and took me with him. He departed from his original purpose and got bogged down into a discussion of organic vs. "chemical" farming, reason vs faith, religion vs. Christianity, the rightness of the Catholic view of divorce, art and a myriad other things. Any one of those could be an interesting subject by itself, but it didn't meld with the book. Rather it became a series of screeds.

At the 85% mark I'd had enough and quit.

[Mimi V · Rating 1 out of 5]

i might have been able to finish this book if there weren't repeated references to god. really? god helped you change your bike tire? i'm sure s/he has better things to do.

[Grandin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Irving Stone described Tuscany as “a state of grace,” and anyone who has spent time there can easily forgive his overly sacramental language. Tuscany, and Italy in general, have long been mystical magnets, drawing sun-starved northerners. Northern European and Anglo-Saxon writers—in a line from Goethe through E. M. Forster down to Frances Mayes—have attempted to give voice to the almost sacred impression this piece of earth makes upon the outsider. The latest enthusiast to join their ranks is documentary filmmaker James Shaw in his book An Italian Journey: A Harvest of Revelations in the Olive Groves of Tuscany.

I originally downloaded this delightful book as a Kindle freebie. My wife and I love Italy, and I was anticipating something along the lines of Frances Mayes’ Under the Tuscan Sun. In fact, I ended up enjoying An Italian Journey more. Mayes’ book is really a romanticized ode to a bygone era. Readers often forget that she bought her villa long before she wrote the book, back when property in Italy was much more affordable than it is now, and she had substantial funds to invest in the venture. Shaw’s narrative conjures up the same sense of beauty and wistfulness but without the bitter aftertaste of regret (“That was then, but it could never happen now.”) or envy (“It must be nice to have enough money to buy your dream.”). Instead of a memoir recounting a small fortune sunk into the purchase and renovation of a Tuscan villa, Shaw’s travelogue relates how, during the harvest season of 2009, he traveled through Tuscany as a participant with World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (www.wwoof.org). While many outsiders come to Italy for the light, the cuisine and the land, Shaw already knew that the most precious of Italy’s resources is the people. He hoped that by being willing to pick their grapes and their olives, by being eager to work alongside them, the Italians would invite him to sit with them at their tables and share not only their food and their wine, but their lives. Ultimately he wanted to learn the secret of what makes Italians “more marvelous than the land”, as E. M. Forster put it. To that end he biked from one farm to another, finally achieving his goal. Unlike buying a Tuscan villa, this is an opportunity available to anyone who can afford the plane ticket and the time.

I started reading the book to enjoy the travelogue, Shaw’s adventures in a wonderful part of the world, but I soon realized the book is more than that. As the subtitle states: it is a harvest of revelations. Before long his views on agriculture began to drift in, which hooked this former country boy even more. The book began to address something in my soul that longs for a deeper connection with the earth. I found myself in complete agreement with him about farm subsidies (or any subsidies, really), the unintended negative consequences of technology and mechanization, and the collusion of government and agribusiness.

The next shift comes at the mid-point of the book, when Shaw begins incorporating his faith into the narrative. I had been wondering, as he expounded on his agricultural views, if there was not maybe a spiritual foundation underlying his attitude of stewardship, but he only very gradually reveals the extent of his faith connection. The last quarter to third of the book is mainly a frank examination of what Shaw’s experiences in Tuscany mean for his Christian faith. As Shaw goes about the process of slowly drawing the curtain back on his faith, I wondered if it was Protestant or Catholic, but decided it must be the former, based on his encounters with churches, priests and monks. I found myself commenting throughout the book "How can he appreciate the religious art that decorates this church but not see the faith tradition that inspired it or to which it witnesses?"

As a convert to Catholicism I kept asking myself at what point Shaw was going to figure out that the answer to his big question (What makes the Italians such a uniquely wonderful people?) is to be found in Italy's Catholic history and identity. Thankfully by the end he does. Many people completely miss it, usually out of prejudice. I was afraid at times that Shaw was going to miss it too, and for the same reason. He seems at times to be unduly harsh with John Paul II and with some Church teachings. I found myself most at odds with him in the last chapters as he makes connections about faith and science (it seemed to me he tries to keep them unnecessarily mutually exclusive); and when he ventures into theology, I commented that he might be better off sticking to anthropology. I felt at first that it was unfortunate he hadn't put as much effort into understanding Catholicism and its history as he had into understanding Italians and their history. However, by the end I realized this was part of his design. Shaw allows us to experience the journey along with him as fellow travelers: not only the journey through Tuscany but also the journey of faith. Each step along the way, each epiphany he has, must be appreciated as his understanding at that given point in time, rather than an interpretive retrospective. I find this a very interesting and effective technique. His spiritual journey—like the physical one— has to start somewhere and go through certain stages and leave him with certain impressions as he gathers information and tries to synthesize it. He obviously didn't have as complete an understanding of Italians before he began preparing for his trip as he does now. I'm sure he’s got a much better understanding of the Church and her history now than when he wrote the book. The fact that Shaw is open to Catholicism being the goal of his quest and is willing to give it serious consideration rather than dismissing it out of hand further attests to his worthiness as a traveler.

Not surprisingly, it’s the spiritual aspect of the book that has generated most of the negativity in the reviews. I find this unfortunate and question whether the negative reviews betray an anti-Christian or anti-Catholic bias. I ask myself if reviewers would level the same criticism at a similar travelogue that took as its subject a Muslim country and came to the conclusion that Islamic tradition is the source of the positive qualities in the people. Are the reviewers who criticize the Catholic dimension of Shaw’s book the same reviewers who praise the New Age dimension of Eat, Pray, Love? An Italian Journey is a true travelogue, detailing not simply Shaw’s geographical journey, but his spiritual journey as well. We have to not only allow for this and accept it; we need to celebrate it, for if the experience of being “stranger” and “other” does not lead to these deeper questions, then the trip was a waste. Moreover, if we acknowledge Shaw’s right to have this experience but insist he censor himself out deference to the naked public square, then we ourselves are the victims, deprived by our own prejudices of the opportunity to turn inward along with Shaw and reflect.

On the whole I found An Italian Journey to be a wonderful tale of journey, exploration and discovery on many levels. It’s well-researched, well-written and well-executed. I’m not just inspired to experience more of Italy. I'm inspired to ride my bike more. I'm inspired to visit my local farmers market more often. I’m inspired to simplify. Mayes doesn’t do that. She may inspire a Tuscan meal and elicit a longing that borders on envy, but Shaw inspires you to follow your dreams (whatever they are) and to become a more complete person in the process.

[Diane Lybbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Memoir of Shaw, in his 60's, who decides to go to Italy and bicycle from Tuscan farm to Tuscan farm to help bring in the grape and olive harvest. His goal is to sit at the tables of these Italian farmers, learn their language, their way of life, and what makes them the special people they are. I loved this book! It made me want to get on a plane and fly off to Tuscany immediately (but NOT to bicycle from place to place!). Part travelogue, part memoir, part cultural study, just a wonderful book!
**FOR THOSE WHO OBJECTED TO THE "GOD STUFF" - if you only read books about things you like, holding views you hold, etc., you would have a rather short reading list and would miss opportunities to expand your understanding. I have read many books that contained language or violence or such that I don't personally practice, but that didn't keep me from enjoying (and even recommending) the books. Lighten up!**

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the travelogue aspects of the book, the people he met, places he biked, etc. But the preachy parts of the book got to be a bit much, especially as I hold different political and religious views from the author. I wound up skimming through most of these sections and finished wishing he'd spent more time on the relationships he'd developed.

[Francine Apollo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars for: being about Italy (from a slightly different point of view), mentioning Wendell Berry several times and for the reflections on farming both in Italy and America. Students of agriculture should really read this story.

The author spent 7 weeks working on Italian farms in the agritourisimo program. He certainly brought a different point of view (than we usually get) to this travel tale. Also, because he is not a young man, we get a little philosophy along with farming reflections (never a bad thing). The descriptions of Shaw making his way with a bicycle was inspiring (though I'll never do it). The drawings in this book are charming.

This was a heart-warming read (though it had some rough patches that I had to re-read).

Recommended--highly, if you like to read about Italy.

[Heidi Matherne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The kind of stories I look for are the stories that move me to action. They inspire me to learn more about a particular subject or group of people. The reading experience not to be solely for entertainment purposes. The adventure of Shaw did this for me. I found myself wanting to bike through the Italian countryside along with him. I even looked into WWOOF France. France to me is Shaw's Italy. Most of us have some connection with a particular foreign place. France is that place for me.

His writing style was easy and overall I really enjoyed reading his story.

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half of An Italian Journey held my attention as the author, James Ernest Shaw, bicycled around Tuscany for 7 weeks, working as a volunteer farm worker, assisting with the olive harvest. His purpose was, as I saw it, to discover the soul of Italy. What makes Italians welcoming and generous is his question.
His experiences with the farmers and living on the farms were a spectrum of life in rural Italy. Some of farms and farmers were quite traditional, picking olives and pruning by hand and some had adopted mechanized harvesting.
But, somewhere in the middle, the book took an unexpected turn, I lost interest, and ultimately hurried through the remainder, if only to see where this might lead.
Shaw is a proponent of organic farming, an idea I can be sympathetic with, and with the 'slow food' movement, cooking with natural ingredients. Along with many of his Italian hosts, he is strongly opposed to large, agri-business practice. They are concerned about the stresses on society when people can no longer operate profitable farms without subsidies and on our food supply when food production becomes factory production.
He really lost me when his faith in God and what he believes are the true lessons, combine with his explanation of the Roman Catholic heritage of Italians (but not necessarily their belief) becomes the central theme in his understanding of Tuscany and, by extension, of all Italy.
Three stars for his journey, but not for his conclusions.

[Amy Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me start by saying, I enjoyed very much the experiences that were shared in this book and the opportunity to see Italy again through the eyes of another was wonderful. The story was interesting and it was great getting to see what it was like to live this kind of life, moving from farm to farm, and actually being a part of the Italian culture. It has been my experience too that their hospitality is unrivaled. I loved the slower pace I experienced being there and the long leisurely meals. It was great making conversation rather than tuning one another out in favor of the television. He touched on a great many things I really loved about the area while I was reading the novel and provided some new insight into the country and the people there.

What I found fault with was the religious leanings of the author. They start out fairly demure but increase as the book goes on and I would caution people who are firmly atheistic or agnostic against choosing it unless you are remarkably tolerant of someone asserting the positives of Christianity and recommending it to his readers, at least in the sense that he felt he was less of a man before he found "Jesus the Christ" than he was afterward - the implication clearly being that he was a better human being as a God-fearing man. I didn't feel that he was pressing his religion on me, but I'll admit as an agnostic, I was a little sick of it by the time I finished, particularly his assertion that what makes Italian people good and enviable and that drives us to want to emulate their humility and hospitality is their Roman Catholic upbringing.

All this is despite the fact that so many of the people he interacts with in modern-day Tuscany are non-believers, and there is certainly a difference between those who believe in God and those who believe in both God and church and practice regularly at her temple. It also, to an agnostic, felt a bit throughout the book, and certainly at the end as a disparagement to those who choose not to be Roman Catholic or to believe in God. As an agnostic, I still consider myself spiritual, and I think there are things other than God and Roman Catholicism that can make a person non-materialistic, willing to treat other people well and care about their well-being.

Finally, while I don't disagree with some of his assertions on welfare programs, I think the belief he puts forth that the only reason people get divorced is that they can and it's easy to be over simplistic in nature, to the point of naivete. Perhaps if you married the right person, for the right reasons, this is not an issue, but plenty of people don't and forcing them to stay together because the church doesn't recognize divorce is, in my humble opinion, an abomination. His further assertion that in the 3-5 years it still takes to get a divorce in Italy, one or both people may find that it's not so fun to be with their mistress, or to be alone, or that it might be hard to share the responsibilities of parenthood across two households are not only potentially inaccurate but are horrible reasons to stay married to someone. Choosing to stay married because the alternative is that you are alone and you don't like the way that feels...umm, usually, that indicates some level of insecurity and discomfort in your own skin. That issue is something that should be dealt with, not discarded by maintaining a relationship with someone else.

It also - and this is one of my biggest issues with the Roman Catholic Church - is patriarchic. He even quotes from the bible where it says that a woman separated must be rejoined with her husband, though there is no such dictate for men, other than the lack of recognition of divorce. Nowhere is he told his only option is to return to his wife. The implications that a woman is made to be a wife and - in other parts of the Bible (I was raised Catholic, so I'm familiar with all their hypocrisies (my biggest pet peeve with the church) and double-standards), a maker of babies. As though women have nothing else in life to aspire to, and should not want more, or should at least want more only after having served out their wifely and motherly duties.

I'm always curious about these people who so espouse the teachings of the church, if they, in fact, follow all of its teachings or if they pick and choose. Most of the people I know who are religious pick and choose, so while they don't believe in divorce and they lambast same-sex couples as an abomination of God and abhor the principle and practice of abortion, they have sex before marriage and use birth control, both of which are also prohibited by the so-called "good book". In my again, humble opinion, if you are going to try to convince the world that your religion is the best bet for all mankind, that it is superior to all else and that you are a better human being for being an adherent of said-religion, then you need to adhere to all of its rules. Otherwise, what's to prevent two gay men from choosing to practice Catholicism? Maybe they do adhere to all the other rules and they have just chosen not to heed that one. What's to prevent an otherwise adherent Catholic from getting an abortion? Why are those rules so much more unbreakable than birth control and sex before marriage? It can't just be that times have changed. Times changing are what led to legalized abortions and the right to and recognition of same-sex marriages as well, so...Again, with the hypocrisy, but I digress just a bit.

I'll get down off my soapbox now. All in all, this was an excellent book, though the last chapter was a tough read due to its religious assertions, and in general, I think it could have done with a bit less of the Bible-thumping throughout. If you can get past those moments, I really do think this is a book people would enjoy that would allow them to either revisit - if they have been fortunate enough to have traveled to Italy - or to experience that culture through the eyes of both a local and a visitor to the country.

[Michelle White · Rating 2 out of 5]

I completely was enthralled by the bicycle trip across Tuscany from one olive farm to another as this man made this journey and if the book had stayed about Italy and the Italian people, I would have loved it but it turned much more about religion and just wouldn't get back to the topic. Touching on that because of the Roman Catholic influence obviously would be necessary but it became more than that and I found myself craving the "meat" of the book. The main reason I choose to read it in the first place.....ITALY and it's people.

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was excited to read this book, because I'm going to Italy this summer. I liked it at the beginning, until he started with all of the "god" references...not the kind of book I was wanting to read. He totally lost me at the end...haven't been able to will myself to finish. I did enjoy reading about his time at the different farms, but that was about it.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the whole journey of exploring Tuscany and the surrounding areas. When I got towards the end and he just kept talking about religion, he lost me. I was very inspired by his exploration of Italy and then it trailed off.

[Palma M Shrum · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a journey...

Coming from an Italian family and having been to Tuscany this story brought back many fond memories of some of the areas I visited and the people I met. It's amazing to eat the food and drink the wine from a working farm.

[Lana Superchi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book on so many levels! Having traveled to Tuscany, it brought me back but also allowed me to experience it more deeply through this author.

[Tracie Chapple · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book and a little different to normal, run of the mill travel writing. Gives you a wonderful view of Italian life.

[Signora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting memoir of a 63 yr. old American man who bicycles through Tuscany volunteering to pick olives to learn the language and the culture.

[Jeane Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this made me want to get a bicycle and start riding through Tuscany looking for work in the olive groves.

[Julie Busa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Should have been called God (or Religion) in Italy. I managed to finish it, but I was really disappointed.

[James Colli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very good book on the Italian way of Life, how the Italian copes with everyday life.
I always thought evryone thought this way, since I grew up speaking Italian at home.

[Kathy Knapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

For so many more reasons now, I must revisit Italy and specifically Tuscany. Ciao!

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

My husband is from Lettopalena Italy. This book is spot on when it comes to describing the love of family, food, and farming. I hope to visit one day.

[Renae Hesselink · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always been attracted to Italy and said that my dream would be to spend several months each year in Tuscany. I'm not sure why, I had been only to Venice while in my early 20s and then maybe 5 years ago visited several cities in Italy from a cruise ship, Florence being one of them. I've been eyeing culinary opportunities on local farms in Tuscany for awhile now. Reading this book sort of made me understand my draw to Italy, especially Tuscany. This book shared the struggle between "chemical farming" and traditional organic farming while the author spent seven weeks working on several olive farms across Tuscany. The tradition of their focus on people, family, community, place was brought out in the book as well. He also talked a lot about the ties of religion to their culture and perhaps why so many other countries are failing when it comes to community and its people. The author was a farmer who grew up in Nebraska but now is a farmer in Wisconsin. Now I at least understand some of my strong attraction for Italy.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Italian Journey is a magical book. For those who have been to Italy, my favorite place on earth, you will be transcended back there and completely resonate with the stories. For those who haven't been yet, you will get such a palpable taste that you'll want to make your reservations immediately! And, don't wait....life is short! I really want to work on one of the olive farms now! The writing is inspiring, dreamy and peaceful. I can't say enough wonderful things about this book. 'Liking' the Facebook page is a must...the photo's on that page are heartbreakingly gorgeous. The best pictures I've seen anywhere which almost capture the experience of being there. My husband and Mom thoroughly enjoyed the book, also. Don't rush through it ... savor each chapter. The last couple of chapters were very, very thoughtful regarding trying to explain what sets Italy apart from the rest of the world.

[Carolyn Russett · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had read great reviews on FB on this book so really wanted to like it. not so much. The author is middle aged and his intent is to find out why Italians are the way they are - friendly, etc. To do this he travels through tuscany and visits seven farms to help pick olives and eat at the farms' family tables. I wish the author had put some of the ending chapter information in the beginning so you can see where he started off from. The beginning was abrupt for me. The information about God and organic vs chemical farming left me in the wind.
Having been to Italy three times, i was able to appreciate his description of the countryside and the people and his observations were right on. But it was a boring read for me and not my favorite book on Italy.

[Tracey Fish · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Italy, and I am a food person at heart, no matter where I am. I agree with the writer that Italy's hospitality is second to none and there is nothing more enjoyable than sitting down to a meal in Italy. I am not certain that this book would be appreciated by someone that is not as intimate to Italy. I feel Italy, because I have been there many times, but if you hadn't, I am not sure if it would have reached you or not. If I am being completely honest, the end was a little too religious for me. I understand that was his point and his revelation, but that took away from the ending, for me.

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, as long as you look past the search for faith/finding of faith preaching. I understand he felt it was necessary to help people understand where the author came from. I get it, but others have found that part of the book a slog.

I am not unhappy for getting through it. I guess the best way to forewarn folks is the Wendell Berry quote: It is not from ourselves that we learn to be better than we are. From that quote, I understand much of what the author was trying to get across, as we could all be better becoming more open-minded. All paths are not our own, and judgement should not be passed on the paths others take. We must continue to coexist: one earth is all we have.

[JLS10 · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I attempt to learn more about Italy, this was one of the first books I picked up. An American spends 7 weeks in Italy to work, eat, and live among Italian families to get a better idea of what make Italians special. There are lots of interesting thought about farming practices, family dynamics, tradition, and description of Tuscany’s landscapes.

I’ll be reading more about what makes Italy special and a place so many want to get to know, but I’ll glad this was on my list, and is gave some insight I was hoping for.

[Louise · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quite a dry and long winded account of a man, traveling through Tuscany, picking olives at a few farms to understand why Italians are as wonderful as they are, why they give more of themselves to strangers and why they are happy with simple things. Yes Italy is beautiful, the people are friendly and very willing to share what little they have, and it is a country that once you have experienced, it is difficult to forget. This was really difficult to finish this one.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting journey of the author through Tuscany on his bicycle to pick olives as he strives to understand why the people of Italy are like they are. And not just the food, the wine, the conversation, but ultimately that community and family are the yardstick by which we should make our decisions. Bella Scoperta--Ultimate Revelation. Connubial living with the land and each other and the power of stewardship.

[Jeanne Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful travel log for those of us who long to return to or visit Italy. A enlightening attempt to describe what is so unique to the Italian culture and that which so many of us would like to emulate. Also an worthwhile commentary on the value of agriculture to our being and an appreciation of a culture that is trying to maintain the food-to-table tradition and again, what we should all take to heart.