Travelers' Tales Italy: True Stories

by Anne Calcagno (Editor), Jan Morris (Introduction)

This newly designed collection of adventures in Italy takes the reader to a land of magical extremes — of ancient verities and modern vitality. Sculptors, olive harvesters, art historians, and cooks people these tales, and their stories are as evocative as opera. The book simmers with romance, culture — and the best food on earth. Authors include Tim Parks, Patricia Hampl, Mary Taylor Simeti, Luigi Barzini, Gary Paul Nabhan, and many others. “Travel writing at its glorious best.” — Chicago Tribune

Genres: Italy, Travel, Nonfiction

464 pages, Paperback

First published August 8, 2001

About the author

Calcagno's first novel LOVE LIKE A DOG has just won three awards. Set in
contemporary Chicago, this page-turner tells the story of Dirk & his single
father and how, in rescuing a pit bull, they find themselves face to face with
the most difficult of decisions. LOVE LIKE A DOG won the prestigious
first prize for a First Novel Award from the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, as well as being a finalist in their Animal/Pets category. It was furthermore awarded a bronze medal in the Great Lakes Regional Fiction category at the 15th Annual ceremony of Independent Publishers Book Awards. The novel also received Honorable Mention in the General Fiction category from the San Francisco Book Festival. One Top 500 Reviewer notes: "The prose is fluid, easy-to-read, and superbly written." Another claims: "this [is] a heart warming, beautifully written novel that will pull at your heartstrings."

For stories in her collection Pray For Yourself (TriQuarterly Books/ Northwestern University Press) Anne Calcagno received the San Francisco Foundation Phelan Literary Award, an NEA Fellowship and two Illinois Arts Council Awards. Her fiction has appeared in The North American Review, TriQuarterly, Denver Quarterly, Epoch, and other publications. She won a 2003 Illinois Arts Council Literary Award for her story "What's Yours?" published in Other Voices. Her stories have been anthologized in the Penguin book of Italian American Writing, Fiction of the Eighties, The Milk of Almonds and American Fiction, Vol 2. She has given over sixty readings and lectures throughout the country. Calcagno is currently writing an historical novel "Struck By Dina," set in Eritrea and Saudi Arabia, about Mussolini's failed colonization of East Africa.

A dual national, Italian and American, Calcagno is Editor of Travelers Tales: Italy (Travelers Tales, 1998, 2001) which won Foreward's Silver Medal for Best Travel Book of the Year. She wrote the preface to Travelers Tales: Tuscany. Her nonfiction and travel writing have appeared in The New York Times. the Italian American Historical Society, New City, The Saudi Gazette, the Chicago Sun-Times and The Chicago Tribune and In The Middle of The Middle West.

Calcagno teaches in the MFA in Writing program at the School of the Art Institute. She lives in Chicago, is married, and the mother of two tireless young people. She can be seen walking her Am Staff & her German Shepherd.

Reviews

[Ruth · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ughh. I was looking for heartwarming stories of serendipitous travel adventures. These stories instead offered puffed-up paeans to Italy. Boring.

[Deborah Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am slowly becoming an Italophile. I not only enjoy traveling to the various cities in Italy, but I love reading things about them—even after my trip. This book is chock full of great stories and essays from the various regions in Italy.
Meraviglioso!

[Brian · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read a few of the pars, it's of no interest to me, dumped the book in the van parks book basket

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hoping to visit Italy this fall. I was looking for some ideas and motivation. This series of books is full of great writing.

[Kameel Nasr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This all takes place in a military context. While I'm not a military person, I though this was a terrific book, very well-written. There's no question that DeMille rewrites and rewrites until he gets it right. Many, many, wonderful one-liners. I wish I was able to add all the dry humor that the narrator uses. The story seems titillating at first: a beautiful woman and her secret sex life. But it's far deeper and more satisfying and Army investigator Paul Brenner and his psychologist companion, with whom he had shared a history, uncover the layers of the mystery. I have not seen the film. Recommended reading.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with all of the books in this series, the essays vary widely in writing style, interest, and quality. Overall, however, this is a great series for whatever country you might be traveling to offering insights and 'the telling anecdote' that can enrich your journey, whether it is in space or from an armchair. IT was worth the price of the book on MExico to learn how to say, "No thanks, go away," to Mexican beach vendors using only a hand movement. The book: twenty bucks, the skill: priceless.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Next to France, Italy is my favorite European travel destination - Travelers' Tales Italy has been a fun way to revisit a beautiful country.

Well, I would love to visit Ireland; until I do, I will content myself with a copy of Travelers' Tales Ireland.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exactly what I wanted and needed this book to be: a fun tour through Italian history and contemporary culture, in slices, by excellent authors. Truly excellent prep for our upcoming trip! I'll be sure to grab other Travelers' Tales books before other significant journeys.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

This series of essays provides a dated look at various places in Italy and Italian culture from the point of view often of travel writers. Sorry, but flowery and boring writing is prevalent. There are some bits definitely worth reading, but there is a lot to wade through to find them.

[Sonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read right before moving to Italy for a year...so, I was already excited when I picked this up. Take that as you will...

[Steve Kierstead · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished it probably a year ago. I don't recall. I think I was waiting to try to enter observations on the last few pieces, but it's clearly too late for that now. Good book!

[keith koenigsberg · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing. I have read a handful of these Travelers Tales books and this one was mostly just...meh.