The Italian American Heritage: A Companion to Literature and Arts (Garland Reference Library of the Humanities)
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    The Italian American Heritage: A Companion to Literature and Arts (Garland Reference Library of the Humanities)
    George Leonard
    Manufacturer: Routledge
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Library Binding

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    ASIN: 0815303807

    Book Description

    Offers information and insights
    The many available scholarly works on Italian Americans are of little practical help to the undergraduate or high school student who needs background information when reading contemporary fiction with Italian characters, watching films that require a familiarity with Italian Americans, or looking at works of art that can be fully appreciated only if one understands Italian culture. This basic reference work for non-specialists and students offers quick insights and essential, easy-to-grasp information on Italian American contributions to American art, music, literature, motion pictures, and cultural life.

    Spotlights the uniquely Italian in American Life
    This rich legacy is examined in a collection of original essays that range from portrayals of Italian characters in the films of Francis Coppola to Italian American poetry, from the art of Frank Stella to the music of Frank Zappa, from a survey of Italian folk customs to an analysis of the evolution of Italian American biography. Comprising 22 lengthy essays written specifically for this volume, the book identifies what is uniquely Italian in American life and examines how Italian customs, traditions, social mores, and cultural antecedents have wrought their influence on the American character. Filled with insights, trenchant observations, and ethnic facts and fictions, this volume is a valuable source of information for scholars, researchers, and students interested in pinpointing and examining the cultural, intellectual, and social influence of Italian immigrants and their successors.

    Includes an Extensive Lexicon of Important Terms
    This informative lexicon provides definitions of Italian terms that are central to the Italian American experience and that serve as indexes of the Italian American worldview. Whenever appropriate, the editor refers readers to a source in which the meaning of the term is more fully explored.

    Excerpt from a sample Lexicon entry:
    al fresco: adv., adj.: outdoors, literally "in the cool," meaning fresh air: an Italian phrase now used in English as in the expression "dining al fresco". Conflating the idea that Italian cuisine is admirably suited to be eaten in the open air and the image of the Mediterranean climate, al fresco has become a signifier of the pleasurable way in which Italian life is conducted.
    Excerpts from the book:
    "Madonna fully plays out the Madonna/puttana (and its darker variation, Madonna/dominatrix) identities and her own internal division between sacred and profane; when she is good she is very bad, and when she is bad, she is very good."-from "Madonna: The Postmodern Diva as Maculate Conception" by Fosca D'Acierno, "I hate the hoity-toity view of art which is pretentious, airy, and filled with moral meanings. Most critics and scholars have no direct contact with artists; they would be uncomfortable with them. They pretend to talk about works of art, but in fact they are quite different from artists in personality. I have repeatedly said that the artist has more in common with the car mechanic -- getting yourself dirty -- which is why I have enormous rapport with artists."-from "Italian Catholic in My Bones: A Conversation with Camille Paglia" by Camille Paglia and Thomas J. Ferraro *
    "If a piece of bread falls to the floor, it should be kissed and blessed with the sign of the cross. Bread should not be wasted, nor should one pierce it with knife or fork. Bread should be one of the first items brought into a new home, and keeping at least a crust of this food staple in the cupboard warded off famine."-from "Bread and Wine in Italian-American Folk Culture" by Frances M. Malpezzi and William M. Clement

    Heritage Italian-American Style Bilingual (2nd Edition)
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • Italian Americans Wanted!
    • Smorgasbord of Italian American Historical Tidbits
    • A must have for every person interested in Italian culture
    Heritage Italian-American Style Bilingual (2nd Edition)
    Leon J. Radomile
    Manufacturer: Vincero Enterprises
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

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    ASIN: 0967532914

    Book Description

    This newly revised second edition is now available in a bilingual format and has been expanded from the original 1492 to 1776 fact-filled questions. The five major categories (Food, Music, Entertainment; Art, Science, Literature; History, Geography, Business; Sports; Romans)cover 3,000 years of Italian genius and innovation, with an index of over 2,700 entries. The new bilingual second edition also contains six comprehensive internet address directories covering area's like language, genealogy, culture, organizations, food/wine, anti-defamation, etc. Additionally, a special section listing over 50 major Italian-American magazines and newspapers printed in the United States, along with subscription information, is also included. I guarantee that this will be one book you will love to own and give to others. Just ask the 5,000 enthusiastic purchasers of the first edition. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at: heritage1492@earthlink.net or telephone me personally at: 1-800-715-1492, I'd love to hear from you.

    Best regards and mille grazie,
    Leon J. Radomile, author/publisher

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Italian Americans Wanted!.......2004-03-10

    A.O.I.A. Online Social Club...

    Anyone that would like to join my online web ring "A.O.I.A." can e-mail me. We circulate e-mails on all issues past, present, and future with regards to the Italian American community. A.O.I.A. stands for "American Of Italian Ancestry." We are all Americans, but keeping the cultural branch of our family tree is very important to me. As an American Of Italian Ancestry, I am constantly trying to incorporate something Italian into my daily life. Whether it's food, music, movies, sports, clothes, cars, you name it. If it's a person, place, or thing that has roots from the boot, I am interested in learning about it and discussing it. That's what makes you the ultimate Italian American in this melting pot of America. You don't have to be first generation Italian or speak the language fluently to be an Italian American. If you look and feel and act Italian American, you are one in my eyes. Don't be a dry as toast meddigan (an American who denies anything ethnic). Instead of an apple pie, go for a ricott' cheesecake. Instead of a meatloaf, have a meatball.

    A.O.I.A. - Popeye International Club Survey

    You may reply with PNTA which is "prefer not to answer" on any of the following questions...If some seem like "yes" or "no" questions and you are on the fence, you may reply with "unsure" or "sometimes"

    1.) Please tell us your first and last name
    2.) Please tell us where you were born and where you currently reside. City and state only, no street address at this time
    3.) Circle Age Range (18-27, 28-38, 39-49, 50-60, 60+)
    4.) What nationality do you consider yourself in addition to American?
    5.) Do you speak any other languages fluently?
    6.) If you are not fluent in a formal foreign language, do you occasionally mix in slang dialect and other Americanized ethnic words into your speech patterns?
    7.) Do you find that many of your favorite things in life (food, clothing choices, sports and entertainment stars, etc), tend to be those of your family nationality?
    8.) What is your general income range? ($10-$25k, $26-$50k, $51-$75k, $76k-$100k, $100+)
    9.) What do you do for a living?
    10.) What is your political affiliation?
    11.) Favorite movie of all time?
    12.) Favorite sport team?
    13.) Name three of your hobbies
    14.) Would you possibly be available to attend a club "meet-up" group in New Jersey in the future?
    15.) Please provide a brief paragraph or so about yourself. Feel free to use this space to ask any questions you may have about the AMERICANS-OF-ITALIAN-ANCESTRY and duel POPEYE INTERNATIONAL club.

    5 out of 5 stars Smorgasbord of Italian American Historical Tidbits.......2002-05-31

    If there is only one book in your Library about Italian Americans, (and I certainly hope not), it should be "Heritage-Italian American Style". Although I use it as a Reference Book, It is also very rewarding to sit and read, since it a sumptuous smorgasbord of tidbits for the mind.

    It would make the IDEAL GIFT !!!! for Teens (and Adults) who value their heritage, but are not sure why.

    With adjacent Italian Translation, it also enriches your Italian Language skills.

    It makes possible a wonderful Family Quiz Game.

    THE book for Italians, and those who wish they were!

    5 out of 5 stars A must have for every person interested in Italian culture.......2002-05-30

    Well, what can I say, Leon Radomile has done it again, and better! Many more features including the new Italian version, web links, more subjects... If you are looking for a nicely and inventive way to read about the Italian and Italian-American culture in the world, and learn Italian language at the same time, this is the perfect book to start. Buy it!
    We Called It Macaroni: An American Heritage of Southern Italian Cooking--KCA Pbk (Knopf Cooks American Series)
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • Molto Bene! Beautiful stories and delicious recipes!
    • Real cooking reflective of Rhode Island Italian heritage
    • Cooking will wait until after you read the entire book!
    • A cookbook you can actually READ cover to cover!
    We Called It Macaroni: An American Heritage of Southern Italian Cooking--KCA Pbk (Knopf Cooks American Series)
    Nancy Verde Barr
    Manufacturer: Knopf
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    GeneralGeneral | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
    ItalianItalian | European | Regional & International | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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    ASIN: 0679765778
    Release Date: 1996-02-13

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Molto Bene! Beautiful stories and delicious recipes!.......1999-08-29

    Having grown up in an Italian house, I can truly relate to the many stories about italian heritage and customs. This book clearly gives heart warming memories and one delicous recipe after another. The title of the book alone made me smile as we enjoy "macaroni and gravy" every Sunday, too. Even if you're not Italian you will enjoy the stories and easy to follow recipes. Mangia!!!

    5 out of 5 stars Real cooking reflective of Rhode Island Italian heritage.......1999-05-25

    The food and stories are wonderful and are authentic Rhode Island. The recipes are not complicated and are expressions of love and family through cooking.

    5 out of 5 stars Cooking will wait until after you read the entire book!.......1999-01-11

    This cookbook is the Bible in my kitchen!! Such wonderful stories and anecdotes with the recipes that you'll find yourself just reading and reading and smiling! Being of Italian heritage, Ms. Barr's cookbook brought back so many wonderful memories for me. Memories built around my mother's kitchen and the wisdom and love that were always a part of her cooking. And yes, WE called it Macaroni! Thank you, Ms. Barr for a delightful read.

    5 out of 5 stars A cookbook you can actually READ cover to cover!.......1998-08-08

    A must read for anyone interested in Authentic Italian recipies. Nancy Verde has created an excellent collection of recipies and the history behind why these dishes & customs became popular. An important book for Italian americans wishing to explore thier roots. It reads like a novel!
    Atavismo!: My Home in Italy
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Atavismo!: My Home in Italy
      Anna Maria Baccellieri
      Manufacturer: iUniverse, Inc.
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback

      GeneralGeneral | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
      MemoirsMemoirs | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
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      3. Four Seasons in Rome: On Twins, Insomnia, and the Biggest Funeral in the History of the World Four Seasons in Rome: On Twins, Insomnia, and the Biggest Funeral in the History of the World
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      ASIN: 0595390307

      Book Description

      Ann's journey to learn about her Italian heritage evolved into loving Italy with its wondrous food, medieval stone villages built into the sides of mountains, the colorful confetti shops in Sulmona, the tartufo festival in Succiano, the town celebration of Feragosto, and the festas in Goriano Valli.

      The adventure of exploring off-the-beaten-track hidden itineraries, cooking in the church kitchen of a monk, shopping at the local markets in San Demetrio and L'Aquila, buying food from trucksters who delivered right to the front door, seeing ricotta being made in a shepherd's shack, picking artichokes in her cousin's garden, and living like an Italian in the village she was born in opened the door to a heritage and family previously unknown to her.

      She learned of a scandal in her parent's family, never known to her American family, and heard moving stories of unrequited love and wartime heroism.

      From the fabulous cooks in her family, recipes for chinghiale, zucchini flower fritters, carbonara, chicken cacciatore, milk of almond from the times of Michelangelo, polenta on the board and many other recipes are included in this book.

      Pick-and-Shovel Poet: The Journeys of Pascal D'Angelo
      Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
      • A passion for language, a demon for work
      Pick-and-Shovel Poet: The Journeys of Pascal D'Angelo
      Jim Murphy
      Manufacturer: Clarion Books
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Hardcover

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      2. La Storia: Five Centuries of the Italian American Experience La Storia: Five Centuries of the Italian American Experience

      ASIN: 0395776104

      Book Description

      In this inspiring biography, critically acclaimed author Jim Murphy tells the unique story of Pascal D'Angelo, who came to America in 1910 at the age of sixteen. Like so many immigrants from southern Italy and other parts of Europe, he took on the only job available to him, that of a manual laborer building roads and railways. Though his life was difficult, Pascal remained optimistic and never lost his sense of wonder at the world around him. He yearned for an outlet to express his passion, and so, remarkably, he taught himself English from newspapers and poetry books, in the process becoming a respected poet himself.

      Augmented with parallel references to other immigrant stories and accompanied by moving archival photographs, this story of one man's life and noteworthy accomplishments is also a universal story shared by all American immigrants who helped build our nation. Source notes, bibliography, index.

      Customer Reviews:

      4 out of 5 stars A passion for language, a demon for work.......2001-01-20

      Murphy has written a compelling account of the life of Pascal D'Angelo, an Italian immigrant who left a hard life in Italy for one harder in the United States: carrying rock and hauling rock to make way for roads and railways, a pick and shovel man. His language is clean and sure; he uses D'Angelo's life to illuminate the experience of many Italians who came to this country in the early years of the 20th century. More than that, however, he makes D'Angelo's fervent desire to read and write English palpable. Writing words on the unheated shack where he lived, visiting the local library, gleaning stray meanings from his fellow workmen -- it will give young people a glimpse of how much one can long for the right words. His poetry is ornate but passionate, and the whole is a marvelous read.
      To Be Young, Gifted and Black
      Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
      • srekcarc
      • I Can Relate
      • Young, gifted, and brilliant
      • Poignant and inspiring
      • Universal, Accessible, and Powerful!
      To Be Young, Gifted and Black
      Lorraine Hansberry
      Manufacturer: Vintage
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback

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      1. Les Blancs: The Collected Last Plays: The Drinking Gourd/What Use Are Flowers? Les Blancs: The Collected Last Plays: The Drinking Gourd/What Use Are Flowers?
      2. A Raisin in the Sun A Raisin in the Sun
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      5. Freedom in the Family: A Mother-Daughter Memoir of the Fight for Civil Rights Freedom in the Family: A Mother-Daughter Memoir of the Fight for Civil Rights

      ASIN: 0679764151
      Release Date: 1996-01-03

      Book Description

      In her first play, the now-classic A Raisin in the Sun, Hansberry introduced the lives of ordinary African Americans into our national theatrical repertory. Now, Hansberry tells her own life story in an autobiography that rings with the voice of its creator. "Brilliantly alive."--The New York Times.

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars srekcarc.......2005-05-23

      There are a lot of lazy ignorant people in our society who believe that black people should be all accomodating and not be too complex, in other words, human. How sad for them. Hansberry was ofcourse a genius. Bless her short life and her work.

      5 out of 5 stars I Can Relate.......2002-11-18

      I remember reading this book thinking that I could relate to the author perfectly well. Though I am not a playright, I do understand a lot of what she is saying. There should and will never be a borderline or a glass ceiling or anything else to hold me down. You are who you are regardless of what is . . . There is no turning back only that which is to be gained and won.

      When I think of Lorraine Hansberry I think of a woman who achieved the impossible in an impossible time. She completed her plays with such intensity and flair . . . As if she lived and researched each every act.

      Nevertheless, I feel that Hansberry was stating that to be "Young, gifted, and black," is clearly to be aware of who and what you are . . . and to take this knowledge of who and what you are and to run with it. Taking a chance when given a chance, or rather taking a chance and creating an opportunity with merely a bit of the gift that you had.

      I will always remember what Thurgood Marshall, he basically stated that "He did the best with what he had." Is that being merely good or is that being the best. I believe that the concept of this book is not to be mistaken. I believe Hansberry is saying, "Hey sister, hold your head up high. It does not matter what this world thinks of you. It only merely matters about what you can do for yourself and your fellowman. Do you know your gifts? Hey write it down. You are worth perfecting."

      Lorraine Hansberry did wonders in her lifetime she did so much for her community and her fellowman. My question to myself and others is . . . What about your gifts? Hey write them down. They are worth perfecting.

      4 out of 5 stars Young, gifted, and brilliant.......2001-12-03

      I found this book in the library and fell in love with it instantly. The passages from Hansberry's plays and journal enteries were quite powerful- witty, yet moving. She truly had a gift for describing the human condition- AS IT IS, rather than how it "should be." However, I must admit to finding myself at a bit of a cultural disadvantage at times, as the author assumes that most readers will be familiar with African American lingo from the '50s. While some readers like myself may have difficulty understanding certain expressions, etc, the sharp overall messages and delightful writing style make this book both a learning experience and a pleasure to read. I hope others will gain as much from this book as I have.

      4 out of 5 stars Poignant and inspiring.......2001-11-22

      Getting inside the head of such a great thinker is a wonderful opportunity. The only negative comment I could make about this book is that a few of the passages included from Hansberry's lesser-known plays were not as powerful as the passages from speeches, journals, and A Raisin in the Sun. It is tragic that the world lost a truly gifted and spirited writer at such a young age. If you enjoyed A Raisin in the Sun, you'll also find this a rewarding read.

      5 out of 5 stars Universal, Accessible, and Powerful!.......2001-04-25

      I thought this was an absolutely beautiful book. Hansberry had such a gift for writing about the human spirit. I hope that the students who say they got nothing from reading this book come back to it as adults and give it another try. I found it to be inspiring. It will definitely join my list of favorites!
      American Artists of Italian Heritage, 1776-1945: A Biographical Dictionary
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        American Artists of Italian Heritage, 1776-1945: A Biographical Dictionary
        Regina Soria
        Manufacturer: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Hardcover

        GeneralGeneral | History & Criticism | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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        ASIN: 0838634257
        Italians in the Deep South: Their Impact on Birmingham and the American Heritage
        Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
        • Priceless
        • Awesome book for Italian Geneology in Birmingham
        • Wonderful
        Italians in the Deep South: Their Impact on Birmingham and the American Heritage
        Frank Joseph Fede
        Manufacturer: Black Belt Press
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Hardcover

        GeneralGeneral | State & Local | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
        AlabamaAlabama | State & Local | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
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        ASIN: 188132009X

        Book Description

        This second edition features new introductory material, new phots, and a new dust jacket. Fede was raised in Birmingham, Alabama's Little Italy. He tells us how labor shortages drew Italian immigrants to Birmingham's coal and steel industries. These new Americans quickly became farmers, grocers, and merchants, and the next generation became doctors, bankers, and lawyers. Their collective history helped shape the culture of the growing city, which was enriched by their contributions to religion, sports, art, commerce, and politics.

        Customer Reviews:

        5 out of 5 stars Priceless.......2004-05-31

        This book is a must-have for any Italian American who has roots in Alabama. My family is mentioned in the book and thereby will live on in loving memory. This book is not only important Alabama history, but will be a resource for history buffs across the board!

        5 out of 5 stars Awesome book for Italian Geneology in Birmingham.......2004-01-09

        If you have family members that immigrated to the US and settled in the Ensley, AL and Bessemer, AL areas then this book is a wonderful addition to your home library and a big help with your family research. The families mentioned in the book were not mine but the other related discussion helped me understand more about my Italian heritage.

        5 out of 5 stars Wonderful.......2001-11-27

        It is a good book, has good information,and has good pictures
        The Italian Renaissance (American Heritage Library)
        Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
        • Introducing the Renaissance
        • An introduction to a magnificent time
        • Renaissance is about Life
        • Very good and highly readable overview
        The Italian Renaissance (American Heritage Library)
        J.H. Plumb
        Manufacturer: American Heritage Press
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Paperback

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        ASIN: 0828104859

        Book Description

        Spanning an age that witnessed great achievements in the arts and sciences, this definitive overview of the Italian Renaissance will both captivate ordinary readers and challenge specialists. Dr. Plumb's impressive and provocative narrative is accompanied by contributions from leading historians, including Morris Bishop, J. Bronowski, Maria Bellonci, and many more, who have further illuminated the lives of some of the era's most unforgettable personalities, from Petrarch to Pope Pius II, Michelangelo to Isabella d'Este, Machiavelli to Leonardo. A highly readable and engaging volume, THE ITALIAN RENAISSANCE is a perfect introduction to the movement that shaped the Western world.

        Customer Reviews:

        5 out of 5 stars Introducing the Renaissance.......2007-07-14

        I wish there were more books like this one. The first half is discussion by J. H. Plumb about many basic aspects of the Italian Renaissance one should know, the second half is a collection of well-written biographical essays about prominent Italian Renaissance figures. The second half was particularly good. I think Kenneth Clark's essay on Michaelangelo and Morris Bishop's on Petrach were the best, but they were all very good. All are well written, unpretentious and intelligent, and all concern interesting people.

        The notable figures of Renaissance Italy are really quite different from notable figures of the American Revolution, say. They were much more passionate. The good better, the evil were more evil. Men loved works of art, they didn't just pretend to. I was reading about Benedict Arnold recently, deplorable traitor! but for diabolical rogues, he's nothing beside Cesare Borgia or Sigismondo Malatesta. And who can compare with Federigo da Montefeltro? Or Leonardo da Vinci? They're inspirational. They make you want to live.

        Anyway, this is great book. I'm glad I read it.

        4 out of 5 stars An introduction to a magnificent time.......2001-11-16

        Plumb's book is a very readable introduction to the Renaissance. He begins by explaining how civilization collapsed after the fall of Rome. But the Renaissance grew from the increases in population, trade and the flow of ideas. Italy was a land of cities instead of feudalism, able to make good use of trade to gain great power. The increase of trade brought power to the merchants and guilds instead of the nobility. Trade and power brought money to support an explosion of the arts and finance the flow of ideas, especially from the past.

        Plumb describes the histories of some of the cities of Italy. In one chapter he describes the intricate diplomacy of Milan. In other chapters he describes the commerce of Venice and the trade of Florence. We see the brilliance of artists and dissipation of rulers. Plumb describes how the new learning, the new way of seeing the world, spread across Europe.

        However, Plumb only wrote half of the book. The second half contains a series of biographies of great artists and rulers of the Renaissance, written by different authors. There are short biographies of artists such as Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci: rulers such as Lorenzo de Medici and Doge Foscari, and authors such as Petrarch and Machiavelli. This book is a tour de force introduction to the magnificent Renaissance.

        5 out of 5 stars Renaissance is about Life.......2001-09-04

        This book is informative, intelligent, and so well written that it can have a strong appeal to the reader sheerly as literature. It is also a funny book. All the intrigues, treacheries, betrayals, and cruelties perpetrated by the pillars of the Renaissance society (popes, politicians, eminent soldiers) are described so naturally, vividly, and, sometimes, unexpectedly that I could not help but laugh when reading about them.

        Plumb knows how to go straight to the point and give the reader his insights clearly and unobtrusively. He does not preach, he simply states and gives facts so wonderfully that I could not help but admire his masterful style of presentation. Here is an example: "In the darkest decades, there was a froce at work--trade--that was inimical to this world of warriors, priests, and peasants. Trade drew Moslem, Jew, and Christian together; trade fattened towns, sometimes bred them." Notice with what facility Plumb has just outlined the importance of trade--it mitigates cultural barriers and draws people together on the basis of mutual business interests. Or, here is an example of how Renaissance confronted dogmatism and obsession with getting at truth by deductive reasoning: "The old dogmatic certainties did not vanish at once, and the habit of trying to nail truth down by argument from fundamental principles was not lightly cast aside. Some of the most original minds, however, particularly Machiavelli and Leonardo da Vinci, sought truth not in argument but in observation." The book is full of such gems.

        Renaissance was strange, cruel, and full of life and culture. This book gives us Renaissance in all its splendor fitting to a description of the time of revival and vitality.

        5 out of 5 stars Very good and highly readable overview.......2000-10-31

        I was surprised how easy it was to read The Italian Renaissance. Some history books are an effort to read, but this one was such a breeze I got myself caught up in it, and finished it in only a day or two. The first half of the book is by Plumb, which goes over the principal cities and themes of the Renaissance. The second half is a mix of biographies of prominent figures of the period by different authors - but there isn't much of a difference between these pieces and Plumb's half in style, both are wonderful to read. This book was so good I've bought a few more in the American Heritage series. If you want a good survey of the Renaissance in Italy, than this is the perfect book for you.
        Wine Heritage: The Story of Italian-American Vintners
        Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
        • Wine and Winemakers
        • Great history of Italian-American Wine
        • A great history of Italian winemaking in America
        Wine Heritage: The Story of Italian-American Vintners
        Dick Rosano
        Manufacturer: Wine Appreciation Guild
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Hardcover

        GeneralGeneral | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
        Hospitality, Travel & TourismHospitality, Travel & Tourism | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
        SpiritsSpirits | Drinks & Beverages | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
        WineWine | Drinks & Beverages | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books | Buying Guides | Cellars | Champagne | Collecting | Food & Wine | Wine & Winemaking
        GeneralGeneral | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
        GeneralGeneral | Italy | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
        Social HistorySocial History | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books
        Similar Items:
        1. The House of Mondavi: The Rise and Fall of an American Wine Dynasty The House of Mondavi: The Rise and Fall of an American Wine Dynasty
        2. Matt Kramer's New California Wine: Making Sense of Napa Valley, Sonoma, Central Coast, and Beyond Matt Kramer's New California Wine: Making Sense of Napa Valley, Sonoma, Central Coast, and Beyond

        ASIN: 1891267132

        Book Description

        Foreword, Robert Mondavi Mondavi, Martini, Sebastiani, Gallo, Bargetto and Pirelli-Minetti. Who could deny the importance of Italians to the development of America's wine industry? It is little known that Italians have been planting vineyards and making wine in America since the early colonial days when Filio Mazzei was the vineyard consultant for Thomas Jefferson. Grapes were planted and nurtured in virtually every corner of America where Italians settled. Wine making was as sacrosanct as making bread or pasta. Wine is inseparable from the Italian culture and is loved and revered as the "holy blood of the grape." It is one of the secrets of the healthy Mediterranean life style now preached by health experts.

        Here is the story of Italian immigrants whose descendants now dominate American wine making. How they struggled and endured. How they persisted in the face of Prohibition and facilitated legislation permitting home wine making of 200 gallons per family. The intrigue, the feuds, the love affairs and financial triumphs are all in this authenticated history from the earliest days of America to the new Italian/American wine makers such as Francis Ford Coola. 256 , 150 historic photos.

        Customer Reviews:

        5 out of 5 stars Wine and Winemakers.......2001-09-24

        Dick Rosano is an Italian-American winemaker, and, thanks to his considerable talents as a writer, he is able to share both his love for his heritage and his love for the world of win in this delightful book. He traces the history of winemaking in the United States, giving credit where due and reveals some details hitherto unpublicized. A good read and a great gift for anyone who shares his heritage, a love of history, or a love of wine.

        5 out of 5 stars Great history of Italian-American Wine.......2001-03-23

        Dick Rosano has written an in-depth account of one of the marvels of American wine: The influence that Italian-Americans have had on the development and history of the industry. Without this Italian influence, in culture and winemaking, American wine wouldn't be what it is today. And without this book, Americans wouldn't understand the impact that these families had on our winemaking culture over the last 300 years. It's a must if you want to understand the evolution of American wine.

        5 out of 5 stars A great history of Italian winemaking in America.......2001-03-02

        This is a fantastic reference book. I had no idea what a elaborate web the italians have weaved in the US. Everyone knows about the Mondavi and Gallo families but who would have thought that so many italian winemakers exist in so many states. An added feature of this book is the winery profile section in the back. This is not typical for a history book. You get the history and the acumen of a very knowledgeable wine reviewer who used to write for the Washington Post. I was a devoted Rosano reader when he wrote for the Post and really felt the quality of wine writing for that paper declined significantly when he left. This compelling story doesn't include wine reviews but adds an interesting aspect above and beyond the average history book. I am a winemaker and read just about anything I can get my grape stained hands on about the subject. This is a book for everyone interested in the noble grape or just loves drinking the stuff. Take my advice and run, don't walk to the store to get it, then leave it out somewhere on a table and pick it up from time to time while enjoying a nice class of Sangiovese.

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