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What's new?
Marzo 2008
Head Over Heel by Chris Harrison - The "mega pezzo di figo" (youth slang for "very very very handsome guy") in the photo is certainly not the Director of Italia 500 welcoming prospective students to the Centre, but a former student, Chris Harrison, who has written a book called Head Over Heel, about his experience of falling in love with an Italian woman from Puglia - the heel of the boot. The book, published by Murdoch Books (RRP $29.95), is now out and it is assolutamente fantastico!!! Chris writes beautifully and the book is full of humour and tenderness, and it is wonderfully insightful. Insomma, bravo Chris!!! Here is a synopsis:
 A whitewashed fishing village, a shapely signorina, and an infatuated Aussie – head over heels on the heel of the boot. Head Over Heel is the autobiographical account of the fortunes, comic and shambolic, which befall an unlikely Australian resident in an eccentric Mediterranean outpost, whose love affair with a southern Italian provides a window on her world. Where olive groves slope to the coast and the aromas of cooking wander cobblestone lanes, Sydneysider Chris Harrison encounters a cast of curious characters who show him generosity, friendship, affection, but above all, the real Italy. There’s a policeman who rearranges crimes to suit the necessary forms, a driving instructor who sits exams for his pupils, a Fascist vet whose practice is a shrine to Mussolini, a doctor who prescribes patients his homemade lemon liqueur…
During his whimsical journey from tongue-tied outsider to local villager, Il Canguro – as Chris becomes known – abandons his country, language and culture, his comfortable modern life, to live amongst people of ancient traditions. But perhaps his biggest challenge is his lover’s squat Sicilian mother, determined to convert him to the Catholic faith, to supervise his choice of underwear, and build a second storey on her stucco home where the precarious couple might live happily ever after.
Can their relationship possibly survive or will the sweet life turn sour?
Sounds fantastico, yes? Definitely a must read! If you would like to find out more about the book, and Chris himself, visit Chris' website at www.chris-harrison.info. To read an lovely article, written by Chris prior to the 2006 Italian parliamentary elections, which appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald in July, 2006, click here. Ancora una volta: bravo Chris!!!
Settembre - Ottobre (2007)
Fever Italia, the unofficial soundtrack to the 2007 Italian Film Festival - Coinciding with the 2007 Italian Film Festival, Filter Music has released, for the second year in a row, a compilation of Italian songs and movie themes described as: an "eclectic mix of jazz, quality pop, acoustic songs and classic movie melodies". If you are into "broadening your musical horizons" or if you would like to "discover" other singers apart from Vasco, il grande Ligabue, Jovanotti, Laura Pausini, ecc, this is a great CD because most of the songs are definitely not your run-of-the-mill Italian pop music (infact the only names I recognize in this year's compilation are those of Nino Rota, of course, the great Fred Buscaglione and the great great great Paolo Conte). Cristina Donà's song Il Mondo è molto bello and so is Quadro Nuevo's jazzed-up rendition of Renato Carosone's classic Tu vuò fà l'americano. Bello anche Lo strozzino di Pino Marino - such a gentle song: "strozzino" means "loan-shark" and derives from the verb "strozzare" which means "to strangle", but worry not, there is a deeper meaning to the song!!! At JB Hi-FI for $26.99.
The Octopus (La Piovra) Series 4 - La quarta serie de La piovra è finalmente uscita in DVD. Che bello!!! The fourth series of La piovra is out on DVD and "Corrado Cattani continues his personal war with the Mafia"! Here are more details: "The Octopus (a.k.a La Piovra) is the longest running series dedicated to the fight against the mafia ever. Produced by RAI in Italy, the legend continues many years after its screening... Series 4 sees Corrado Cattani continue his personal war with the Mafia. As he investigates the killing of casino-owner Antonio Tindari by Salvatore Frolo, whose wife and daughter were murdered some years earlier, Corrado comes into contact with Tano Carridi, who is aiming with the aid of the Mafia, to gain control of a major insurance company. Cariddi also intends to marry Ester Rasi, the daughter of the company's incorruptible chairman. Cattani tries to dissuade Ester from marrying Cariddi, but when Cariddi blackmails her father, who is forced to commit suicide, Ester decides to stay with him to discover his secrets and get her revenge. Meanwhile Cattani comes across evidence suggesting that Frolo's daughter is not dead after all. As Cariddi finally succeeds in gaining control of the insurance company, events gather pace......". At Dymocks for $46.95.
The Complete Pompeii by Joanne Berry (Hardback; 360 illustrations, 320 in colour; RRP: $75; Publisher: Thames & Hudson) - Ecco un libro eccezionale per I tanti appassionati dell’antica Pompei: “Pompeii is the best known and probably the most important archaeological site in the world. This is the most up-to-date, authoritative and comprehensive account for the general reader of its rise, splendour and fall. The drama of Pompeii's end has been handed down by Roman writers, its paintings and mosaics have astonished visitors since their discovery, and its houses and public buildings still present a vivid picture of life, disaster and death in a Roman town. Chapters include:
• The dramatic story of Pompeii’s destruction and burial
• The changing nature of excavation and research since Pompeii was unearthed
• Pompeii’s development – the latest findings
• Vivid evidence on the daily lives and deaths of the people
• The internal politics of Pompeii
• Architecture, decoration and objects of daily life
• Religion in Pompeian life, from the Roman gods to the exotic cult of Isis
• Economic Life, from production, through shopping and eating, to long-distance trade
• Lavish illustrations, covering monumental architecture and inscriptions, houses, shops, graffiti, wall-paintings and mosaics.
• Features range from theatre to water supply
• Comprehensive tables of information".
See Naples and Die by Penelope Green - Penny Green (author of the previously published and excellent When in Rome) returned to Italy after a holiday in Australia ready for a challenge. She was looking for a new job and romance, and found work and perhaps love in the toughest Italian city of them all - Napoli. Penny takes on her new home with almost the same open acceptance she had when she first arrived in Rome four years ago. Now, though, she is older, wiser and more experienced when it comes to breaking into a new city. She writes with a feeling of growing love for the Neapolitans, for the beauty of the city’s waterfront, and the delights of the old town. But she is realistic - she also steps into the city’s underworld and sees for herself how the camorra operate and how they will murder for no reason. Penny delves into the myths about Naples to discover what aspects of those myths are true today. To help in her investigations she talks to people from all walks of Neapolitan life - from the mayor, to her colleagues and landlady, to the family of Annalisa Durante who was killed by the Mafia, to the local friends she makes at cafes and parties. Publisher: Hachette Australia Paperback; RRP $35.00.
Condé Nast Traveller: Mare di Sicilia - Il numero di giugno dell'edizione italiana della Condé Nast Traveller, dedicato interamente al "Mare di Sicilia" (con "capatine" a Pantelleria e Lampedusa, alle Eolie, Egadi, a Ustica, a Taormina...) è ora disponibile in Australia (prezzo: $14.50). Per acquistare questo numero che sicuramente farà gola a tutti gli appassionati della Sicilia e dell'Italia in genere consultate la sezione "Italian magazines in Sydney" cliccando sulla pagina Where can I?.
Bellissima - Feminine Beauty and the Idea of Italy by Stephen Gundle (Hardback; Yale University Press). Ecco un'altro libro interessantissimo!!!: "Feminine beauty has been more discussed, appreciated, represented in art and associated with national cultural identity in Italy than in any other country. From the time of Dante and Petrarch, ideals of beauty have informed the work of artists, including Botticelli, Leonardo and Titian. The modern connection between the country and beauty dates from the Grand Tour, with the nineteenth-century stereotype of the dark, passionate, natural woman appropriated as a symbol by Italian nationalists. This intriguing study investigates the debates and conflicts the issue has provoked. Radicals and monarchists, Catholics, Fascists and Communists have all championed specific ideas about female beauty. First theatre and the press, then, later, cinema and television inherited from literature and art the task of articulating ideals. Gundle examines Fascism's failure to mould the ideal modern Italian woman, the rise of beauty pageants after World War Two, the professional and public roles of film and television actresses, and the election of the first non-white Miss Italy in 1996. Although the public discussion of feminine beauty was largely a male affair, women regularly undermined or challenged its presuppositions. The book explores these questions through the careers and public images of the beautiful women who, through politics, the media or art, have been seen to embody the country, from Queen Margherita of Savoy, the opera singer Lina Cavalieri, to the movie icons Gina Lollobrigida, Claudia Cardinale, Monica Bellucci, and the evergreen Sophia Loren, who remains the living symbol of Italy and one of the most beautiful women in the world". Available from Amazon U.K for £16.50 (postage not included).
The Garden at Bomarzo - A Renaissance Riddle by Jessie Sheeler; photographs by Mark Edward Smith. Bomarzo (yes, it is spelt "Bomarzo" with an "o" at the end - it's just that the cover of the book is too large for our scanner) is situated approximately 15km East of the city of Viterbo, in northern Lazio. If you are interested in Italian gardens the "Sacro Bosco di Bomarzo" is a must visit and luckily the great influx of tourists does not, as yet, diminish the unexpected delight of this most eccentric of all Italian gardens. If you have never been or if you are planning to go, this book is a delight. Ecco i dettagli: "Probably the most enigmatic garden in Europe, the Sacred Wood at Bomarzo in central Italy has been called extravagant, mysterious, unholy, surrealist, fascinating and good fun, but it has never been perfectly understood - which is possibly just as its creator intended. It was made in the latter half of the sixteenth century by the then Lord of Bomarzo, Vicino Orsini, a man as intriguing and paradoxical as the garden he left behind him. He spent his most active years as a captain serving in the armies of the Pope. But he was also much involved in the literary and artistic circles of his time, counting poets, sculptors, architects and cardinals among his friends. Although he thought deeply about religion and the need to aspire to purity and goodness, he was heavily influenced by his emotions and passions, particularly in his relations with women. All of this seems to have played a part in prompting him to present his dilemmas and aspirations in concrete form in his Sacro Bosco. In the valley below his palace at Bomarzo, Vicino had the soft tufa cliffs and boulders carved into grottoes, a theatre and a leaning house. Among fountains, allees and bowers, the shapes of creatures derived from Europe's myths and legends stand out. Monsters, giants, nymphs, gods and fantastic animals people the glades and pathways, accompanied by carved texts as puzzling as the works they seem to explain. The recurring theme of the works is the struggle of man's soul to distinguish between earthly and divine love, to see what is real and what illusion. Drawing on familiar figures from classical literature and contemporary Italian works, Vicino poses challenges to his audience, forcing an intellectual as well as an aesthetic response to the complex landscape of Bomarzo". Publisher: Francis Lincoln; hardback; at Abbey's bookshop for $59.95.
The Force of Destiny - A History of Italy since 1796 by Christopher Duggan. What caught our eye about this book is the starting date of Duggan's historical account: 1796, which corresponds with the arrival of Napoleon in Italy. Most histories of Italy start from 1861, year in which the first Italian national parliament met and declared Vittorio Emanuele king of the new country (even though it did not include Venice and Rome at that stage). But under the impact of the Napoleonic invasion and the mixture of optimism and resentment that this engendered, an initially small group of educated men and women began to promote the idea of an Italian nation so the choice the year 1796 as a "starting" date is very good. Comunque, here is the publisher's synopsis: "The early and mid-nineteenth century saw a chaotic, fragmented peninsula in Southern Europe fused together to form what we know today as Italy. Christopher Duggan's brilliant recounting of this is one of the great European stories. But Italy's birth had immensely damaging side effects. Unification meant, to many Italians, that a new Italy would take its rightful place as one of Europe's great nations; and that, swept on by 'the force of destiny', it would cease to be a poor and despised country, admired principally by tourists, and emerge instead as the dominant state in the continent. The failure of Italian unification to realise these ambitions led Italy to become a highly unstable element in Europe, contributing to both world wars and challenging the general international order.The Force of Destiny tells this extraordinary story with great vividness and intelligence. It exposes the difficulties of building a nation and shows how easily nationalism can slip towards authoritarianism and war". To what extent one agrees or not with Duggan's take of Italian history since 1798, the book is a great read and full of interesting insights. Do also read Tabias Jones' review which appeared in the 26th of August's edition of the Sunday Times (click here). Publisher:Allen Lane; hardback; available from Amazon U.K for £21.00 (postage not included).
Rome - The complete First Season (6 Disc Box Set) - This series was produced in 2005, it screened on Australian television starting in September 2006 (which we missed), we happened to buy the box set months ago and it's just been sitting in our shelf until recently when a student strongly recomended it to us. Having finally watched the series all I can say is: viva Titus Pollus and Lucius Vorenus!!! If you ever wondered why Brutus lent his hand - or better still his dagger - in the stabbing of Ceasar, if you like ancient Roman history, if you want to get a feel for what ancient Rome actually must have looked like and how daily life must have been, if you like good storytelling, a touch of sex and violence (the gladiatorial combat scene in episode 11, credo, is amazing) you will love this series! Infact we liked it so much we've ordered the second series form the U.K simply because we can't wait for it to be released in Australia - guess what we will be doing over the Labour Day long weekend!!! Available at JB Hi-Fi, $76.99, or for hire at most DVD rental stores.
Bisanzio e Venezia di Giorgio Ravegnani (Il Mulino; Euro 11.50) - Un libro straordinario per tutti gli appassionati di storia e in modo particolare della storia di Venezia che prende in esame il rapporto stretto ma spesso burrascoso tra la città lagunare e Bisanzio. Ecco i dettagli: "Venezia nasce bizantina nel VI secolo e tale rimane nell'alto Medioevo almeno fino al IX secolo. Poi, mentre il legame con Costantinopoli si allenta via via, seguendo la propria fortissima vocazione commerciale la città lagunare si proietta verso Oriente e si afferma per secoli come potenza mediterranea, cerniera tra est e ovest, fra mondo musulmano e mondo cristiano. Questo sintetico volume ricostruisce il rapporto millenario che nel corso del Medioevo ha unito Venezia all'impero bizantino, fino alla caduta di Costantinopoli nel 1453. Dalla fondazione di Venezia sotto la pressione dell'espansione longobarda alla dipendenza da Bisanzio, all'indipendenza entro la sfera dell'impero (con il cruciale privilegio di commerciare liberamente e senza tasse nel suo territorio), all'aperta ostilità che condusse Venezia a partecipare, nella quarta crociata, alla conquista di Costantinopoli, quello qui narrato e un capitolo essenziale della storia del mondo mediterraneo nell'età medievale". Per acquistare il libro on-line visitate il sito di Internet Bookshop Italia, oppure rivolgetevi a Europress Distributors (Piazza Level, Italian Forum, 23 Norton Street, Leichhardt; Tel: 9564 3712).
TimeOut Rome city guidebook (8th Edition, 2007; $35.00) - The latest edition of the TimeOut Rome guidebook is out!!! The Eyewitness Travel Guides sono fantastiche because of the pictures of course, the "street-by-street" maps, and the cross sections of important monuments and buildings. The Lonely Planet Guides are also very good and very popular but when it comes to comprehensiveness it's hard to beat the TimeOut guides even though it's sometimes hard to work out exactly what building/monument you may be looking at because of the lack of suggested itineraries. However the restaurant, cafes, bars, gelaterie, hotels, shops and nightlife reviews are very good, and the history, art, architecture, and "Rome Today" sections are excellent! Buon viaggio!!!
Ferrari Book & DVD Gift Pack (Green Umbrella Publishing; at Dymocks for $29.95) - if you are a Ferrari fan, and who isn't, this Ferrari Book and DVD gift pack is an excellent introduction to both Enzo Ferrari and the cars that bear his name. Ecco i dettagli: "The Little Book of Ferrari, by Brian Laban - The Little Book of Ferrari is a full colour 128 page hardback book that charts the history of the "Ferrari" from its early creation by founder Enzo Ferrari through to its various changes of ownership. Full of archive and more recent photographs and filled with interesting facts and statistics it's a great read for anyone interested in Ferrari; The Glory Days of Ferrari 1947-1987 DVD - This is the story of one man's dogged determination to produce the fastest and most sophisticated cars in the world. Enzo Ferri's sleek, hand crafted machines became a symbol of personal success for the privileged few and the dream of many. From his early days with Alfa Romeo to the release of his dazzling F40, the last car "the boss" would ever see come off the production line, this DVD will appeal to all motor enthusiasts".
Travel + Leisure Australia (October issue; in most newsagencies now; $7.95). The October issue of the Travel + Leisure Australia magazine features a lovely article on the Salentine Peninsula, in Puglia, the "heel" of Italy. The article also includes two mouth-watering recepies: orecchiette with broccolini and torta di ricotta - che buono!!! - and a "Guide to Puglia".
Excellent Cadavers The Story of the Sicilian Mafia & Giovanni Falcone, directed by Marco Turco (Distinction Series DVD; $28.95 at JB-Hi fi). "Through the eyes of Alexander Stille, author of the groundbreaking book Excellent Cadavers: the Mafia and the Death of the First Republic, this 90 minute documentary investigates the relationship between the Mafia and Italian politics. The film is the story of a huge victory against the Mafia, and the men who made it possible. The central protagonists are two doomed heroes, the Sicilian anti-Mafia prosecutors Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino. Their spectacular assassinations in 1992 are still an open wound in Sicily and throughout the land. The story begins in the post-war years but our focus will be on events leading up to the historic anti-Mafia trials mounted by Falcone and Borsellino in the mid 1980s and early 90s and their aftermath. In Stille's vision, Sicily is the stage for a bloody civil war - fought on one side by the Mafia and on the other by hundreds of brave Sicilians: behind the prosecutors Falcone and Borsellino are law enforcement officials, judges, local political leaders, ordinary men and women. Consistently, the film will show, key figures in the Italian government have effectively supported the wrong side, exposing the other to the Mafia's gunfire". This is one of the very very best and most moving documentaries we've ever seen and definitely one not to be missed!!!
The Devil & Maria D'Avalos by Victoria Hammond (Paperback; Allen&Unwin; $29.95). If a fascinating true story of love, desire and murder in sixteenth century Naples sounds like your perfect bedtime reading, here's the book for you! "In 1590, the great and tormented composer Carlo Gesualdo, Prince of Venosa, murdered his beautiful wife Maria d'Avalos and her aristocratic lover. Gesualdo was a character of Shakespearian proportions: nobleman, musical genius and, for the last sixteen years of his life, madman - or so it was alleged. With the chilling calculation of a hunter, he staged an elaborate, violent and horrific murderof the lovers. Yet far from ending his torment, in the years that followed Gesualdo became increasingly persecuted by his furies and demons. Inspired by this story that has haunted generations of Neapolitans and ignited the imaginations of artists the world over, Victoria Hammond has written a lush and sensual evocation of love, desire and madness, vividly imagining the life of the mysterious and seductive Maria, her tormented marriage to Carlo, and her affair with Fabrizio Carafa, the handsomest and most accomplished nobleman in Naples". Non vedo l'ora di leggerlo!!!
Scusateci ragazzi! Abbiamo trascurato un po' questa pagina - we have neglected this page a bit but we are back con un libro fantastico: Delizia! - The Epic History of the Italians and their Food, by John Dickie (Paperback, $35.00). Here is a description of what the book is all about, and having just finished reading it I can assure you it's interessantissimo!!! "In Delizia!, the author of the acclaimed Cosa Nostra takes a revelatory historical journey through the flavours of Italy's cities. From the bustle of Medieval Milan, to the bombast of Fascist Rome; from the pleasure gardens of Renaissance Ferrara, to the putrid alleyways of nineteenth-century Naples. In rich slices of urban life, Delizia! shows how violence and intrigue, as well as taste and creativity, went to make the world's favourite cuisine".
Maggio (2007)
Australian Gourmet Traveller (May 2007) - The May issue of the Australian Gourmet Traveller is entirely dedicated to Italy and Italian cuisine. Apart from dozens of mouth-watering recipies (including Sicilian desserts and sweets - che buono!!!) the magazine features articles on the Aeolian Islands, Naples, Puglia, and Rome's best rooms. Buon appetito!!! ($8.95; in all newsagencies).
Aprile (2007)
Italian Film Festival 2005 - 6 DVD (12 movie) box set - It's been a long wait but finallly eleven of the movies screened at the 2005 Italian Film Festival, including one screened at the 2004 festival (Prima dammi un bacio), have been released by Palace Films in a 6 DVD box set. Amongst the movies there's the hugely popular Manuale d'amore and the heart-breaking Alla luce del sole starring Luca Zingaretti as the Sicilian priest Don Puglisi killed by the Mafia in 1993. The other titles are: Singing Behind the Screens (Cantando dietro i paraventi); The Keys to the House (Le chiavi di casa); Have No Fear (Non aver paura); Sacred Heart (Cuore sacro); Once You're Born (Quando sei nato); the documentary about the popular comic duo Ciccio e Franco, How We Ruined The Italian Movie Business (Come inguaiammo il cinema italiano); The Fever (La febbre); When will the Girls Show Up? (Ma quando arrivano le ragazze?); The Life I Want (La vita che vorrei). All Films are in Italian Language with English Subtitles. At Borders Books for $84.00.
Febbraio (2007)
The Octopus (La Piovra) Series 2 - The second series of La Piovra is out on DVD - che bello!!!!!!!!!!!!! For those unfamiliar with the series which took Italy by storm in the eighties and nineties (10 series were produced), here's the DVD jacket's description of La Piovra: "One of the most popular TV series ever in Italy, La Piovra has developed a cult popularity world-wide. Central character, Corrado Cattani is played by Michele Placido, and his character forms the backbone of a sprawling tale of the Mafia, one unequalled in breadth to date. The eternal values of Mafia tales are here in spades - the purity of of the battle against crime versus the safety of family and loved ones. The soundtrack is composed and performed by Ennio Morricone - one of his greatest themes". (At JB Hi-fi for $46.99).
My Italy (January/February 2007 issue of the National Geographic Traveler) - 17 Italy-based photographers share their favourite photographs of Italy and the stories behind the images. Stupende! ($9.95; in newsagencies now).
Ottobre (2006)
Bell'Italia Luglio 2006 - Il numero di luglio di Bell'Italia é finalmente approdato a Sydney, in tempo per l'estate australiana. Gli articoli e le fotografie, bellissimi come al solito, sono dedicati, in questo numero, a Scilla (in Calabria), all'incanto della Costa ionica (in Puglia), al tesoro di San Vitale (a Ravenna), ai Giardini Vaticani, a Villa Emo a Fanzolo di Vedelago (in provincia di Treviso), alla valle Sarentina (in Alto Adige). Inoltre da questo numero Bell'Italia si arricchisce di una rubrica dedicata alla buona tavola e in questo numero l'itinerario gastronomico proposto prende in esame la cucina ischitana. Buona lettura, visione e appetito!!! (prezzo: $18.50). Per acquistare Bell'Italia consultate la sezione "Italian magazines in Sydney" cliccando sulla pagina Where can I?.
Condé Nast Traveller: Dolomiti - Il numero di luglio dell'edizione italiana della Condé Nast Traveller, dedicato interamente alle Dolomiti, é ora disponibile in Australia (prezzo: $14.50). Per acquistare questo numero che sicuramente farà gola a tutti gli appassionati della montagna e dell'Italia in genere consultate la sezione "Italian magazines in Sydney" cliccando sulla pagina Where can I?.
Between Salt Water and Holy Water - A History of Southern Italy by Tommaso Astarita (352pp, Pb $24.95). This is a concise history of of the part of Italy once known as the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. Astarita covers the turbulent times from Normans and Angevins through Spanish and Bourbon rule to the unification of Italy. We are introduced to the historical figures, the colourful religious observances, diverse population, ancient ruins, beautiful landscapes, sweet music and magnificent art, all of which inspired visitors to claim that one had to "see Naples, and then die".
Agosto - Settembre (2006)
Italian Film Festival 2000-2001 12 Film DVD Box Set - The DVD Box Set that will take you back to where it all began!!! Including the very first Opening Night Film from Year 2000 Bread & Tulips and from Opening Night 2001 The Last Kiss.
The 12 films are: (Year 2000) Bread & Tulips; The 100 Steps; Il Partigiano Johnny; The Sky Is Falling. Year 2001: The Last Kiss; The Words Of My Father Rosa & Cornelia; Unfair Competition; Sunday; Ask Me If I'm Happy; Honolulu Baby; Placido Rizzotto. All Films are in Italian Language with English Subtitles presented exactly as per the festival screenings. At Borders Books for $79.95.
The Genius in the Design - Bernini, Borromini and the Rivalry That Transformed Rome by Jake Morissey. This is the story of the great rivalry between hte 17th century Baroque architects, Bernini and Borromini. The two artists - one trained as a sculptor, the other as a stonecutter - met as contemporaries in the building yards of St Peter's and ended their lives as bitter enemies. Talented, driven and ambitious, their dazzling works inspired each other to greater achievement, while taking merciless advantage of any misfortune. One became the most lionised artist of his time, the other, comsumed by internal demons, commited suicide. Like Rome itself, their story is filled with beauty and tragedy on an operatic scale, ensuring a compelling read (Duckworth, 336pp, Pb $39.95).
Tutte le partite della Nazionale Italiana in DVD - Per tutti i tifosi incalliti degli Azzurri, La Fiamma, Il Globo e Rete Italia offrono un cofanetto di sette DVD con tutte le partite della Nazionale Italiana ai Mondiali di Calcio 2006 per soli $99.00 (sicuramente un'occasione da non perdere anche se, purtroppo, le partite sono commentate in inglese). Per acquistare il cofanetto visitate il sito de La Fiamma oppure telefonate in redazione al numero (02) 9569 4522.
Prisoner of the Vatican - The Popes, the Kings, and Garibaldi's Rebels in the Struggle to Rule Modern Italy by David Kertzer (Mariner Books, 386pp, at Abbey's Bookshop for $21.95). This fascinating history draws on previously unknown documents from the Vatican archives to detail a late 19th century plot on the part of Pope Pius IX and his successor, Leo XIII, to block the unification of Italy and to seize control of Rome and the Papal States. It is a colourful tale, enlivened by such key figures as King Victor Emmanuel (working behind the backs of his own ministers), the dashing national hero Garibaldi, France's ill-starred Napoleon III, and many more. The Machiavellian plot to dismantle the newborn Italian nation involved not only the cardinals and the Curia, but also attempts to exploit rivalries among France, Germany, Austria, Spain and England. Kertzer looks deep into the workings of the Church in its final bid to regain the pope's temporal power, illuminating the 50-year stalemate between the the papacy and the monarchy for control of Rome with a great deal of verve.
Jamie's Great Italian Escape (DVD) - Four years of trying to save the world is enough for anyone: Jamie Oliver tackled school food with Jamie's School Dinners and got the young unemployed working in Jamie's Kitchen. Approaching 30, tired and in danger of losing touch with the joy of cooking, Jamie heads to Italy to escape and re-discover what inspired his love of food in the first place. In his clapped- out camper van, Jamie travels the country in search of its gastronomic heart, and cooks with people passionate about food. If you missed the series on Channel 10 earlier this year or if you enjoyed the series so much you would like to purchase it, well, it's now out on DVD for general sale ($27.99 at JB Hi -Fi).
Gardens of Italy - by Ann Laras (Frances Lincoln, Hardcover, $79.95). One of of Italy's wonderful treasures are the exquisite gardens that grace her cities and towns. Each of them are unique and their beauty is breathtaking. These serene and alluring retreats offer a break from the hustle and bustle of daily Italian life, where one can partake and enjoy all nature has to offer. Gardens of Italy takes a fresh look at sixty of Italy's finest gardens. This book combines magnificent photography with insights from the gardeners, colourful historical anecdotes and enchanting descriptions of the gardens as they are today. As she journeys from the lakes north of Milan down to the southern islands of Ischia and Capri, Ann Laras captures the magic of all the best-loved Italian gardens, as well as introducing us to less-familiar gems, both old and new.
Cinema Paradiso by Giuseppe Tornatore - 4 Disc Collectors Edition - What a treat for Cinema Paradiso fans: a 4 disc collectors edition of the movie has just been released by Umbrella Entertainment. DVD One contains the Director's Cut version of the movie (170 min). DVD Two includes the original theatrical version of the movie (120 min) and scenes from the Director's Cut (50 min). DVD Three features the documentary Giuseppe Tornatore: A Dream of Sicily. The fourth disc is actually a CD containing Ennio Morricone's beautiful soundtrack. At JB Hi-Fi for $29.99.
Shopgirls (Commesse) - Series 1 (1999) DVD - For all those trillions of fans of Commesse, the first series is now out on DVD in a three disc box set. For those unfamiliar with the popular series here's a brief description of the series itself: "Marta, Roberta, Fiorenza, Paola, Lucia and Romeo - six very different people work together in an elegant fashion boutique in the centre of Rome. They are all in thrall to the demands of the overbearing manager, Francesca. Each character knows that between the dramas of their own lives, the journeys to and from work, the children to care for, husbands, lovers, parents - that they will find solidarity with their fellow shop workers. This quintessentially Italian series has screened twice on SBS television it is classic soap opera material, but with many colourful flourishes, and some surprising sub-texts in plots." At JB Hi-Fi for $46.99.
Italianicious Spring issue - The Spring 2006 issue of the Italianicious magazine will be in newsagents and Borders Bookstores from Monday the 28th of August. This issue is packed with fresh vegetable recipes, features on Arezzo and Umbria, pizza making at home, a stroll around the Swan Valley and meet Agata and Romeo, passionate restaurateurs in Rome. Discover also the legend of the Mona Lisa at Villa Vignamaggio. Subscribe before 17 October to enter into the draw to win one of two Italian food hampers. You can subscribe online at www.italianicious.com.au or call Italianicious on 1300 134 986. Annual subscriptions are great value at $20 for 4 issues, delivered anywhere in Australia!
Napoli - the August issue of Condé Nast Traveller features a excellent article on Naples, and a review of a lovely Umbrian country-house hotel ($11.95; in newsagencies now).
Novembre - Dicembre 2005
The Economist (November 26th - December 2nd, 2005) - This weeks edition of The Economist features a truly excellent survey of Italy which examines Italy's current economic, social, and political state of affairs. In most newsagencies at $7.95.
Inspector Montalbano: Volume 1 (MA) - Finalmente ragazzi, the first five episodes of the television series Il commissario Montalbano are available on DVD in Australia. For those who are not familiar with either the books or the series, Montalbano is a Sicilian detective originated by the writer, Andrea Camilleri. He’s a brooding, well-dressed, very sharp and, according to many of our students, very attractive detective (played in the television series by Luca Zingaretti). Andrea Camilleri's novels starring il commissario Montalbano have become not just an Italian, but an international sensation and have been translated from Italian into eight languages, ranging from Dutch to Japanese. The television series, produced by RAI, was introduced to Australian viewers on SBS and has developed a cult following. SBS will re-screen the first and second series of il commissario Montalbano in January, and will be screening 4 brand new episodes of the series (which recently appeared on Italian television), alas, in 2007. Aztec collects 5 of the feature length episodes here on one stylish DVD set, just in time for Christmas! Volume 1 episodes are: Il cane di terracotta (The Terracotta Dog); La forma dell'acqua (The Shape of Water); Il ladro di merendine (The Snack Theif); La voce del violino (The Voice of the Violin); Il tocco d'artista (The Artist's Touch). Da non perdere!!! RRP $48.95; at Borders for $44.95.
Italian Film Festival 2004, 11 Film Box Set - Timed for release following the 2005 Italian Film Festival, this box set features 11 films screened at the the 2004 Italian Film Festival. From the poignant beauty of 'The Miracle' through to the gritty realism of 'Certain Children', Italian cinema fans will love this stunning box set. The films included are: Agatha & The Storm (disc 1); Caterina In The City / After Midnight (disc 2); Good Morning, Night / The Miracle (disc 3); The Wedding Dress / My Brother In-Law (disc 4); The Cruelest Day / The Spectator (disc 5); The Consequences Of Love / Certain Children (disc 6). At Borders Books for $79.95.
Italian Joy by Carla Coulson - Carla coulson had it all, or so everyone told her - a glamorous inner-city apartment, a successful business and a designer wardrobe. One lonely christmas eve, however, she realised what was missing: excitement, work she was passionate about and, most of all, love. So, Carla packed up her life and boarded a plane. Italy was her first port of call and became her true destination. With a camera and nothing to lose, she found herself immersed in florence, tasting the food, learning the language, meeting the people, discovering a new career and country - and photographing her new life. Carla's evocative text and rich photographs bring alive the laughter, warmth and passion of italy. We meet the people who have embraced her; we see the streets, bars, churches and markets that have enchanted her; and we feel her gioia (joy). Italian joy will make you yearn to follow in carla's footsteps and discover the true beauty of life in a magical place. Italian Joy is the perfect Christmas gift for all lovers of Italy and for all those who simply love beautiful books (Regular retail price: $49.95; available at Borders Books for $34.95).
Agosto - Settembre (August - September) 2005
Viva Radio 2, starring Fiorello e Marco Baldini - If you have been listening to Rete Italia at the weekends you've probably heard the repeats of Fiorello e Marco Baldini's hilarious radio programme Viva Radio 2 in which the simpaticissimo Fiorello impersonates a host of Italian celebrities amongst whom Mike Bongiorno, Antonio Cassano, Luciano Pavarotti, Andrea Camilleri, Nanni Moretti and Carla Bruni. Well, some of the best sketches are now available on CD and it is divertentissimo!!! You can purchase the CD on the net at Internet Bookshop Italia (click here), or you can order it at Casa del Disco, in Petersham - Tel: 9569 6697.
Condé Nast Traveller: Ischia - The latest issue of the Italian version of Condé Nast Traveller available in Australia is dedicated to Ischia and Capri, Napoli, la Costiera amalfitana, and il Cilento. Stupendo! (In Italian; Cost: $14.95. To purchase the magazine consult the "Italian magazines" section of our Where can I? page.
Giugno - Luglio (June - July) 2005
Mangiare per strada di Flavia Amabile (Airplane, 522 pagine, 15 euro) - Ecco un manuale utilissimo per chi, in viaggio lungo la Penisola, con poco tempo a disposizione o un budget limitato, non vuole rinunciare a un buon pasto. "Mangiare per strada", infatti, riunisce forni, salumerie, rosticcerie, mercati, venditori ambulanti che preparano golosità come il panino al lampredotto (trippa) di Firenze, il rustico napoletano (pasta sfoglia ripiena di formaggio, prosciutto o verdure), gli sfincioni palermitani (focaccine con pomodoro fresco, acciughe, formaggio, cipolle). Gli indirizzi, divisi per Regione, località e tipologia, sono preceduti da citazioni, proverbi, brevi note che raccontano la storia del cibo di strada, specchio di tradizione e qualità. Per acquistare il libro on-line visitate il sito di Internet Bookshop Italia, oppure rivolgetevi a Europress Distributors (Piazza Level, Italian Forum, 23 Norton Street, Leichhardt; Tel: 9564 3712).
Focus magazine - the April edition of the popular Italian science magazine Focus is currently available in Sydney, and features articles on whistling (yes, whistling), the story of the Roman legionaries in Zhelaizhai, in China, a fascinating article on honesty, and a lot more. To purchase the magazine consult the "Italian magazines" section of our Where can I? page.
Il Gattopardo (The Leopard) DVD - Luchino Visconti's cinematic masterpiece "Il Gattopardo" is finally on DVD for "general sell-thru". The special two disc edition, released by Madman Cinema, includes a fascinating one hour documentary on Visconti's life and work in cinema, theatre and opera. Available at Borders for $34.95, or visit Madman Cinema to purchase it on-line.
A Sultan in Palermo by Tariq Ali (Publisher: Verso; hardback; $39.95) - The fourth novel in Tariq Ali's 'Islam Quintet' is set in medieval Palermo, a Muslim city rivalling Baghdad and Cordoba in size and splendour. The year is 1153. The Normans are ruling Siqqiliya, but Arab culture and language dominates the island and the court. Sultan Rujari (King Roger) surrounds himself with Muslim intellectuals; several concubines and an administration presided over by gifted eunuchs. The Bishops, expecting to be at the pinnacle of power are angered by the prominance accorded to Muslims within the Court. In this captivating novel, Tariq Ali charts the life and loves of the medieval cartographer, Muhammed al-Idrisi. Torn between his close friendship to the Sultan and his friends who are leaving the island or plotting a resistance to Norman rule. Idrisi finds temporary solace in the harem, but confronted by the common people of Noto and Catania his conscience is troubled. A Sultan in Palermo is a mythic and captivating novel in which pride, greed and lust intermingle with resistance and greatness. It is a story from a past whose echoes can still be heard today. Fascinating reading!
Ottobre - Novembre (October - November) - 2004
Andrea Bocelli - after a three year wait, Andrea Bocelli's new CD, simply named Andrea, is finally out. Available at all music stores.
Palermo - the September issue of Condé Nast Traveller features a lovely article on Palermo, and a short article on the new bridge which will cross the Grand Canal in Venice, to be erected, says the article, towards the end of October. Vedremo! ($11.95; in newsagencies now).
My Voyage to Italy by Martin Scorsese - Scorsese's absolutely wonderful documentary on Italian cinema is now out on DVD. For those who missed the screening of this documentary at the 2003 Italian Film Festival and its screening on SBS no that long ago, My Voyage to Italy - hosted, co-written, and directed by Scorsese - is part introduction to Italian cinema from the 40's to the 60's, part tribute to some of its greatest films and filmmakers, and part autobiography of Scorsese. The film features film clips, personal photos, and footage to present a passionate look at the Italian movies that formed Scorsese as a filmmaker and as a person. Scorsese also gives a detailed synopsis of each film and explains its place in cultural and film history. Fantastico! Cost: $39.95. Available at The Language Bookshop (1st Floor, Abbey's Bookshop, tel. (02) 9267 1397) Borders Books; Kinokuniya Bookshop, or visit Umbrella Entertainment to purchase it on-line.
Agosto - Settembre 2004
Bell'Italia magazine (US edition, June/July issue) - The latest issue of the US edition has made it to Sydney shores and contains fantastic articles (and photographs) on Pompei, the Castello Sforzesco in Milano, the frescoes by Giotto in the Scrovegni Chapel in Padova, the island of Capraia in the Tremiti archipelago off Puglia, Villa Caprile in Pesaro, and Val d'Ega in Alto Adige. Cost: $14.80. To purchase the magazine consult the "Italian magazines" section of our Where can I? page.
Condé Nast Traveller: Barcellona e tutta la Costa Brava - The latest issue of the Italian version of Condé Nast Traveller available in Australia is dedicated to Barcellona e la Costa Brava. O.K, Barcellona is not in Italy, but the magazine is in Italian and the photographs are bellissimi! Cost: $13.95. To purchase the magazine consult the "Italian magazines" section of our Where can I? page.
The Horses of Saint Mark's: A story of Triumph in Byzantium, Paris and Venice, by Charles Freeman - This is a truly fantastic book! Freeman examines the many competing legends of the origins of the exquisite horses.He reveals not only the horses' artistic and historical value, but also their symbolic nature: how the motif of the quadriga - a chariot drawn by four horses - has resonated since classical times. And he follows the horses in their forced movements from Byzantium to Venice first, then from Venice to Paris, and finally from Paris back to Venice, delving along the way into the history of the three cities and providing a wealth of fascinating facts and anecdotes. Great reading! ($45; hardback; publisher: Little, Brown).
Tazzine Illy - In September Illy will be releasing its latest limited edition espresso coffee cup set, designed by the renowned Greek artist Jannis Kounellis, and named "Elettra, Antigone, Fedra, Persefone". To purchase the set in Australia, call Il Caffé Espresso on (02) 9667 0111 (Cost of the set: $220). Alternately you can purchase the set through friends in Italia (to visit the Illy Italia site click here). Also, many enterprising people will be selling the cup (at a premium of course) on Ebay (type "illy" in the search window). Cosa si fa per le tazzine Illy!
Silvio Berlusconi: Television, Power and Patrimony, by Paul Ginsborg - Paul Ginsburg is one of the foremost historians of contemporary Italian society and his two previous books, A History of Contemporary History and Italy and Its Discontents, are compulsory (and compulsive) reading for those interested in the history of Italy following WWII. In his latest book Ginsburg examines Italy's current Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi and promises to be fascinating reading ($36; hardback; publisher: Verso).
The Cardinal's Hat: Money, Ambition and Housekeeping in a Renaissance Court, by Mary Hollingsworth - Those interested in Italian Renaissance Art are probably familiar with Hollingsworth's two previous books, Patronage in Renaissance Italy: From 1400 to the Early Sixteenth Century and Patronage in Sixteenth Century italy. In her latest book, Hollingsworth looks at the life of Ippolito d'Este. The second son of Lucrezia Borgia Ippolito loved gambling, hunting, tennis and women. He became Archibishop of Milan at the age of nine but he had to wait another twenty years to acquire his coveted cardinal's hat, the route to power and wealth in sixteenth-century Europe and one which had little to do with piety. The book traces the story of how he achieved his ambition. Sounds interesting! ($49.95; hardcover; publisher: Profile books).
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