One of The Economist's Books of the Year
A provocative, entertaining account of Italy's diverse riches, its hopes
and dreams, its past and present
Did Garibaldi do Italy a disservice when he helped its disparate parts
achieve unity? Was the goal of political unification a mistake? The
question is asked and answered in a number of ways in The Pursuit of
Italy, an engaging, original consideration of the many histories that
contribute to the brilliance--and weakness--of Italy today.
David Gilmour's wonderfully readable exploration of Italian life over
the centuries is filled with provocative anecdotes as well as personal
observations, and is peopled by the great figures of the Italian
past--from Cicero and Virgil to the controversial politicians of the
twentieth century. His wise account of the Risorgimento debunks the
nationalistic myths that surround it, though he paints a sympathetic
portrait of Giuseppe Verdi, a beloved hero of the era.
Gilmour shows that the glory of Italy has always lain in its regions,
with their distinctive art, civic cultures, identities, and cuisines.
Italy's inhabitants identified themselves not as Italians but as Tuscans
and Venetians, Sicilians and Lombards, Neapolitans and Genoese. Italy's
strength and culture still come from its regions rather than from its
misconceived, mishandled notion of a unified nation.