A Small Place in Italy

Book Description

In 1967 Eric and Wanda Newby fulfilled a long-cherished dream when they bought a run-down farmhouse in northern Tuscany, in the foothills of the Italian Alps. They were the first foreigners to live in the region. A Small Place in Italy describes how the house was restored with the help of their neighbors, a colorful cast of characters who quickly befriended the Newbys.

With his characteristic wry humor and sharp eye for the quirks of human nature, Eric Newby paints an unforgettable picture of rural Italy and its people. The rhythms and rituals of country life - harvesting grapes, making wine, hunting for wild mushrooms - are lovingly evoked, along with the storybook landscapes and changing seasons. At the center of his memoir is the farmhouse itself, which from unpromising beginnings - tileless roof, long-abandoned septic tank and mice the size of small cats was gradually restored.

Customer Reviews:

Meets a market need perfectly........2004-05-25

The urge to escape the comforts, routine and refinements of our living conditions to somewhere more challenging, primitive and raw is something that many of us feel - especially those who read books. The books we read can sometimes stimulate the urge, sometimes satisfy it. All I ask of such books is that the author can write well and that he is not boastful.

Eric Newby, especially in "A Small Place in Italy", meets these requirements admirably. Indeed, he ranks for me as a travel writer of near genius. He was almost 50 years old when he and his Italian born wife Wanda took up permanent residence in a ruined farmhouse in northern Italy. His account of the trials and tribulations that followed, the neighbors and the locality, is told in this wonderfully witty, readable and valuable book. Part of the value rests in the sociological and historical dimensions it gives. Even while he lived there, the customs, the occupations and the life styles were fast disappearing.

If you enjoy this genre, you'll want to give "A Small Place in Italy" a prominent place on your bookshelf.

I think I've read the entire genre of these types of books.........2003-01-22

I've read: "Under the Tuscan Sun", "Extra Virgin ...", "An Italian Affair", "In Maremma: Life and a House in Southern Tuscany", "Italian Neighbors" and I'm on my way to the library to pickup and start reading "Pasquales' Note: Idle Days in an Italian Town". I started reading these types of books when I got lonely for Italy after visiting in November of 2001. I just finished "A Small Place in Italy". Each of these books have something special in it that I enjoyed reading about. I really enjoyed reading about the person Attilio. Attilio came with the house when they purchased this house in Italy -- he had his own secret room. I enjoyed reading about how they hired their local tradesmen to renovate and repair this house. I hope I never run out of these types of books to read, I do plan to return to visit Italy, it would be a joy to visit some of these small towns.

I learned, laughed, cried, couldn't put it down.......2002-07-25

In 1967, British travel editor Eric Newby and his wife, Wanda, bought a primitive farmhouse in the hills between Liguria and Tuscany, the region where they met during World War II, Newby a soldier on the run between POW internments, Wanda a relief worker. They are the first foreigners to come live in their neighborhood, which remained unchanged from the time of the War; in fact, the country people, contadini, probably lived pretty much as they had for a couple of centuries or more. In the 25 years that the Newbys stayed, using the farmhouse as a second home but tending the land seriously, they were accepted and came to know the people and area well. A SMALL PLACE IN ITALY is a profile of their neighbors, their work, customs and the surrounding area. He offers up historical notes and chronicles the arrival of the late 20th century and loss of old ways.

This book has everything going for it. Newby is honest, a truthful writer. He never sells out his subject for entertainment or sentimentality. He does not go the route of portraying the noble savage, he does not paint the peasantry as buffoons or children, he does not go over the top to prove that he is one of them. It is obvious that he and Wanda were quickly accepted into the community because they were hard workers who respected the land and were happy to share. There is a fine wit and spirit at hand. Newby has to be the most resilient person on earth (see A SHORT WALK IN THE HINDU KUSH for more evidence).

Other virtues of this book: the pages whip by because Newby is brilliant at ordering his information. He also translates the Italian phrases and words that pop up routinely, so that those of us unschooled in Italian, particularly northern Italian expressions, are not at a loss.

Getting away from Tuscan groupy mush.......2001-07-19

Having a love for Tuscany and Umbria but not the income to live there, my partner and I read with some initial pleasure two books by people who renovated villas at vast cost and labour to the local tradesmen and wrote down lots of recipes - 'hell I'm such a cute and cultured Californian poetess patronising the locals once a year'.

Then a friend lent us the Newby version. Forget the rest. Get the best. He and Wanda work hard. They know and respect their neighbours. Crisp words give life to vine-growing, mountains, meals and breakneck roads.

This is the one: all else are imitations.

What about Wanda.......2001-02-21

I read Love and War in the Apennines, and just completed A Small Place in Italy. No doubt the villages and the people have have changed. And there's something endearing about knowing your neighbors, and being a part of their lives. I did enjoy this book, and the other. But I can't help but feel that there is still a void to this whole series. I really want to know about Wanda. She must really me a fantastic woman.

A New World in a Small Place: Church and Religion in the Diocese of Rieti, 1188-1378

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A New World in a Small Place: Church and Religion in the Diocese of Rieti, 1188-1378
Robert Brentano
Manufacturer: University of California Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

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Book Description

Distinguished historian Robert Brentano provides an entirely new perspective on the character of the church, religion, and society in the medieval Italian diocese of Rieti from 1188 to 1378. Combing through a cache of previously ignored documents stored in a tower of the cathedral, he uses wills, litigation proceedings, fiscal accounts, and other records to reconstruct the daily life of the diocese.

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A SMALL PLACE IN ITALY
NEWBY
Manufacturer: PICADOR
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000S6LMU8

Partisan Warfare 1941-45 (Men-at-Arms)
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Eastern resistance and collaboration in WW2

Partisan Warfare 1941-45 (Men-at-Arms)
Nigel Thomas
Manufacturer: Osprey Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books
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Resistance Warfare 1940-45 (Men-at-Arms)

Foreign Volunteers of the Wehrmacht 1941-45 (Men-at-Arms)

German Military Police Units 1939-45 (Men-at-Arms)

The SA 1921-45 : Hitler's Stormtroopers (Men-At Arms Series, 220)

Germany's Eastern Front Allies 1941-45 (Men-at-Arms)

ASIN: 0850455138
Release Date: 1992-03-26

Book Description

During 1941 the Germans occupied first Greece and the former Yuogslavia, then enormous areas of European Russia. Once the front line troops had moved on the struggle continued as bands of resistance fighters waged war against the occupation forces until their final withdrawal. The term 'partisan' is associated with Communist-led bands and they were often the most fanatical defenders of the Soviet realm. However, there were also non-Communist resistance groups which were nationalist and broadly constitutionalist and as a result a complicated three-way war developed. This book details the guerrilla war which was waged in the various regions and the uniforms and equipment of the combatants.

Customer Reviews:

Eastern resistance and collaboration in WW2.......2007-08-09

Excellent Osprey Men at Arms book. The book covers the restance and collaborators in Poland, Yugoslavia (Serbian, Croatian, Slovenian)Ukraine, Albania and Russia. The book does a good job of describing the politial climate, the risks of those involves and a pretty good order-of-battle.

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Tito's Partisans 1941-45 (Warrior)

Manufacturer: Osprey Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Yugoslavia | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Axis Forces in Yugoslavia 1941-45 (Men-at-Arms)
Beacons in the Night: With the OSS and Tito's Partisans in Wartime Yugoslavia
The Yugoslav Wars (2): Bosnia, Kosovo and Macedonia 1992 - 2001 (Elite)
Wartime
Vietnam Firebases 1965-73: American and Australian Forces (Fortress)

ASIN: 1841766755
Release Date: 2003-07-23

Book Description

The civil war that raged in Yugoslavia following the German invasion in 1941 was brutal, uncompromising and complex, pitting royalists, fascists communists, ethnic groups, and the Axis powers against one another in a shifting and bloody theatre of war. The Partisan forces under the command of Josip Broz Tito were a constant thorn in the side of the Wehrmacht divisions in the Balkans, prompting numerous anti-partisan operations. Using primary source material, stunning contemporary images and personal accounts, this book explores a well-known but little published subject for the first time, bringing to light the development, training, weaponry, tactics and combat experiences of Tito's formidable guerrilla force, and the events of this bloody theatre of World War II.

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Partisan Warfare 1941-45
Thomas P. & Nigel Thomas Abbott
Manufacturer: Osprey Pub Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MBVP6A

Customer Reviews:

An Excellent Introduction to a Fascinating Continent.......2005-05-21

I loved this book. It's extremely well-written, sensitive, and demonstrates a wealth of knowledge about African cultures, politics, religions, economies, gender relations, and, in one of the best chapters in the book, literature. You don't often see such a skillful sketch of the impressive African novels and poems that have been written in the past few generations.

This is the perfect book to assign to students who have no exposure to anything African (which, unfortunately, is most undergraduates). Although it's an introduction to the topic, those who know a great deal about it will find that almost all of it resonates with the other literature they have read, whether historical, political, or otherwise. It's a very compassionate and progressive look at Africa. All modern challenges to the continent are presented so that students get a multi-dimensional look at Africa's struggles. Environmental and agricultural problems are presented in tandem with economic and political ones, so that students will have a real context in which to put all future readings about Africa. But unlike so many African books, the text provides sections such as the one on literature, to show that Africa has many achievements, instead of focusing only on negativity, as unfortunately many books on the topic do. At the same time, it does not gloss over the tragedies on the continent and their causes, and difficult topics such as the AIDS crisis are treated in a sensitive manner.

It is a great book and I can't imagine there's one better out there. However, were I to make suggestions to the editors they would be the following:

1. The historical section could be slightly larger. The historical context is dealt with in one chapter, and yet a more extensive discussion of certain historical events would help students better understand some of the continent's present difficulties.

2. The literature section could be extended to include popular culture, music, every day entertainments, festivals, etc. Students would enjoy some additional stories showing the richness of so many African cultures. Although the literature section does this, it could do so more thoroughly.

3. The economic section would benefit from more success stories. Although it has an excellent discussion of the crushing debt burden and the role of international financial institutions in African economies, which students must know about, it would help to see some dicussions not just of how local business and initiative is stifled, but descriptions of these businesses.

I've read some fascinating things about African entrepreneurship and ingenuity in industry against all kinds of odds. Although many of these efforts were stifled by the state, I think students would benefit from knowing about dynamic efforts such as these.

3

Understanding Contemporary Africa.......2001-02-14

Understanding Contemporary Africa is a general textbook that is perfect for introductory courses in African studies. Authors of the various chapters are university-level scholars and teachers of history, political science, sociology, religion, and African studies. The subjects covered are African history, politics, national economies, international relations, population growth and urbanization, the environment, familial structures, women's effect in society, religion, and literature. There is an entire chapter devoted to South Africa.

This book contains many helpful references. Full page maps are near the beginning of the book, showing major physical features, the ITCZ and vegetation zones, natural resources compared to railroads and navigable rivers, early states and empires, colonies in 1914, and current countries and their capitals. I needed to refer to them often enough that I put a paperclip on the pages. Table 5.1 is a current export chart. Each chapter ends in a lengthy bibliography for further study. At the end of the book, acronyms are defined and there is a thorough glossary to which I referred many times. Basic Political Data is the third appendix. Each country is traced from independence to the present day in terms of its leaders.

Although the book suffers from sweeping generalizations, many times these are acknowledged by the authors. There are too few examples of these generalizations for my own taste. I personally prefer more "real people" stories to demonstrate points being made. This does not detract from the excellence of this intended introductory textbook for college-level African studies courses.

The last chapter of the book leaves the reader on the upbeat. There is hope for Africa in the current generation of young, educated middle and upper class men and women. They are seeing a bright future for Africa with hope in place of despair. Autocrats are being replaced with democratic leaders. Small businesses are on the rise; this is always a healthy sign in an economy. Health services and public education have increased since independence. The book closes with the observation that it will take a world partnership with Africa to make things work to neutralize the long term effects of exploitation of the African continent.

West Africa: An Introduction to Its History, Civilization and Contemporary Situation
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West Africa: An Introduction to Its History, Civilization and Contemporary Situation
Eugene L. Mendonsa
Manufacturer: Carolina Academic Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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West Africa's Security Challenges: Building Peace in a Troubled Region (Project of the International Peace Academy)

ASIN: 0890896496

Product Description

This introductory book covers West Africa's history, social organization, and contemporary setting. It analyzes the many present-day problems facing West Africans such as the lack of development, dependency on economic relations with wealthy countries, poor governance, interference by the military in civilian affairs, corruption, and the lack of functioning democratic governments. This book also shows how West African indigenous civilization developed its humanitarian, democratic, and communalistic nature. Traditional political processes and ancestral customs are put forth as ways of solving West Africa's modern problems.

Divided into three main parts: "The Setting and Social Organization," "The History of West Africa," and "The Modern Era," the main objective of this textbook is to teach students about the depth of African civilization and how its principles can be used to address modern-day problems in West Africa. Mendonsa expresses the opinion that in order to solve current problems plaguing the region, a knowledge of history, African culture, and ancient African beliefs is crucial.

A teacher's manual is available which includes chapter outlines and summaries, key points, sample questions, and suggested films and websites.

And Still We Rise: An Introduction to Black Liberation Theology

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Resourceful

And Still We Rise: An Introduction to Black Liberation Theology
Diana L. Hayes
Manufacturer: Paulist Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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African American | Other Practices | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Hagar's Daughters: Womanist Ways of Being in the World (Madeleva Lecture in Spirituality : 1995)
Were You There?: Stations of the Cross

ASIN: 0809136228

Customer Reviews:

Resourceful.......2000-11-05

This is a great introductory book for anyone who wants to study African American's influence on Black Catholic History. It raises many important key issues about the past, current, and future presence of Blacks in the Catholic Church.

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An Introduction to African Politics
Alex Thomson
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Africa | History | Subjects | Books

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

History & Theory | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Practical Politics | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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Politics and Society in Contemporary Africa

ASIN: 0415282624

Book Description

An Introduction to African Politics provides an ideal gateway for individuals seeking to learn more about the African continent. Using accessible terms and concepts, the book seeks to make sense of the dynamic and diverse political systems that are a feature of this fascinating part of the world. It charts the region's fall from grace after independence, the rise and fall of the one-party state and Africa's recent struggle to consolidate democracy. This expanded, fully revised and updated edition remains a key source in helping readers to grasp the events and recurring political patterns that have dominated the African continent since decolonisation.

Feature and benefits of An Introduction to African Politics:

· It is thematically organised, with individual chapters exploring issues such as colonisation, ethnicity, nationalism, social class, ideology, legitimacy, sovereignty, and democracy
· It identifies key recurrent themes such as the competitive relationships between the African state, its civil society and external interests.
· It contains useful boxed case studies of countries at the end of each chapter, including: Kenya; Tanzania; Nigeria; Botswana; Côte d'Ivorie; Uganda; Somalia; Ghana; Zaire and Algeria
· Each chapter concludes with key terms and definitions as well as questions, advice on further reading, and useful notes and references
· It is clearly and accessibly written by an experienced teacher of the subject

Oromia: An Introduction to the History of the Oromo People

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The story of na nation-the destruction of a culture

Oromia: An Introduction to the History of the Oromo People
Gadaa Melbaa
Manufacturer: Kirk House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Ethiopia | Africa | History | Subjects | Books

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The Oromo of Ethiopia: A History 1570-1860
The Making of the Oromo Diaspora
Oromia and Ethiopia: State Formation and Ethnonational Conflict, 1868-2004

ASIN: 188651318X

Book Description

An account of the struggle of the Oromo people to affirm their place in history. The Oromo make up a significant portion of the Horn of Africa population. Oromia is a title used to refer to the Oromo as a political, cultural, and social entity. Living in East African nations, the Oromo people arelargely unknown to most of the world; this work lifts up the people, their culture, and their struggles.

Customer Reviews:

The story of na nation-the destruction of a culture.......2007-09-23

This short, direct explanation of just what happens to a culture destroyed by competing European colonialisms. High school seniors would benefit from reading and discussing the dynamics of this book. without vituperation, it draws attention to the kind of exploitation which, I think, the average citizen does not suspect continues to exist.

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C.L.R. James: A Critical Introduction
Aldon Lynn Nielsen
Manufacturer: University Press of Mississippi
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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African American Studies: An Introduction to the Key Debates

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African American Studies: An Introduction to the Key Debates
Henry Louis Gates Jr.
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Discrimination & Racism | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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Non-US Legal Systems | Perspectives on Law | Law | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0393975789

Book Description

Unprecedented in scope and approach, this collection explores debates about the signal issues of the black experience in the United States from the late eighteenth century to the present. Over 160 primary writings—essays, speeches, petitions, editorials, newspaper and journal articles, manifestos, political cartoons, poems, and fiction—map the controversies surrounding emigration and migration, black nationalism and separatism, violent and nonviolent protest, black women's rights, the existence of a black aesthetic, the role of religion in the civil rights struggle, and affirmative action, among other key debates.

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African Literatures: An Introduction
Oyekam Owomoyela
Manufacturer: African Studies Assn
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

African society, culture, and politics: An introduction to African studies

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African society, culture, and politics: An introduction to African studies

Manufacturer: University Press of America
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Africa | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0819101869

Homeboy came to Orange: A story of people's power/ by Ernest Thompson and Mindy Thompson ; with an introduction by Mayor Coleman A. Young

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Homeboy came to Orange: A story of people's power/ by Ernest Thompson and Mindy Thompson ; with an introduction by Mayor Coleman A. Young
Ernest Thompson
Manufacturer: Bridgebuilder Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Book Description

Joint fact-finding is a cooperative venture and communication among the participants is critical to success. Analysts have begun to recognize this and have started to adjust their craft to reflect the communicative character of their work. Non-analysts usually judge experts' opinions by their value, effectiveness, and legitimacy rather than soundness of the conclusions. Accordingly, experts must recognize the importance of these non-scientific criteria, and learn to communicate better with their non-expert colleagues. Practically, this means explaining the rationale and implications behind their findings in an easily digestible way. Andrews uses real cases to illustrate his argument that analysts should marry process to analysis, spread information, reason inductively, broaden their analytic scope, put analytic results into lay terms, and constantly seek out feedback on their work. Technical specialists who perform analysis in public settings can turn to Andrews's book for ideas about how to do their jobs more effectively. Scholars interested in the connection between expertise and the process of social learning will find his case study approach useful. Beginning with an analysis of the motivations and concepts at work in the process of joint fact finding, Andrews assesses the challenges analysts face from those who hire them and from their non-expert colleagues. He then illustrates his remarks with case studies of projects that have failed and succeeded. The book concludes by summing up the mistakes learned and elements that make for successful joint fact finding.

Humble Analysis: The Practice of Joint Fact-Finding

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Humble Analysis: The Practice of Joint Fact-Finding
Clinton J. Andrews
Manufacturer: Praeger Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000ORGA8U

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