Why Italy

What are some good books or websites focused on Italian *culture* and customs?

Specifically on Venice, but any books on Italy in general would be really great. I went to my local Barnes & Nobles and could only find travel guides. Keep in mind I'm looking for something to read, not to research, so textbooks on Italian history is not what I'm looking for.

Public Comments

1. So you are looking for books to read for leisure? I have read several books that are set in Italy or Venice Sarah Durant's In the Company of a Courtesan Christi Phillip's The Rossetti Letter The Birth of Venus Galileo's Daughter Leonardo's Swans by Karen Essex The Borgia Bride Susan Carroll series: The Dark Queen, The Courtesan, and the Silver Rose Here are links with lists of novels set in Venice http://www.fictionalcities.co.uk/venice.htm http://goeurope.about.com/od/venice/tp/venicebooks.htm http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/venice/booklist.htm Other books set in Italy http://italophiles.com/historical.htm http://www.amazon.co.uk/Best-novels-set-in-Italy/lm/29MEHM5CVX1X4 http://italophiles.com/romances.htm I hope that these will be helpful.
2. I would highly recommend Beppe Severgnini - La Bella Figura: A Field Guide to the Italian Mind, and also: An Italian in Britain, Ciao, America! If you can read talian, his Manuale dell'Uomo Domestico is also very good. Another good choice would be Luigi Barzini - The Italians.
3. Excellent book about Italian culture is "As the Romans Do" by Alan Epstein -- it's about an American Family with two young kids who move to Rome. Not about Venice and specific to Rome, still an excellent book on culture. http://www.amazon.com/As-Romans-Do-American-Familys/dp/006093395X This link leads to "The Italian Way" By Mario Cosantino and "The Italians" by Luigi Barzini http://www.amazon.com/Italian-Way-Mario-Costantino/dp/0844280720/ref=pd_sim_b_3