Culture and Customs of Italy (Culture and Customs of Europe) - Hardcover

"Food, sports, literature and religion alike are examined in relation to Italian life and modern customs." - MBR Internet Bookwatch/Library Bookwatch "Written for high school students and the general reader, this new volume in a now three-book series is an in-depth overview of Italy and Italians." - Multicultural Review "Drawing on experience gleaned from many years of traveling, studying, and teaching in Italy, Killinger profiles a country that helped birth modern Western culture. He progresses from a summary of major historical, geographical, and cultural features to in-depth coverage of key cultural aspects, including a survey of contemporary political, media, and social trends." - Reference & Research Book News/Art Book News Annual "[T]his work is more in-depth than a standard travel guide or general encyclopedia article. Patrons will appreciate the ease with which they can locate current information in this volume as well its broad scope and accessibility....[a] useful resource for students studying the traditions and customs of modern-day Italy. Appropriate for circulating and reference collections in high school, public, and academic libraries." - Library Journal

Americans have a voracious appetite for Italy. It remains a primary destination for travel, art history, cuisine, and more. Like no other source, Culture and Customs of Italy engagingly explains the scope of Italy and Italians today to students and general readers in one volume. As well, this book provides the needed context to understand the enormous contributions of Italian Americans in shaping the cultural heritage and current popular culture of the United States. It clearly summarizes the land, people, and history and relates the highlights of a culture that has excelled in so many areas, such as food, sports, literature, the arts, architecture and design, and cinema. The powerful roles of religion and thought, family and gender, holidays, leisure, and media in Italian life are treated in-depth in individual chapters as well. Crucial regional aspects and historical framing of all topics add to the authoritativeness. A chronology, glossary, photos, and maps round out the coverage.