Books
by Tim Parks
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An Italian Education |
Now blessed with a little boy, they move to a village near Verona, and Parks is confronted even more with the confusion of being English in Italy. Because Italians love children, his contacts deepen and his realisation that he has become less English and is rapidly becoming more Italian is expressed with amusement, affection and sometimes incredulity. It is most interesting to notice this development from foreigner to 'almost' native and a delight to read.
(Kathie Somerwil Ayrton - bwl 10 August 2001) |
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Italian Neighbours - A Lapsed Anglo-Saxon in Verona |
Tim Parks and his (Italian) wife Rita come to live, after being in London and New York, in Montecchio in the Veneto. They are both translators and he has written several novels. Immediately on arrival they are catapulted into the lives of the people living in the same apartment house, and the complexities of Italian social life, a mix of conservatism and lawlessness, is fascinating and somewhat bewildering to an Englishman.
(Kathie Somerwil Ayrton - bwl 10 August 2001) |
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Italian Ways: On and off the rails from Milan to Palermo |
For Parks fans, a must. How can a whole book about rail travel possibly be hilarious, informative and absolutely not boring? Starting with his awful experiences as a commuter, Parks sets off to discover the rest of Italy's rail system with all its inconsistencies, inefficiencies, absurdities and unexpected delights. Parks offers his experiences as a sort of microcosm of what Italy is like, with his usual mixture of exasperation, affection and, on occasion, real respect. A true delight!
(Annabel Bedini - bwl 76 Spring 2015) |
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The Hero's Way: Walking with Garibaldi from Rome to Ravenna |
It is uncertain that I would have read a straightforward account of Garibaldi's retreat from Rome with Anita and his 'patriots' in 1849 but I really enjoyed experiencing the past and the present as the author and his partner follow in Garibaldi's footsteps. I learned so much about Garibaldi's determination, courage and strategic thinking during this difficult march with his loyal supporters alongside the Italian landscape, the people, their lives and the aches and pains of hiking.
(Christine Miller - bwl 102 Autumn 2021) |
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