The Italians

December 15, 2014
British journalist Hooper (The New Spaniards) draws on his years of experience as a correspondent in Italy to produce a nuanced look at its national character. He begins by describing the history of the peninsula, along with the topographic and linguistic variety that distinguishes its various regions. Topics like politics and the economy recur throughout, while the Catholic Church, soccer, the Mafia, and food receive their own sections or chapters. Hooper ranges from important issues, such as the centrality of family and the treatment and role of women, to minor ones, like the national penchant for sunglasses. Hooper continually returns to Italian vocabulary to explain terms that have no direct English equivalent but which are central to life in Italy. He selects certain people as examples of specific traits, suggesting that Silvio Berlusconi, for instance, managed to weather so many political setbacks before being convicted of tax fraud, in part because he seemed to offer an ability much desired among Italians: that of doing quello che gli pare (whatever he likes). This is a fascinating study of the fundamentals and foibles of Italy’s people. Agent: Lucy Luck, Aitken Alexander Associates.

Starred review from November 15, 2014
A compact but comprehensive study of the people of Italy.Economist Italy correspondent and Guardian southern Europe editor Hooper (The New Spaniards, 2006, etc.) begins with the geographic divisions of mountains, lakes, plains and seas. Ten percent of Italians live on islands-Sardinia, Sicily, Capri, Palmaria and dozens more-"physically detached from the rest of the nation." Since the Roman Empire, Italy has been made up of independent duchies and principalities, which have been occupied by Ostrogoths, Lombards, Franks, Byzantines, Normans, Muslims, Spaniards and Germans. Historically, Italy is divided into the north, the Papal States, and the Mezzogiorno, or south. The author puts his finger on the vast diversity of the country through his descriptions of their linguistics, cultures, foods, economies and even journalism. The greatest cultural and economic differences are evident between the north and south. The Piedmontese of the north led the country to the Risorgimento, or unification, and the much poorer south joined grudgingly, mostly for economic reasons. (Hooper's suggestion that the growth of the Mafia was a reaction to the unification is feasible.) Italians admire furbo, the cunning of those who can "find a way" around a problem; for Italy, it's often the tangled bureaucracy. Italians are suspicious of change, their foods rarely go through significant changes, and they don't eat much foreign food. They rarely obey laws but rigidly observe their traditions. This country, which prides itself on the Roman Empire, the Renaissance and Risorgimento, is incredibly diverse but still unified-except, of course, when it comes to soccer matches. Italians are devoted to family, and they communicate with a host of symbols, gestures and untranslatable phrases. "Few countries," writes the author, "are as comprehensively associated with happiness as Italy. Just the mention of its name brings to mind sunny days, blue skies, glittering seas; delicious, comforting food; good-looking, well-dressed people; undulating hills topped with cypress trees; museums crammed with much of the best of Western art." What's not to love? A thoroughly researched, well-written, ageless narrative of a fascinating people.

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December 1, 2014

Hooper (The New Spaniards) draws upon his extensive experience as a British journalist living in Italy to explore the country's culture and character from medieval times to the present, with a contemporary focus. He begins by painting a wide overview of Italy's history, discussing events that have created political and cultural divisions between the northern and southern provinces, such as the creation of the Holy Roman Empire in the Middle Ages and the subsequent Italian Wars in the 16th century. The author probes aspects of Italian culture that have endured throughout the centuries, including defined gender roles, an obsession with appearance, a passion for football, and a mistaken comfort with corruption. Societal institutions come into play, leading to an investigation of political bodies, corporate culture, criminal justice, and, of course, the Mafia. VERDICT Hooper offers personal experiences and anecdotes from his many years living in Italy, creating a readable and entertaining work. However, owing to the book's large scope, the analysis of each cultural aspect is little more than an overview. As such, it is recommended for casual readers eager to learn more about Italian culture and people. [See Prepub Alert, 6/8/14.]--Rebekah Kati, Duke Univ. Pr., Durham, NC

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January 1, 2015
American tourists' favorite destination of the moment seems to be Italy, for its sunny climate, fashion leadership, and ineffable cuisine. But as much as Americans love to travel in Italy, the Italians continually mystify them with their chaotic politics and inconsistent behaviors. Hooper, a British journalist, has crisscrossed the peninsula and delved into the Italian character. Just as the country's geography makes generalizations about its food difficult, so Hooper finds some extreme contradictions in attitudes and behaviors from one part of the nation to another, even the language fracturing into a plethora of regional dialects. Italy's triumph in the world of design exposes a focus on surface appearances; yet, most Italians regard each other as invariably trying to hide truths about themselves and their values. In politics, particularly, scandals bring down governments regularly, while news media focus on candidates' sartorial endowments. Despite these frustrations, Hooper finds plenty of commonalities among Italians that provide them with ways to cope with life's outrages.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)