In this deliciously seductive account of an Italian neighborhood with a statue of the Virgin at one end of the street, a derelict bottle factory at the other, and a wealth of exotic flora and fauna in between, acclaimed novelist Tim Parks celebrates ten years of living with his wife, Rita, in Verona, Italy. More than a travel book, Italian Neighbors is a sparkling, witty, beautifully observed tale of how the most curious people and places gradually assume the familiarity of home. Italian Neighbors is a rare work that manages to be both a portrait and an invitation for everyone who has ever dreamed about Italy.
“One of the most delightful travelogues imaginable . . . So vivid, so packed with delectable details, that it serves . . . as a more than decent substitute for the real thing.” –The Los Angeles Times Book Review
“Most foreigners’ books about Italy fall into one of two categories–chronicles of infatuation or diaries of disillusionment. It’s rare to read one like Italian Neighbors that combines accuracy with affection, analysis with lyricism.” –The Washington Post Book World
“Delightful. . . . Mr. Parks splendidly characterizes his Italian neighbors and their hang-ups [and] has a keen ear for everyday speech.” –The New York Times
“Parks is a good novelist, which serves him well in weaving the knotty threads of his neighbors’ lives into a coherent narrative. . . . He has a particular knack for being sympathetic without becoming sentimental, which even extends to the landscape and climate.” –The San Francisco Chronicle
“What Peter Mayle did for Provence, Tim Parks may well do for his adopted home in Italy, the Veneto.” –Condé Nast Traveler
“Confiding, informative, bemused, and filled with incident. . . . If there really is such a thing as summer reading, Park’s droll, perceptive book is it.” –The Boston Globe
“Elegant. . . . It details with affection and dry wit [Parks’] initiation into the Byzantine complexities of Italian social life, a fascinating mix of conservatism and lawlessness. . . . Parks’ beautifully modulated account shows him and his wife gradually being incorporated into the town’s rituals and rhythms as the seasons change.” –The Chicago Sun-Times
“Proper pastry shop etiquette, attitudes toward gardening and pets, the ritual of sharing home-bottled wine, and the careful progress of conversation and confidence are all lovingly detailed. . . . His portrait of the village becomes a vibrant symbol of all the places we call home.” –Booklist
“Zestful.” –Kirkus Reviews
Selected as a New York Times Notable Book of the Year
An Independent Literary Publisher Since 1917
