Synopsis "Italianità: The Essence of Being Italian and Italian-American (in English)"
Whether we hail from Napoli or New York, Bari or Boston, Poughkeepsie or Palermo, there is a special quality that binds us – Italiani nel Mondo – together.And that agent is Italianità, the essence of being Italian.We are all Italian, but trying to define exactly what that means – what makes us all part of one global family – well, that can be a little tougher.In this book, William Giovinazzo explores the culture and history of Italians and Italian-Americans, from the time when the Greeks first colonized Italy, to the influx of Italian immigrants in the 19th and 20th centuries, to John Travolta strutting his stuff in a New York disco.In an insightful and entertaining journey, which also takes in food, religion, relationships, and – of course – the Mafia, we explore how the two groups are the same and how they differ. Ultimately, we discover how Italianità is a complex and multifaceted entity; it’s what makes Italian and Italian-American societies the wonderful, life-affirming, vibrant cultures that they are.*Table of ContentsChapter 1: The AwakeningChapter 2: Italy! What a Concept!Chapter 3: To Your Scattered Bodies GoChapter 4: What Shall We Do With The Dago?Chapter 5: What is an Italian?Chapter 6: Italian SteelChapter 7: At the Table, No One Grows OldChapter 8: The Beautiful LanguageChapter 9: The Donation of ConstantineChapter 10: The Beautiful People of Palermo’s PrisonEpilogue: Italianità*Foreword by Anthony Fasano, host of The Italian American Podcast, and author of Forty Days in Italy Con La Mia Famiglia.*Testimonial. “In this love letter to his heritage, William Giovinazzo explores the essence of “being Italian.” Describing Italianita as a flowing river, he leads readers along its many branches – history, tradition, religion, culture – and delves deeply into the many facets of the Italo-American experience. Written from the heart, with passion as well as erudition, Italianita should be required reading for every Italian-American as well as for all who strive to live with Italians’ joyful sense of abundance and appreciation. Bravo!”Dianne Hales, author of La Bella Lingua and the forthcoming La Passione: How Italy Seduced the World.
