Nourishing antipasti before the feast of an Italian visit.
San Diego Union
No other people over so long a history have shown a greater knack for survival than the Italians. In this wryly affectionate book, Hofmann reveals his adopted countrymen in all their glorious paradoxes, capturing their national essence as no other book has done since Luigi Barzini's classic,The Italians. The national art of arrangement dodging taxes, double-dealing, working only as hard as one mustis counteracted by Italian inventive genius, gusto for life, fierce individuality, deep family bonds (as well as animosities), and a marvelously hedonistic sophistication.
Paul Hofmann (1912-2008) was a foreign correspondent for
The New York Timesfor almost thirty-five years and was chief of its Rome Bureau. He was the author of
The Vatican's Womenand a regular contributor to the Sunday magazine of the
Times, as well as its Travel section. He lived in Rome.
An entertaining and shrewd appraisal of an ancient, ever-changing nation.
Publishers Weekly
Nourishing antipasti before the feast of an Italian visit.
San Diego Union
Rare in its objectivity, this report clearly confronts Italy's contradictions.
Kirkus Reviews
![That Fine Italian Hand [Paperback]](/itemImage/2/2/1/2/2_302776.jpg "That Fine Italian Hand [Paperback]")