Book description
Italy has seduced generations with its sunshine, landscapes, art
treasures and the warmth and vitality of its people, devoted to style,
sensuality and the pleasures of life.
The reality is less rosy. Italy is as exasperating as it is
enchanting. Appalling public services, a rotten political class, the
creeping tentacles of the Mafia, the all-forgiving Mother Church and
infinitely indulgent 'mamma' have long prevented Italians facing up to
their collective failings.
In 'The New Italians', journalist Charles Richards paints a
compelling group portrait of the country and people, spanning football
to Freemansonry, kickbacks to kidnappings. He concludes that however
much things change, the Italians will remain essentially the same, and
pull through with their customary 'brio'.
