On the Pursuit of Italy

This is a solid work of popular Italian history. For me, the greatest appeal is that it accentuates the importance of “many Italies,” making me wish there was a similar work on Germany or France (if one of either of these exists, please let me know!). My primary objection is that, at times, the book reads as more of a hagiography of the country, downplaying the issues within the country before the fascist period. This is especially true in the case of the Republic of Venice before its fall at the end of the eighteenth century.