The pursuit of Italy : a history of a land, its regions, and their peoples

Visiting a villa built by Lorenzo de Medici outside Pisa, David Gilmour fell into conversation about the unification of Italy with a distinguished former minister: ''You know, Davide,' he said in a low conspiratorial voice, as if uttering a heresy, 'Garibaldi did Italy a great disservice. If he had not invaded Sicily and Naples, we in the north would have the richest and most civilized state in Europe.' After looking cautiously round the room he added in an even lower voice, 'Of course to the south we would have a neighbour like Egypt.'' Was the elderly Italian right? The Pursuit of Italy traces the whole history of the Italian peninsula in a wonderfully readable style, full of well-chosen stories and observations from personal experience, and peopled by many of the great figures of the Italian past, from Cicero and Virgil to Dante and the Medici, from Cavour and Verdi to the controversial political figures of the twentieth century. The book gives a clear-eyed view of the Risorgimento, the pivotal event in modern Italian history, debunking the influential myths which have grown up around it. Gilmour shows that the glory of Italy has always lain in its regions, with their distinctive art, civic cultures, identities and cuisine. The regions produced the medieval communes and the Renaissance, the Venetian Republic and the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, two of the most civilized states of European history. Their inhabitants identified themselves not as Italians, but as Tuscans and Venetians, Sicilians and Lombards, Neapolitans and Genoese. This is where the strength and culture of Italy still comes from, rather than from misconceived and mishandled concepts of nationalism and unity. This wise and enormously engaging book explains the course of Italian history in a manner and with a coherence which no one with an interest in the country could fail to enjoy. Visiting a villa built by Lorenzo de Medici outside Pisa, David Gilmour fell into conversation about the unification of Italy with a distinguished former minister: '"You know, Davide, " he said in a low conspiratorial voice, as if nervously uttering a heresy, "Garibaldi did Italy a great disservice. If he had not invaded Sicily and Naples, we in the north would have the richest and most civilized state in Europe." After looking round the room at the other guests, he added in an even lower voice, "Of course to the south we would have a neighbour like Egypt."' These words stayed in the author's mind for a long time. The dream of a unified Italy, how and why it has never been more than a dream, became the subject of a book he has been thinking about and writing for the last twenty years. Was the elderly Italian right? "The Pursuit of Italy" traces the whole history of the Italian peninsula since the Romans in a wonderfully readable style, full of well-chosen stories and observations from personal experience, and peopled by many of the great figures of the Italian past, from Cicero and Virgil to Machiavelli and the Medici, Garibaldi and Cavour, and the rather less inspiring political figures of the 20th century. Gilmour gives a clear-eyed view of the Risorgimento, the pivotal event in modern Italian history, debunking the many absurd and influential myths which have grown up around it but including a particularly sympathetic portrait of Giuseppe Verdi, one of many cultural figures he treats. Gilmour shows that the glory of Italy has always lain in its regions, with their distinctive civic cultures, cuisine, art and identities. Similarly, most of the people of the peninsula have thought of themselves first as Tuscans, Venetians, Romans, Neapolitans or Sicilians and as Italians second, if at all. This, he argues, is where the strength of Italy lies rather than in misconceived ideas of unity The Pursuit Of Italy Traces The Whole History Of The Italian Peninsula Since The Romans In A Wonderfully Readable Style, Full Of Well-chosen Stories And Observations From Personal Experience, And Peopled By Many Of The Great Figures Of The Italian Past, From Cicero And Virgil To Machiavelli And The Medici, Garibaldi And Cavour, And The Rather Less Inspiring Political Figures Of The 20th Century. Gilmour Gives A Clear-eyed View Of The Risorgimento, The Pivotal Event In Modern Italian History, Debunking The Many Absurd And Influential Myths Which Have Grown Up Around It But Including A Particularly Sympathetic Portrait Of Giuseppe Verdi, One Of Many Cultural Figures He Treats. Gilmour Shows That The Glory Of Italy Has Always Lain In Its Regions, With Their Distinctive Civic Cultures, Cuisine, Art And Identities. Similarly, Most Of The People Of The Peninsula Have Thought Of Themselves First As Tuscans, Venetians, Romans, Neapolitans Or Sicilians And As Italians Second, If At All. This, He Argues, Is Where The Strength Of Italy Lies Rather Than In Misconceived Ideas Of Unity.--publisher's Description. Diverse Italies -- Imperial Italies -- Cities And Powers -- Adriatic Venice -- Disputed Italies -- Revolutionary Italies -- The Making Of Italy -- Legendary Italy -- Making Italians -- Nationalist Italy -- Fascist Italy -- Cold War Italy -- Modern Italy. David Gilmour. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 401-414) And Index. The author, a historian has provided a coherent, persuasive, and entertaining interpretation of the paradoxes of Italian life, past and present. Did Garibaldi do Italy a disservice when he helped its disparate parts achieve unity? Was the goal of political unification a mistake? The author's exploration of Italian life over the centuries is filled with provocative anecdotes as well as personal observations, and is peopled with the great figures of the Italian past, from Cicero to the Medicis, from Garibaldi to the politicians of the twentieth century. Gilmour's account of the Risorgimento, the pivotal epoch in modern Italian history, debunks the nationalistic myths that surround it. Italy's inhabitants identify themselves not as Italians but as Tuscans and Venetians, Sicilians and Neapolitans. This book shows that the glory of Italy has always lain in its regions, with their distinctive art, civic cultures, identities, and cuisines, rather than from its misconceived, mishandled notion of a unified nation. -- From publisher description. Traces the whole history of the Italian peninsula since the Romans with full of stories and observations from personal experience, and peopled by many of the great figures of the Italian past, from Cicero and Virgil to Machiavelli and the Medici, Garibaldi and Cavour, and the rather less inspiring political figures of the 20th century. This wise and enormously engaging book explains the course of Italian history in a manner and with a coherence which no one with any interest in the country could fail to enjoy