The author has achieved the near impossible…a must-squeeze-into-hand-baggage or the back pack.—House and Garden"A minor classic."—The Times Literary SupplementThis personal; and wonderfully well-informed; selection of the most rewarding towns; cities; villages; and individual monuments in Italy is the definitive guidebook for the discerning traveler. The author has been visiting Italy; for study; for work; and for pleasure; for over fifty years; and is the perfect companion for those who want to know about more than the obvious attractions.As well as comprehensively covering the finest sights in the major tourist centers of Rome; Florence; Venice; and elsewhere; Francis Russell discusses and describes the neglected; or little-known; masterpieces that are still to be found the length and breadth of the Italian peninsula. In a book that will educate and astonish the expert as surely as it will guide and inform the first-time visitor; the author chooses and explores palaces and gardens; city squares and lonely churches; frescoes and altarpieces; great museums and tiny ruins that together provide a richly textured portrait of a country where the history and patterns of civilization lie more thickly than anywhere else on earth.This book will immeasurably enhance and enrich the visitors experience of the most visited country in the world; by virtue of its sensitivity; its wisdom; and its deep knowledge; and by means of its vivid; eloquent; and entertaining exposition.Francis Russell was educated at Oxford. He is deputy chairman of Christies and specializes in Old Master and Italian paintings.
#3158292 in eBooks 2013-11-06 2013-11-06File Name: B00GI269Z4
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Its nerd-tasticBy ReBeccaOkay; Im not gonna lie: the writing could be better. But the subject is awesome and the ideas are interesting. I love that he treats Romeros work with the same seriousness as Emile Zolas work. I; for one; think Romeros work has a lot to say about American society; whether he intended for it to or not.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Superb CriticismBy SteveA very fine; comprehensive close reading of Romero; the most intelligent (and most radical) filmmaker of the fantastic genres. Williamss book; like his Hearths of Darkness; continues the pivotal work on the horror film begun by the estimable Robin Wood.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. All Weve Got For NowBy Eric HoffmanGeorge Romero is certainly a filmmaker deserving of serious consideration by film scholars. His contribution to modern cinema; good and bad; is immense. This book is the only substantial contribution to Romero scholarship to date. Unfortunately; it is horribly written. Flat; dry and repetitious. Numerous grammatical and typographical errors. So; at best; this is a problematic work for everyone. Most "horror fans" will be repelled by the academic tone. Most "film scholars" will be repelled by the poor writing and the at times forced interpretations. Nevertheless; until something better comes along; this is all we have.Mr. Williams; it should be noted; also edited a worthwhile collection of Romero essays for the University of Mississippi Press. That book includes an introduction by Williams that is just as poorly written. The kicker is that this guy is a professor at a major university. In my opinion; he should audit some classes in composition.