Italian Ways
On and Off the Rails from Milan to Palermo
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Vintage Publishing
Published:5th Jun '14
Should be back in stock very soon
Tim Parks' Italian Ways offers a humorous exploration of Italy through its railways, highlighting the unique culture and identity of its people.
In Italian Ways, Tim Parks invites readers on a captivating journey through Italy via its extensive railway system. Having moved from England to Italy in 1981, Parks spent the next three decades immersed in the lives of ordinary Italians. His encounters with a diverse cast of characters—conductors, ticket collectors, priests, and even gypsies—paint a vivid picture of what makes Italian life unique. Parks' observations are not just humorous but also insightful, revealing the nuances of Italian culture and identity.
The book delves into the historical significance of trains in shaping Italy, reflecting the country’s evolution from the time of Garibaldi to Mussolini and beyond. Parks illustrates how the railways serve as a microcosm of Italian society, showcasing the rich tapestry of experiences and stories that unfold within the confines of train carriages. Each chapter is filled with memorable anecdotes that highlight the quirks and complexities of Italian life, making Italian Ways an engaging read for anyone interested in the cultural landscape of Italy.
Through his thoughtful and often humorous narrative, Parks captures the essence of Italy’s spirit, emphasizing the connections forged through travel. Italian Ways is not just a travelogue; it’s an exploration of identity, community, and the shared experiences that define a nation. Readers will come away with a deeper understanding of Italy and its people, seen through the lens of their beloved trains.
All Italy is here, its history, its character, its flaws * Sunday Times *
A treat equivalent to a ride on the Orient Express * Wall Street Journal *
Like the best train journeys, you don’t want it to end * New Statesman *
A very funny hosanna to Italian railroad locomotion in all its rackety glory * Evening Standard, Books of the Year *
Parks has the keenest of eyes for the telling of amusing detail ... He remains the best interpreter of Italian ways in Italy * Sunday Herald *
Tim Parks has written a book about Italian railways that is engrossing, entertaining, and wonderfully revealing about the country and its people. It makes perfect armchair travelling – a delight from beginning to end -- David Lodge
All Italy is here, its history, its character, its flaws, and some of the things that Parks loves about the place * Sunday Times *
The book is, as Tim Parks says, a search for the Italian character, which he evokes in dozens of gorgeously written scenes; but beyond that Parks is exploring the dynamic between tradition and innovation... Underneath everything, Parks is trying to come to a point of loving the world in all its confusion and frustration, and by the book's end he does, he does. Bravo -- David Shields
This latest peg on which to hang another ruminative book about the character of Italy provides Parks with a first-class ticket to ride as a lively, erudite raconteur in salty daily negotiation with what he calls a ‘dystopian paradise’ -- Iain Finlayson * The Times *
With Paul Theroux apparently winding down, there might be an opening for Parks as a new laureate of international railways -- Andrew Martin * Observer *
- Long-listed for Dolman Travel Book of the Year 2014 (UK)
ISBN: 9780099584254
Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 17mm
Weight: 203g
288 pages