No comments about Naples: An Early Guide.

No comments about Turin (Footprint - Pocket Guides).

4 comments about A Traveller in Italy.

1. My introduction to Morton's travel writings was through this book, "A Traveller in Italy"; by now I've read at least a dozen. As in all his many travel books, Morton charmingly mixes a deep appreciation and knowledge of the art, culture and the history of a place with his own keen observations of the contemporary countryside and the people. Morton's stories and observations are as engaging as the landscape and people he writes about. Don't sentences such as "The rain descends with the enthusiasm of someone breaking bad news." make you feel that you are there?

   Henry Vollam Morton was born on 26 July 1892 near Manchester. He began his career on the Birmingham Express at 17, and became assistant editor after only two years. A year later he came to London to edit a magazine. After World War I he found his vocation as a descriptive travel writer. His success in reporting the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb led to him being given the chance to write a series of vignettes about London life for the Daily Express. These later appeared in book form in the 1920s [as "The Heart of London" and "The Spell of London"]. He died in South Africa in 1979, aged 86. Many have called him the best travel writer ever, and I concur. Most of his books are titled "In Search of ...", "In the Steps of ..." or "A Stranger in ...", "A Traveller in ..."". But even the armchair traveler doesn't feel a stranger after delving into Morton's charm.

   These are NOT guidebooks, with lists of things to cover with only 2 days in Rome, etc.; you will find no information on opening times, entrance fees, etc. But you will find a wealth of information and a sense of "being there". Morton's books are perfect for pre-trip planning and dreaming, to get a sense of the place; perfect for post-trip nostalgia, to relive the sights and sounds and aromas and people; perfect for the armchair traveler, who can't get there but would still like to experience a locale, not just read about it.

   His books have recently been reprinted, in handsome paper editions, this one with an introduction by Barbara Grizzuti Harrison [author of "Italian Days"]. I highly recommend "A Traveller in Italy" - actually, I highly recommend any of Morton's books you can get your hands on.

   Others to look for, to read, and to love: "A Traveller in Italy"; "A Traveller in Rome"; "A Traveller in Southern Italy"; "In Search of England"; "In Search of Ireland"; "In Search of Scotland"; "In Search of Wales"; "In Search of the Holy Land"; "A Stranger in Spain"; "In the Steps of St. Paul"; "In the Steps of the Master".




2. In Italy, I have often cast a pitying eye on the uninspired faces of people in large tour groups. You have, no doubt, seen them yourself, as they mindlessly follow a leader who is holding some ridiculous object aloft on a stick and frequently supplying dubious anecdotal information selected to entertain rather than enlighten. Anyone in such a group with an earnest zeal to know more about the scenic, historical, architectural, and artistic miracle that the world calls Italy would do well to obtain a copy of one of Morton's books on Italy. But bring along a copy of a traditional guide as well, since Morton's books will not direct you to the best hotels, restaurants, and places to shop; rather, they tend to be journals of his travel experiences into which he incorporates his extensive research of the places he visits.

   "A Traveller in Italy" is not about ALL of Italy. It covers Lombardy (Milan, the lake district, etc.), Emilia-Romagna (Bologna, Rimini, Ravenna, etc.), Veneto (Venice, Padua, Verona), and Tuscany (requires no introduction). (Morton also wrote "A Traveller in Southern Italy," but, alas, the two books together do not cover the entire country.) "A Traveller in Italy," like "A Traveller in Southern Italy" and "A Traveller in Rome" (but unlike his ethereal and out-of-print "Fountains of Rome") follows Morton's peregrinations and glows with his rich narrative of historical background, personal experiences, and musings. If you are an "off the beaten track" sort, you will particularly enjoy this book, since Morton is at his best when, say, locating the villa of Pliny the Elder, with its peculiar spring, in a remote corner of Lake Como, or discovering that an elixir, the recipe of which dates back to the time of Herodotus, is still being sold in Venice (at least in 1964, when the book was published).

   What must be experienced first-hand in this book is that Morton was such an eminently likable fellow. This, along with his lively curiosity, his sense of humor, his well-researched and fascinating historical narratives, and his brilliant command of the English language make the book so highly readable. But there's no need to wait for a trip to northern Italy to read this book - I frequently pull it off the shelf and read it for pure pleasure.




3. The book was just as described and arrived within the time it was expected. It's wonderful to have access to hard-to-find books through Amazon and its reliable sources.



4. Words fail me, as indeed they do not fail Mr. Morton, in describing the immense beauty of this book. Morton portrays his experiences in Italy in a fashion which evokes the wonder that perhaps is lost in our generation which tends to overlook the beauty he feels viscerally and intellectually as he moves through this most beautiful country. The personal observations are excellent literature in their own right. I especially was awed by his remembrances of Umbria. His deeply felt observations on the life of St. Francis are simly beautiful. Going to Lombardy, his depiction of the fall of Mussolini is extraordinary drama. He never fails to give you his own feelings and emotions on a subject that moves him. In reading this most inspiring work, I am reminded of the adage "...the shudder of awe is man's greatest emotion." Read this book. You will not forget it.

2 comments about Andiamo Le Marche: American Odyssey Through Authentic Italy.

1. Great book! Fun and so funny! Will quickly inspire any reader to hop on a plane to Europe and explore the world the way these girls have



2. If you are looking for a first-hand, honest account of a little known area of Italy, you should get this book. This accounting of a group of young people's sojourn through the Marche area of Italy made me want to get on the first plane! No travel agent bull---- here. You will fall in love with the book and the region.

5 comments about Cafe Life Florence: A Guidebook to The Cafes & Bars Of The Renaissance Treasure.

1. This book is more of a storey book than a guide to use when you are in Florence. I went to one gelateria and two caffe's out of this book and all weren't that great, more tourist traps than hidden gems. I wish this book would give some idea of prices, because a few of the places we checked out (but didn't order) had ridiculous prices. If you want a wonderful food guide to Florence, check out Emily Wise-Miller's Food Lover's Guide to Florence, it is excellent.



2. I completely agree with the "Knitting Fiend" below. Reading this book before going was a joy, especially the stories about the families who own these cafes, the luminaries who frequented them, and so forth. But almost without exception they were poor places to actually visit: far too touristy, overpriced, super crowded (these places must be recommended the world over!) and, most shockingly, they had BAD COFFEE!!! Was the author off base, or have things changed dramatically since he visited? Who knows? The best advice, sad to say, is simply to avoid all the places he writes about. (NOTE: The same applies times two to Wolff's "Cafe Life Rome." Never have I been steered to such bad, tourist ripoffs. Read the book, but leave it at home and follow your nose!)



3. voted "travel book of the year" last year, and i couldn't disagree more with the negative reviewers. went to florence and used the book and was DELIGHTED, as were the cafe owners when i showed them the book. they were positively EFFUSIVE and didn't even want my money.
   
   this book is armchair and travel jackpot. buy the book, have the fun, at home AND in florence!



4. This book made my trip to Florence worthwhile. Instead of standing in line for a church or museum I was able to sit in the best cafes and read a potted history not only of the cafe but the surrounding area. Joe's interviews with the cafe owners led to the inclusion of some anecdotes you won't read anywhere else! I tasted only the best old fashioned style gelati of every flavour. If the beer was a bit expensive at the Cafe Rivoire the free nibbles made up for it. Following in Joe Wolff's footsteps I was led to various slightly off the beaten tracks parts of Florence and up to Fiesole. If you've already 'done' Florence do it again with 'Cafe Life'. A tip - put the page numbers beside the Cafe Locations on the map to save going back and finding them on the Contents page.



5. It's misleading to call Café Life Florence a guidebook. Sure it's that, and if all you want out of it is to find delightful cafes and bars it will do the trick. But it's also a great read, whether or not you plan to travel to Florence. The well-written descriptions of cafes and bars include wonderful discourses on local history, traditions and people. From carabinieri jokes to how Leonardo da Vinci's flood control scheme failed, I felt I didn't just know the cafes and their proprietors; I got to know the city.

2 comments about Fodor's See It Florence and Tuscany, 2nd Edition (Fodor's See It).

1. Bought this book for my mom who will be traveling to Italy to visit FLorence & the Tuscan region. She loves it! It is an all-color guide with a pull-out map - it's exactly what she wanted. Would highly recommend!



2. Informative and to the point. Lots of information crammed into this small book. Great carry-along.

No comments about Hammond International Rome (Hammond International (Folded Maps)).

No comments about Venice (Europe Popout Maps).

1 comments about Seeing Venice: An Eye in Love : An Inner Travelogue With 94 Drawings.

1. At the age of 93 years (making him one of the oldest living active authors of our time) Frederick Franck's intimate, closely observed drawings and descriptions of the everyday citizens, as well as the private and public places of Venice, are superbly showcased in Seeing Venice: An Eye In Love. An engaging travelogue, illustrated with 94 unique, black-and-white drawings and sketches, this compendium of memorable and vivid impressions of the city's beauty and its people's daily lives fill comprise an enchanting journey for the reader -- and one of the best ways to experience the emotions, vitality, and ambiance of Venice short of actually being there in person!

No comments about Frommer's Touring Guide to Florence.