Top 40: best books to get to know Italian culture

Here they are: the 40 best books about Italy. Or maybe not the 40 best books about Italy (that's impossible), but at least a remarkable list of books that can all teach us something about Italian culture.

We have put together a nice mix with light books, heavy fare, originally Dutch books, Italian books, Anglo-Saxon books, fiction and non-fiction, books about history, families, regions and so on. We have already discussed a large part of these books about Italy on the website in the past.

So do you want to learn something about the Italian culture? With this book list you will be sweet for a while! Here they come all 40. Incidentally, they are arranged randomly, because it is also impossible to sort these so diverse books on the basis of quality. So just read all 😉

1. Italian Neighbors – Tim Parks

When you say 'books about Italian culture', you say Tim Parks. Because this Englishman still has the ability, as a foreigner in Italy, to marvel every day about the peculiarities of Italian culture.

There's only one right way to do things, says the Italian, and that's the way we do it. Anyone who can accept this has taken the first step on the long and slippery path of the foreigner who wants to settle in Italy.

And then again: the English writer Tim Parks has personally experienced how difficult it is not to get lost in the maze of rules, customs, norms and values ​​that determine everyday life in Italy.

You drink cappuccino between eight and ten in the morning, and only then. Espresso, on the other hand, can be drunk at any time of the day. Everyone loves the Pope. It is very common and certainly not hypocritical to devoutly go to church on Sundays and sell condoms during the week. If a bank employee asks you how much interest you want to pay, don't blink. After September there is no swimming, and all tomatoes are harvested, ripe or not, because la stagione e finita.

If you've mastered these and many other rules, you still don't quite belong. That only happens when the miracle that the Italians can't get enough of takes place: a man becomes a father. Now he has finally proven that he is someone who takes life seriously.

A comical and informative book, full of delicious local color. 'Indispensable for every Italy lover' says the publisher and we are happy to join in. Although there are some objections to the observations made by Tim Parks. It often comes down to generalizations, but that should not spoil the fun.

Italian Neighbors is Tim Parks' first (and best?) book on Italian culture. But if you liked this book, you'll like the sequels as well.

2. Italian Upbringing – Tim Parks

How does an Italian become an Italian? Or a Brit a Brit? Are aliens born or made? In this irresistible sequel to Italian Neighbours, Tim Parks paints a fascinating picture of today's Italian family at school, at home, at work and in leisure. It will get you to know Italy and the Italians through the children of Tim Parks.

Tip: Italian neighbors and Italian upbringing are bundled in: Italian manners. Two nice books by Tim Parks in one volume.

3. Me, Claudius – Robert Graves

Translation of the first part of the famous biography of Emperor Claudius (41 – 54 AD). In antiquity Claudius was regarded as a singular old man, who allowed himself to be bullied by his wives and had little insight into the government of the country. Today, his merit is only being recognized.

Graves has mastered the ancient sources like no other and has reconstructed an autobiography of the emperor from them. In this part he has him describe his life before the election as emperor. The whole is an exciting story, of course not always covered by ancient sources, but in general very worthwhile.

4. Italy on track – Tim Parks

And then we have another book by Tim Parks in the list: Italy on track. In this book, how 10 years after his earlier Italy books returned to the subject of his bestselling success. A book that we already read a few years ago for DitIsItalie.nl.

'Seeing this country by train means asking a crucial question: is Italy part of the modern world or not?' According to Tim Parks in Italy on track. In his first Italy book in more than 10 years, he paints a flawless picture of the country. Whether on his commute Verona-Milan or occasional trips to Naples, Sicily or Rome, Parks uses his 30 years of hilarious and maddening travel adventures to show us the "charming-irritating dystopian paradise" that is Italy.

5. Walks through Rome – Godfried Bomans

Walking tours of Rome is the recorded account of a stay of less than a year in Rome, at the beginning of the 50s, by the Dutch writer Godfrey Bomans. Stef Smulders recently discussed this book on DitIsItalie.nl and wrote:

Of course, as a Dutchman who emigrated to Italy, I am mainly interested in Bomans' thoughts about the Italians and their customs, also to see whether things were looked at differently half a century ago. However, the latter hardly appears to be the case: apparently cultural characteristics change and differ only very slowly.

6. Italian regions – Bas Mesters

When God created Italy, He was shocked: He thought His creation was so beautiful. He feared that the rest of the world would become jealous. That is why He decided to let the Italians inhabit the land.

The book opens with this joke known among Italians Italian regions – A Roman walk through a land adrift. According to a former Italy correspondent for NRC and NOS and author of the book Bas Mesters, this statement expresses the essentials of Italian life: beauty, morality and a sense of reality. Essentials that the book deals with in three acts and in twenty-one chapters.

The format of the chapter is original: the author takes a walk through Rome and reflects on various buildings and monuments that say something about Italian culture. Together with the writers we learn a lot about what makes Italy so beautiful, but also about what makes Italy so ugly. And that is something that other books sometimes turn a blind eye to.

7. Italy on Monday – Marjon van Royen

Italy on Monday is a book of short stories about Italians and their idiosyncrasies, written by Marjon van Royen. The author worked for 8 years in Italy as a correspondent for, among others, NRC Handelsblad and the broadcasters VARA and VPRO.

The title implies that in this book the author would like to show the other Italy, the Italy of the week. Topics discussed include Berlusconi, terrorism, media, racism and the eternal bureaucracy.

8. Midnight in Sicily – Peter Robb

Australian Peter Robb was on his way to Australia in the 70s and stopped in Naples en route. He eventually stayed there for 15 years and became fascinated by the city and by Italy. He immersed himself in land, politics, culture and crime and wrote this book about it: Midnight in Sicily.

This is not an entertaining fare if A house in Tuscany, but very interesting for those who want to delve into the snake pit that Italian politics has been (and still is) over the past decades. And who wants to see how all those events affect what kind of country Italy has become.

9. A House in Tuscany / Under The Tuscan Sun – Frances Mayes

The world famous book by the American author Frances Mayes. A real feel-good book about living in Italy, which we all secretly want. Mayes did it: she bought an old country house just outside Cortona and patched it up. She wrote down her experiences in A house in Tuscany, which became a bestseller and was also made into a film.

The writer still stays part of the year in her Tuscan home. Due to the popularity of the book and film, Cortona is home to many American tourists. Many people also want to take a look at the Tuscan villa of Mayes.

Wonderful reading food to dream away with during your next holiday in Italy.

10. La bella figura - Beppe Severgnini

In this book, Beppe Servergnini takes you on a journey through a number of places that are significant for Italian culture. we learn what fare la bella figura is and why Italians think this is so important. Good observations for people who don't know Italy yet and want to learn a thing or two as quickly as possible.

As far as we know there is no Dutch translation of this book. There is, however, another Dutch book that simply beautiful figure hot, written by Joost Houtman. In this we learn in a comical way why the Italians are so Italian.

11. Italy and Her Mysteries – Hans Ester

Hans Ester stays in Italy for several months every year and he knows
the secrets of il bell paese good. In fact, he even wrote a book about it: Italy and its mysteries.

In Italy and its mysteries it deals with, among other things, Italian traffic, death, holy places and the notary. Hans does this on the basis of various places he has visited. An overview map can be found in the front of the book.

12. Closed for holidays – Jarl van der Ploeg

According to Jarl van der Ploeg you have to understand Italy Italy in August understand. Because Italy doesn't revolve around the sun, but around the month of August. This theme runs like a red thread through the chapters, some of which previously appeared as columns and reports in the Volkskrant.

Well in time for the holidays is now Closed for holidays with the subtitle Italy in August. The experienced Italophile will smile at the excess of recognition. Because this book contains no secrets for the Italy connoisseur, but Jarl has written it all very amusingly.

Do you want to get to know Italy and its culture in no time? Then read this book.

13. The Genius Friend – Elena Ferrante

Part one in the series of Neapolitan novels. And actually we can also mention the 3 following parts here. Because these books are intriguing and well written. Have you not yet met Elena Ferrante? Then set aside some time for it during your next holiday in Italy. Bet you'll want to read the whole series when you're done with part 1?

Also published in the form of a series.

14. Romeo and Juliet – William Shakespeare

Where's a top 40 about Italian books without Romeo and Juliet? This tragic love story of a young couple may be familiar, but have you actually read it?

15. The Silver Spoon

Want to buy just one Italian cookbook? then buy The Silver Spoon. A standard work that every hobby chef should have at home.

Here you will find the classic Primi (appetizer) seconds (main dishes) contours (side dishes) and desserts (deserts). Why is this cookbook so good? Because this is the real Italian cuisine instead of the hip Italian cuisine of diet gurus and TV chefs. Therefore: tagliatelle with ragu, not spaghetti bolognese.

16. Advanced Italians – Beppe Severgnini

This book by Beppe Severgnini has been translated into Dutch. A book by an Italian that tries to fathom Italians. Severgnini does it by crisscrossing the country and showing what the national character is in different situations. Why aesthetics always win over ethics. Why the social function of the square and the family is so important.

It is a sympathetic book that with its inside information does away with myths, but that offers little new for the advanced Italophile. Nevertheless: recommended for Italy beginners who want to understand the country and its people.

17.Rome-Rosita Steenbeek

Rosita Steenbeek has been living in Rome for a large part of the year since the mid-80s. The book Rome is a collection of 2 previously published works Back in Rome en Pearls of Rome.

Reports about colorful Roman and interesting facts that you will not find in most travel guides and books about Rome. And Rosita Steenbeek writes it all down in a very readable way.

Interesting for those interested in the history of The Eternal City, but also for those who want to enjoy contemporary Rome.

18. At my mother-in-law's kitchen table – Katherine Wilson

In 1996, Katherine traveled from Washington to Naples to do an internship at the US Consulate. Lonely, looking for compagnia, she agrees to a blind date. Salvatore arrives twenty minutes late and drives her in his Fiat straight to his mother's kitchen. There, under the watchful eye of the whole family, Katherine learns her first Neapolitan wisdom: never start on the crust until the rest of the pizza is finished.

An entertaining book about an outsider who ends up on the inside with a lot of recognizability for everyone who has (had) an Italian partner.

19. The Medici - Paul Strathern

The Medicine by Paul Strathern is a compelling and entertaining story of the rise and fall of this ambitious banking family. Strathern has done his research thoroughly and knows how to write it down nicely. Fascinating insights for those who want to know how one family has had such a major impact on Italy and the whole of Europe.

20. The Italian Renaissance - Peter Burke

The Italian Renaissance by the English historian Peter Burke has not been translated into Dutch as far as we know. But this book is certainly an excellent introduction to Renaissance culture and society in Italy. An indispensable study for historians, sociologists and anyone interested in one of the most remarkable periods in European history.

21. A Devil's Paradise – Gert Hage

Gert Hage wrote with A devil's paradise an ode to the city of Naples, perhaps the most Italian of all Italian cities. If you're not sure whether Naples is for you, read this book and let yourself be enchanted by the stories the author has in store for you. Naples is more than a city in southern Italy. Naples is a phenomenon.

22. Berlusconi and the Italians – Beppe Severgnini

Many books have been written about the Berlusconi phenomenon. This book by journalist Beppe Severgnini is one of the better ones. Severgnini shows what kind of person Berlusconi is and why the common man is attracted to his politics, but also that what is happening in Italy is a harbinger for the whole of Europe. And that the right has better political techniques than the left.

Even though the Berlusconi era seems to have come to an end, this book still offers many interesting insights.

23. The Italians - Luigi Barzini

The Italians (translated into Dutch as Those Italians… by Luigi Barzini is a classic that acts like a guidebook for anyone wanting to learn more about the quirky inhabitants of this quirky country.

Barzini offers the reader a wonderful tour through centuries of history. He examines Machiavelli and Mussolini, popes, pilgrims and prostitutes, cliques and conspiracies, Casanova and the crippling power of the church.

But besides the baroque exuberance and the spectacular scenery, the love of life and the life of love, he also shows us a divided nation, injustice, ignorance, poverty and fear. This is Italy, a land of brilliant achievements and an uncanny knack for avoiding trouble.

24. Tasty issimo! – Frans van Munster

yummy! has as subtitle experiences in the countryside of southern Italy. The author Frans van Munster describes in this book how he traveled to the south of Italy for the olive harvest, after which Puglia and Anna conquered his heart. In this book he describes his experiences and closes each chapter with an authentic and pure Italian recipe.

25. The Other Italy (The Dark Heart of Italy) – Tobias Jones

In The other Italy – about politics, media and la dolce vita English journalist Tobias Jones describes how he discovered a country where corruption and tax evasion are completely normal and where the inhabitants suffer from collective suspicion.

In this country, politics, justice, tax and media are closely intertwined. The other Italy is about the Berlusconi era, but also shows many dark sides of Italy. Interesting for those who don't just want to read about the sweet life.

26. The other Italy – Henk Bleker

Another book titled The other Italy, but by a Dutchman: Henk Bleker. We know him above all from the State Secretary for Agriculture and Foreign Trade. But he has also been fascinated by Italian manners and culture for decades. And about this he wrote this speech that calls for a broader view of Italy. Not just Italy as a problem country, as is often described by politicians in the low countries. We can learn something from this that Italians rely a lot on their family, says Bleker.

27. Italy Experimental Garden – Pepijn Corduwener and Arthur Weststeijn

The book Experimental garden Italy gives us an insight into 150 years of contemporary Italian history. The history from the unification. A fine book, because there is little good literature on the subject in Dutch. 

This book also has a vision: according to the authors, Italy would be a forerunner in many political areas. Italy developed it fascism with Il Duce. It was the first with the post-war party consensus and the first with its breakdown and the first with the rise of populism (Berlusconi).

Italy thus as a testing ground for phenomena that would be imitated elsewhere in Europe and the world.

28. A History of Modern Italy – Jaap van Osta

Are you interested in the history of Italy? This book by Jaap van Osta, history teacher at the University of Utrecht, describes Italian history from the very beginning of national unification up to and including the Berlusconi phenomenon.

The emphasis in this book is on the political and economic developments that Italy has gone through. It becomes clear how little Italy has been a state all this time and how sharp the contrast between the rich north and the poor south is.

If you want to know more about all these developments that have led to modern Italy, you should pick up this book.

29. Rome: Eternal City – Ferdinand Addis

Ferdinand Addis late in Rome: Eternal City history come alive through the city's key stories at every moment. Each chapter is an essay of a key moment. From the assassination of Caesar to the construction of the Colosseum. And from Bernini's Saint Peter to corrupt Rome from The sweet life.

After reading this book, you can't help but come to the conclusion that Rome is rightfully the most eternal eternal city in the world.

30. A Summer in Italy – Rik Felderhof and Marjolein Westerterp

Writer and television maker Rik Felderhof will still be known to the general public as the host of Villa Felderhof in the TV program of the same name. After his retirement, however, he devoted himself to writing his trilogy The Flycatcher.

In A summer in Italy journalist Marjolein Westerterp travels to Italy with Felderhof to visit the locations from his trilogy. Felderhof's life and work is extensively discussed and interspersed with local anecdotes and recommendations for hotels, cafes and special places of interest.

All in all, a remarkable mix of stories, interviews and practical travel tips, in which all places from Felderhof's trilogy return.

31. The land of the curl – Marc Leijendekker

Marc Leijendekker was a correspondent for the NRC Handelsblad and the NOS Journaal for 13 years. And like all those other correspondents, he fell in love with the country and its fascinating inhabitants. He decided to write a book about it that covers a cross-section of Italy in 20 chapters.

From politics to the weather, all chapters are easy to read and humorously written. Also nice are the chance encounters that the author had with Italians of all sorts. The book includes a bibliography and an index.

32. A seductive theater – Maarten Veeger

Journalist Maarten Veeger was Italy correspondent for many years and made video contributions for this website. He also wrote several books about his new homeland Italy, of which A seductive theatre: a cultural guide to Italian life is best known.

In this book writes with the critical eye of an outsider, but also with love about Italian culture. A beautiful book for wanting to gain insight into Italy's unwritten laws, customs and customs.

33. The House of Medici - Christopher Hibbert

This book by Christopher Hibbert brings the family history of the De' Medici family to life. Not a dry summary of facts, but a story with remarkable details and a great atmosphere. You can almost picture the Florence of the Middle Ages when you read this book. You will also discover why this powerful family not only ruled Italy, but also exerted its influence throughout Europe.

34. Italian Folktales – Italo Calvino

A classic by Italian writer Italo Calvino (died 1985) with a carefully selected collection of folktales and fairy tales set throughout Italy. From Venice to Sicily.

Secretly, sagas and fairy tales can teach you a lot about the culture of a country. And this book by Calvino is no different.

35. Pasta, Pane, Vino - Matt Goulding

Following the acclaimed Rice, noodle, fish en Grape, Olive, Pig, is there now too Pasta, Pane, Vino by Matt Goulding. This book is a beautifully photographed travelogue through Italy, in which the author pays particular attention to food. The book the beauty of Italian food, culture and history. Pasta, Pane, Vino is a mix of intimate stories and knowledge about Italy.

A unique culinary journey through the most important regions of Italy. It introduces the cooks, shepherds, fishermen, farmers, grannies and others who nurture Italy's revered culinary traditions. From the pasta temples of Rome and the pizza palaces of Naples to the truffle-strewn forests of the Piedmont. Pasta, Pane, Vino captures the breathtaking diversity of Italy's regional food culture.

Nearly 200 color photos support the stories. A great book for those interested in Italian food culture.

36. Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire – Edward Gibbon

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire originally appeared in 1788 and is still the standard reference work on the history of the Roman Empire. For the modern reader it has lost none of its brilliance, erudition and clarity of style.

Gibbon covers more than fourteen centuries of classical history: the spread of Christianity, the migrations of the Barbarians, the sack of Rome, the Crusades, the conquests of Genghis Khan and the rise of Islam.

To be fair, you don't have to put this book on your reading list unless you're a history buff, but the list on this page would simply be too incomplete if we skipped this important and voluminous work on the Roman era.

37. The Bernini Mystery – Dan Brown

Historically accurate? Nah. Deep and meaningful prose? Also not. But that's okay. Not every book has to be.

The popular book The Bernini Mystery by Dan Brown introduces the now famous Robert Langdon character, offers a light and entertaining story, contains a mystery to turn the pages, and has one of the most fantastical backdrops in the world: Rome.

If you're on your way to Rome and looking for books about Italy to take in the car or plane, consider packing this book into your luggage – you'll likely recognize the setting of several scenes when you arrive in Rome including Castel Sant'Angelo.

Of course also filmed as Angels & Demons with Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon.

38. SPQR – Mary Beard

Ancient Rome is important. The history of the Empire, of its conquests, cruelty and excesses, is still a benchmark for us. His myths, stories, disputes and problems still haunt us.

SPQR offers a fresh look at Roman history from one of the world's foremost classicists. Mary Beard explores not only how Rome grew from an insignificant village in central Italy to a global power that ruled a region from Spain to Syria, but also how the Romans saw themselves and their world, and why that matters to our day. century.

Spanning a thousand years, this authoritative history sheds new light on many aspects of Roman civilization, from slavery and religion to running water. It is the definitive book on ancient Rome, surprising and well written.

39. Pompeii – Robert Harris

What is a list of the best books about Italy without at least one book about fascinating Pompeii?

It's a hot, sweltering week at the end of August. The best place to escape the heat is the beautiful Bay of Naples. Along the coast, the rich of the Roman Empire reside in their pompous villas.

But there are ominous warnings that cannot be ignored. Springs and rivers dry up, people disappear, and the largest aqueduct in the world, the enormous Aqua Augusta, suddenly stops flowing.

Robert Harris tells in Pompeii in its vaunted way the story of a decadent world on the eve of total destruction.

40. The Three Last Days of Pompeii – Alberto Angela

It is October 23, 79 AD. An elegant noblewoman from Herculaneum organizes a banquet. Among the guests are a powerful Tribune, a famous actress and an unscrupulous entrepreneur. Twenty-four hours later, Vesuvius ignites hell. It is the greatest disaster in the ancient world.

Alberto Angela describes, as no one before him has ever done, the tragic end of a wonderful city. He follows the last hours of the lives of people who really existed. He tracks down 7 survivors (and a murder) and uncovers many amazing truths. One particularly stands out: from Pompeii you could not see a volcano at all at the time. Most residents had no idea of ​​the impending disaster.

This book paints an incredibly vivid picture of life in Pompeii at the beginning of the Common Era, and the great tragedy that would follow.

Bonus: Italian situations – Stef Smulders

Humorous short stories about emigrating to Italy and getting to know many characteristic Italians, from none other than our own columnist Steve Smulders.

Stef emigrated with his husband and dog to Italy in 2008 to start a B&B there. He sold his house, left family and friends behind and took a leap into the unknown. A house was quickly found, but before the first guests could come and stay there, many hurdles had to be overcome ...

Years later, the author reports on his experiences in dozens of stories in which just as many problems are solved in an entirely Italian way, often leading to humorous scenes.

Buying and renovating a house, importing and having a car inspected, taking out insurance: all kinds of difficulties arise, which often come to a solution in surprising ways.

In this book, the reader encounters countless characteristic Italians, from the sympathetic to the villainous, from the touching to the impudent. Real Italians of flesh and blood, sometimes cliché, sometimes unexpectedly original. But always worth getting to know.

Your tips for books about Italy?

No doubt you are still missing books where you learned something important about Italian culture yourself. So much has also been written about Italy that it is almost impossible to make choices.

What are the best books about Italy for you? Books that really taught you something about Italian culture? Books that made you swoon to la dolce vita? Maybe books that have changed your life in some way?

If you would like to make a suggestion for a book that should not be missing from this top list, please pass on your idea in a comment below. Together we can expand this list of the best books about Italy even further!