The Other Side of the Tiber

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A moving and illuminating memoir about a singular woman's relationship with a fascinating and complex country, this narrative offers a fresh, nuanced perspective on Italy. The author presents the peninsula as a collection of distinct places, subjects, histories, and geographies, all interconnected by a shared sense of life. Through beautiful black-and-white photographs, many taken by the author, a multifaceted image of Italy emerges alongside her own portrait. With nearly forty years of writing about Italy, she provides unexpected insights into one of the world’s most beloved countries. Beginning with her hitchhiking trip to Rome as a student in England, she reveals the passionate, creative, and vocal nature of the Italian people, often misrepresented by stereotypes. The narrative explores diverse themes such as earthquakes, a centenarian, Siena's walled city, Keats in Rome, the refugee camp of Manduria, the Slow Food movement, Caravaggio's realism, and the duality of good and evil. Through these varied lenses, the author depicts a society that is skeptical of competition yet tolerant of contradiction. By connecting these elements to the present, she highlights the benefits of the Italians' long view of time. This book promises to inspire discussion and encourage readers to revisit its themes.