Italy in a Nutshell

Ah, bella Italia. As soon as you cross the Italian border, even the espresso at the most remote roadside diner tastes better than a bag of expensive beans back home. The Italians lover their caffé as much as they love their football and their pasta. The traffic is more chaotic, and the politics – well, enough said about the politics… The perspective on Italy from abroad is one marked by longing and admiration. And by stereotypes: Berlusconi, Bialetti, Bolognese, and the rest.

In this book, Sebastian Heinrich gives readers a glimpse behind the clichés. By way of a selection of untranslatable concepts, word by word, he allows his readers to get a little closer to this fascinating country: from the glorious kitsch of the cinepanettoni that are shown on TV at Christmas every ear through to Berlusconismo, Papeete, and the question of why governments in Rome are toppled so often. He explains why the North turns up its nose at the South (and vice versa), and why on Ferragosto, all the cities slowly fall into a summer-long siesta. A concise dictionary for all lovers of Italianità!

»Sebastian Heinrich has done a great deal of research, is well read and curious … his goal is no more and no less … than taking Italy seriously.« Andreas Rossmann, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

»An intelligent glimpse behind the curtains of Italian culture.« Marc Reichwein, WELT AM SONNTAG