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Leafing
through Italy
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you ever read a book and longed to visit the landscapes
described? Follow in the footsteps of these authors
as they make their way about Italy. |
1. A room with a view
by E. M. Forster
Thousands of (predominantly female) visitors to
Florence
each year look out of their hotel windows and wonder
if this was how Lucy Honeychurch felt when she first
visited the city. They'll then tour the city eyes
peeled for murder scenes or other passionate crimes
and then head for Fiesole, husband in tow, where George
awaits them. Or does he ...
2. Where
Angels Fear to Tread by E. M. Forster
We're still with Forster, this time in San
Gimignano, to the south of Florence. If you don't
find your Geroge in Fiesole you can always head to
the charming towered town of San Gimignano where the
recently widowed Lilis meets and marries Gino, her
very own Italian stallion.
3. Miss
Garnet's Angel by Sally Vickers
One of this year's best-sellers is bringing visitors
flocking to Venice
on the Miss Garnet trail. Can you find Julia's apartment?
The canals she walked along? Her favourite cafés
and the church where she had her epiphany?
4. Extra
Virgin by Annie Hawes
Ever dream of packing in the day job and whiling
away your days in your very own idyllic Italian farmhouse
retreat? Read Annie Hawes' entertaining book first,
then fly off to the tiny village of Diano San Pietro
in Liguria
and live the dream for yourself.
5. The
Talented Mr Ripley by Patricia Highsmith
Whatever you do, don't set off with your copy
of Ripley and hope to find Dickie Greenleaf's
Italian haven lurking just south of Naples.
Mongibello, in many respects the archetypal Italian
fishing village, is a figment of Highsmith's imagination.
Fans of the film should head to Ischia where much
of the story was filmed. Fancy a challenge? Take a
close look at the film version and then find the locations.
Observant viewers will notice that the Venice concert
was filmed in Palermo's La Martorana church, the café
in Piazza di Spagna never existed, many of the Rome
scenes were shot in Naples (and vice versa). A bit
like the book really - nothing is quite what it seems
. .
Have you found your favourite Italian literary location?
Let us know for ItaliaPlease's next Book
Quest. |
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by Maria Cleary |
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June
6th, 2002
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