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A Letter from Brian Selznick Dear readers, When I was a kid, two of my favorite books were by an amazing man named Remy Charlip. Fortunately and Thirteen fascinated me in part because, in both books, the very act of turning the pages plays a pivotal role in telling the story. Each turn reveals something new in a way that builds on the image on the previous page. Now that I'm an illustrator myself, I've often thought about this dramatic storytelling device and all of its creative possibilities. My new book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, is a 550 page novel in words and pictures. But unlike most novels, the images in my new book don't just illustrate the story; they help tell it. I've used the lessons I learned from Remy Charlip and other masters of the picture book to create something that is not a exactly a novel, not quite a picture book, not really a graphic novel, or a flip book or a movie, but a combination of all these things. I began thinking about this book ten years ago after seeing some of the magical films of Georges Méliès, the father of science-fiction movies. But it wasn't until I read a book called Edison's Eve: The Quest for Mechanical Life by Gaby Woods that my story began to come into focus. I discovered that Méliès had a collection of mechanical, wind-up figures (called automata) that were donated to a museum, but which were later destroyed and thrown away. Instantly, I imagined a boy discovering these broken, rusty machines in the garbage, stealing one and attempting to fix it. At that moment, Hugo Cabret was born. A few years ago, I had the honor of meeting Remy Charlip, and I'm proud to say that we've become friends. Last December he was asking me what I was working on, and as I was describing this book to him, I realized that Remy looks exactly like Georges Méliès. I excitedly asked him to pose as the character in my book, and fortunately, he said yes. So every time you see Méliès in The Invention of Hugo Cabret, the person you are really looking at is my dear friend Remy Charlip, who continues to inspire everyone who has the great pleasure of knowing him or seeing his work. Paris in the 1930's, a thief, a broken machine, a strange girl, a mean old man, and the secrets that tie them all together... Welcome to The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Yours, Brian Selznick

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Amazon.com Exclusive

Brian Selznick on a "Deleted Scene" from The Invention of Hugo Cabret This is a finished drawing that I had to cut from The Invention of Hugo Cabret. I was still rewriting the book when I had to begin the final art. There was originally a scene in the story where this character, Etienne, is working in a camera shop. On one of my research trips to Paris I spent an entire day visiting old camera shops and photographing cameras from the 1930's and earlier, as well as the facades of the shops themselves. I researched original French camera posters and made sure that the counter and the shelves were accurate to the time period. I did all the drawings in the book at 1/4 scale, so they were very small and I often had to use a magnifying glass to help me see what I was drawing. After I finished this drawing I continued to rewrite, and for various reasons I realized that I needed to move this scene from the camera shop to the French Film Academy, which meant that I had to cut this picture. I tried really hard to find ANOTHER moment when I could have Etienne in a camera shop, but, as painful as it was, I knew the picture had to go. I'm glad to see it up on the Amazon website because otherwise no one would have ever seen all those tiny cameras I researched and drew so carefully! --Brian Selznick

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More from Brian Selznick

The Houdini Box

Walt Whitman: Words for America

The Boy of a Thousand Faces

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Customer Reviews:

The Invention of Hugo Cabret.......2007-06-27

I received this book within a couple of days of my order. It was in mint condition just as the they stated in their description of the book. But do conditions beyond my control I have not been able to read it right away and am hoping to be able to sit down this week-end and read it.

not much to say.......2007-06-26

There really is not much more that I can say about this book except that it was one of the most amazing reading experiences that I have had the pleasure of enjoying. A moving, amazing tale of grief, struggle and love. The illustrations and words combine to make a unique and wonderful reading experience. I recommend this to all, child and adult and think that this book really lends itself to being read out loud, with younger/beginning readers. To Mr. Selznick, Bravo and Thank you.

excellent.......2007-06-08

I bought this book, for my grandaughter, she is a little young yet...

I did read the story, very well done..and the Illustrations, are remarkable.

The Ultimate Page Turner.......2007-06-06

Fans of thrilling books are fond of calling them "page turners." Why? Because you can hardly wait to see what happens next. Those are the books that keep you up late at night to get to the end.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret delivers a whole new kind of pager turner, one where you not only want to see what happens next . . . but where the act of turning the page often gives you powerful glimpses into the story. How? Hand-drawn images tell a story in motion using many motion picture techniques (close-ups, fades, and pans). A sequence of images might go on for 40 pages (as the opening sequence does) before providing any dialogue. Unlike a graphic novel, there is no dialog or narration on the images. Since you don't know if the next turn of a page will reveal an image or text, you also have that extra dimension of surprise. The other difference from the traditional page turner is that this book won't take you that long to read. It's more like the duration of a motion picture than of reading a 525 page novel. So don't let the book's bulk intimidate you.

The story takes place in the early days of the Depression in Paris. Hugo Cabret is a 12-year-old boy who loses his parents and is taken in by his uncle, a timekeeper in a railway station. The uncle makes Hugo do all of the work, but won't even feed Hugo who has to turn to stealing in order to eat. When the uncle disappears, Hugo is left to fend for himself. But Hugo has a dream. He will repair an automaton (an early type of robot) that he rescued from a museum fire. Part of his thievery is aimed at taking parts from a tiny toy store in the station to help rebuild the automaton. One day Hugo is caught! That capture sets new wheels in motion that will change the lives of the key characters permanently.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret evolves like an unfolding mystery. Be cautious that you don't read reviews that reveal too many details. It would be very easy to spoil this story for you!

Although the publisher's indication is that this book will appeal to 9-12 year olds, I also think that younger children would enjoy having this book read to them, especially those who show a fondness for mechanical things. But most adults will find the book to be at least as interesting as the 9-12 year olds will. That's true both because the story is compelling and because of the novel story-telling methods.

The illustrations deserve special comment. These were produced after a lot of care to reflect the scenes of the time. I could recognize the sources of many images from various sources: photographs, paintings, museums, train stations, and motion pictures. Those images echoed in my memory to give the book an extra sense of authenticity, reality, and relevance. The drawings themselves continually reminded me of Seurat's early work while also capturing many of the better aspects of early comic book art.

The experience of reading the story is much like following a labyrinth in a haunted castle: It's always unclear where we are headed, but the trip itself seems quite rewarding. The black-and-white images nicely capture the mood of the characters and of the times as many noir films did in using lots of light and shadow. In fact, the images here could be story boards for a motion picture.

Be prepared for the magic!

Readers will pore over not only the illustrations, but also the words, which are rarely wasted and often contain real wisdom. .......2007-06-05

You know that feeling when you're sitting in a movie theater and the lights dim? The audience hushes, the curtain opens, the music starts to play, and suddenly you feel as if anything can happen, as if your very dreams could be projected up there on the screen.

OK, on the other hand, maybe you don't know --- or remember --- that feeling at all. In this age of megaplexes, stadium seating, DVDs and home theater systems, it's hard to imagine a time when going to the movies was truly a magical experience. In his fascinating new novel, THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET, Brian Selznick brilliantly recaptures this feeling and repackages it for a new generation.

Selznick's reputation up until now has been primarily as an illustrator, so it's no coincidence that nearly half the novel's pages consist of wonderfully detailed line drawings. What's remarkable about the way Selznick uses illustrations, though, is that the pictures --- often as much as the text --- help to tell the story, to set a scene, even to develop characters.

Take the novel's opening pages, for example. On the first two-page spread, we see a full moon peeking out of a small white box in the middle of a sea of black. On the next page, the box opens up to reveal more of the sky. Likewise, in the third and fourth pages, the black border (like movie theater curtains) retracts to reveal the Paris skyline. Subsequent pages focus on the Paris train station, and finally settle in on one particular boy in the teeming, bustling crowd inside.

That boy is Hugo Cabret, whom we proceed to meet in the text that follows. Hugo is a lonely boy, an orphan who has been charged with maintaining the many clocks in the train station. Hugo secretly lives in the station, too, stealing what he needs to get by. This includes not only food, but also small mechanical toys from the grouchy old gentleman who runs a toy shop in the station. Hugo needs the parts to help him repair the clocks --- and to try to fix his greatest secret and most prized possession.

It's an automaton, an incredibly intricate mechanical man. Hugo's father found the machine and spent years trying to fix it. After his father's death, Hugo is determined to fix the automaton. After all, the automaton's mechanism should allow it to write --- maybe even to pass on a message from Hugo's dead father. If only he could find a way to make it work!

Soon enough, though, Hugo's thefts get him in big trouble with the toy shop owner. Hugo's new connection to the man and his busybody goddaughter seems to threaten the future of the automaton as well as Hugo's own well-guarded secrets. Or could it be that these new acquaintances are just what Hugo needs after all?

Inspired by real historical characters and films, Selznick's novel is a real breakthrough in storytelling technique. By using illustrations --- including not only his intricate drawings but also film stills and other archival photos --- to further the plot, establish setting and even develop his characters, Selznick's spare prose seems to gain gravity and importance as well. Readers will pore over not only the illustrations, but also the words, which are rarely wasted and often contain real wisdom.

--- Reviewed by Norah Piehl

Average customer rating: Huge disappointment Body of Lies Very good book! What Else Do We Not KNow? It's Been A Long Time

Body of Lies: A Novel David Ignatius Manufacturer: W. W. Norton ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books Spy Stories & Tales of Intrigue | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books Look Inside Mystery & Thriller Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books Similar Items: Agents of Innocence The Overlook (Harry Bosch) Bad Luck and Trouble Simple Genius The Watchman: A Joe Pike Novel ASIN: 0393065030

Book Description

A tale of counterterrorism from an author who "ranks with Graham Greene in his knowledge of espionage and the human heart" (Publishers Weekly).

Roger Ferris is one of the CIA's soldiers in the war on terrorism. He has come out of Iraq with a shattered leg and an intense mission—to penetrate the network of a master terrorist known only as "Suleiman." Ferris's plan for getting inside Suleiman's tent is inspired by a masterpiece of British intelligence during World War II: He prepares a body of lies, literally the corpse of an imaginary CIA officer who appears to have accomplished the impossible by recruiting an agent within the enemy's ranks.

This scheme binds friend and foe in a web of extraordinary subtlety and complexity, and when it begins to unravel, Ferris finds himself flying blind into a hurricane. His only hope is the urbane head of Jordan's intelligence service—a man who might be an Arab version of John le Carré's celebrated spy, George Smiley. But can Ferris trust him?

Customer Reviews:

Huge disappointment.......2007-06-21

For the last decade or so, I had mostly read non-fiction so when I heard about this book, I became anxious to get lost in a good story again. When it finally became available at the library, I went and picked it up and started it right there in the lobby.

I couldn't make it past the first chapter.

The story line was fascinating but the language was terrible. "F" this and "F" that, churlish references to body parts; it just went on and on. What has happened to fiction while I was gone? Is this work truly representative of what is now considered good literature?

I, for one, refuse to assume the herd mentality that vulgarity and profanity is necessary to accurately portray reality. What a terrible waste of ink and paper. Like smothering a fine steak with ketchup, using eight-grade, locker-room language only degrades and cheapens a fine piece of work that had the potential to stand on its own merits.

Body of Lies.......2007-06-16

Riveting! Smoothly flowing narrative, finely delineated characters. Could hardly put it down but didn't want it to end. Definitely a re-read.

Very good book!.......2007-06-12

This book is a must read for anyone who enjoys intrigue and thrillers. The plot is hidden until the very end - - this book deals with the CIA and the military, extremely well done!

What Else Do We Not KNow?.......2007-06-02

If the intelligence used in this book is a fraction of the truth, its very scary to imagine what we really do.

It's Been A Long Time.......2007-05-30

It's been a long time since a spy thriller novel such as this one has come on the scene. It harkens back to Follette's and LeCarre's early works. It is a spy thriller set in our current time, age and psyche. All the characters and scenarios are hauntingly possible or perhaps, probable. Like Follette and LeCarre, the author weaves a web of intrigue using multiple spiders, yet never loses the reader.

Mr. Ignatius grabs the reader at the outset as a corpse is dressed and given an intricately real personality. From the morgue, it hops right into the CIA's workings as the protagonists attempt to break up a ring of car bombers operating in Europe and based in the middle east.

The CIA operative is no Bond. He is realistic and subject to human doubts, sympathies and foibles. Not only does he love, but he divorces (the divorce led to a sidebar story that really wasn't necessary - a very minor criticism). His superior is as cold, calculating and hard-hearted as any puppeteer in this genre has ever been.

The plot is spell-binding. The operative, Ferris, eventually wants to incorporate a method used by British in WWII, which is where the corpse comes into the story. As in all the best of these thrillers, nothing is as it seems - or is it? The reader watches as all the details are worked out down to the finest points, only to find that all sides have spies and all are adroit at the game. "All sides" is used with purpose. As in real life again, it is not just the USA and its allies against one set of bad guys.

This book is highly recommended. It is a thoroughly entertaining read while being thought-provoking on an international and personal levels while still being a puzzle to be solved at every step.

Average customer rating:

A History of Greece (Works in Ancient Philosophy) George Grote Manufacturer: Thoemmes Continuum ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover Greece | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books General | Greece | Europe | History | Subjects | Books General | World | History | Subjects | Books General | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books Look Inside History Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books ASIN: 1855068508

Book Description

Average customer rating: Rick Steves' Italy 2007 AN EXCELLENT GUIDE TO ITALY Great Travel Resource Rick Steve's Italy 2007 OK but there's better out there

Rick Steves' Italy 2007 (Rick Steves) Rick Steves Manufacturer: Avalon Travel Publishing ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback General | Europe | Travel | Subjects | Books General | Italy | Europe | Travel | Subjects | Books Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books General | Rick Steves | Guidebook Series | Travel | Subjects | Books General | Travel | Subjects | Books Look Inside Travel Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books Similar Items: Rick Steves' Italian Phrase Book and Dictionary Rick Steves' Florence and Tuscany 2007 (Rick Steves) Rick Steves' Rome 2007 (Rick Steves) Rick Steves' Venice 2007 (Rick Steves) Rick Steves' Florence and Tuscany 2006 (Rick Steves) ASIN: 1566918162

Book Description

Customer Reviews:

Rick Steves' Italy 2007.......2007-05-26

Once Again - Absolutely BRILLIANT!

This book is an absolute must if you are planning a trip to Italia*

I so much want to see the whole of Italia one day - it is such a Beautifull country! I lived in Firenze in the 70's for a while but too young to appreciate it - now I want to take my husband to see this Beauty and looking through this book tells me all I need to know for that all important visit! I have looked at many books on Italia and this one shone through and seems to be the best / most informative. It is a must if you are visiting Beautifull Italia for the first - second - third ---------- time!

AN EXCELLENT GUIDE TO ITALY.......2007-05-26

Read it before travelling to Italy. It is very useful.

Great Travel Resource.......2007-05-22

My husband bought us another 'famous named' travel book for our upcoming trip to Italy...and I had difficulty reading it. I couldn't seem to get a clear picture of what I needed to know to visit this wonderful country.
Hence, after years of watching/reading Rick Steve's the original book went back to the local bookstore, and we bought this book.

Wonderful to read, lots of humor, great 'tips' on things you'll need to know while in this foreign land. I am now truly warned of the many pickpockets in the places we are going!! (they are just as bad in France, as we found out first hand a few years back!).
I have a feeling this book will be our guide when we land in Italy come this September!

Rick Steve's Italy 2007.......2007-05-22

This is a very thorough and concise book for anyone thinking about traveling to Italy. It is very easy to read and has lots of street maps for each city or town he writes about. He is down to earth and writes for the average traveler who wants to get the most bang for his buck. He is humorous and very very knowledgeable. He includes lots of historical and local facts and anecdotes.

This is going to be my second trip to Italy -- I only wish I had read his guide the first time!

OK but there's better out there.......2007-05-21

I will give the disclaimer outright that my husband and I prefer detailed maps. We like to explore and get away from the crowds. This map is not geared to that idea well. We purchased this map because it included Rome, Florence, and Venice and I'm a little concerned. We have an excellent map of Rome from a previous trip that is easy to read, large, and well labelled. This map is none of the above. Most streets aren't labelled and in twisting turning stair laden Rome, that could be not so good. I'm rather concerned about using this in Florence and Venice after comparing it to our Rome Insight Fleximap. If this is the only map you are going to rely on and you are going to Rome buy a different map. I will focus my critique on the Rome portion because I don't have any reference to compare the other 2 maps with. First of all the map is smaller than most, stopping before San Giovani in Laterno and even before circo maximo. Most of the Trastevere is also absent. The metro lines are not labelled well and there is no differentiation between the A & B lines. The map also leaves out many street names and the area East ofr termini station (where a lot of hotels and hostels are located is also cropped off severely. If this was the only map we had on our first excursion to Rome we would have purchased a better map there.

It is also paper so if it rains it might be toast. The better done, laminated maps are wonderful because you can mark your route and then rubbing alcohol it away for your next trip and use it as a bench cover in case of dirty or wet conditions and as an umbrella in a pinch.

If you want a basic, layout map or are using his guide book as a bible and only going to the marked locations on the map this could work for you. Just don't get lost or go outside the main area and make sure you stay in bounds and I suppose you could be ok. I wouldn't reccommend this map though. We're getting better maps for venice and florence. This is rather disappointing.

Average customer rating: An outsider's insight A Pale Secret Great book about a fascinating country Spain's a Fun Country to Visit The Real Spain

Ghosts of Spain: Travels Through Spain and Its Secret Past Giles Tremlett Manufacturer: Walker & Company ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books Spain | Europe | History | Subjects | Books General | World | History | Subjects | Books Essays & Travelogues | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books Look Inside History Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books Look Inside Travel Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books Similar Items: The Battle for Spain: The Spanish Civil War 1936-1939 Once Upon a Country: A Palestinian Life Paris: The Secret History The New Spaniards: Second Edition Homage to Catalonia ASIN: 0802715745 Release Date: 2007-02-06

Book Description

Customer Reviews:

An outsider's insight.......2007-05-28

A British journalist who has lived 20 years in Spain, married and raising his 2 children in Madrid, the author investigates, reveals and muses upon Spanish culture, history and the forces of the "two Spains" as they come together, or rub against each other, in forming the modern Spanish world. A fascinating look at Spain, its subcultures from the Basques to the Catalans to flamenco to the Galicians, to drug culture to tourism and the very difficult and delicate process of choosing to forget the differences of the Spanish Civil War and Franco's regime in order to move forward in a country that was once the most powerful on earth.
I like Spain and its history. This is one of the very best insights into modern Spain. Highly recommended.

A Pale Secret.......2007-05-22

A liberal British newspaper reporter's hit and miss attempt at a book explaining Spain (his nearly adopted country) to us outsiders. Some hits (like how modern Spain handles the dark legacy of Franco) are offset by a number of misses.

Historical facts, or guesses as to historical facts, get thrown in as space fillers; events that catch Mr. Tremlett's fancy are highlighted, whether reflective of the whole Spanish society or not; the level of writing is often barely above that of a talented reporter on deadline. The final meandering chapter entitled "Moderns and Ruins", especially, cries out for editing.

Great book about a fascinating country.......2007-05-19

This is a great journalistic account of the social and political changes that have transformed Spain up to the present day. Tremlett discusses the country's past and present in fairly equal measure. He begins by looking at the legacies of the Spanish Civil War, discussing how only in the past decade has the full scale of the atrocities that took place come to light. He discusses how Spaniards whose relatives were killed by the Francoists have pushed in recent years for their relatives to be given decent burials. He also writes an interesting chapter on Franco's overall legacy, arguing that after his death and the country's transition to democracy he has been largely purged from public discourse. Despite this collective amnesia that he identifies, Tremlett points out that the same left-right cleavage that drove the war still lurks below the surface of Spanish society. The book also contains chapters on the Basque, Catalan, and Galician regions. Tremlett provides very insightful analysis of the origins of and main forces behind Basque and Catalan nationalism, while his chapter on Galicia details that region's emergence as a conduit for Columbian cocaine. One of my favorite chapters looked at gender relations in Spain, in which Tremlett provides some very amusing anecdotes that reveal contrasts between Spain and his native Britain. This chapter also discusses Tremlett's quest to understand the paradox of how a country can be so awash in brothels (which, he reports, 1/4 of Spanish men visited) yet relatively conservative in terms of the sexual mores of its people.

Other subjects covered here include Spain's emergence as a global tourism magnet (and the corruption that has often emerged alongside it) and the 2004 Madrid train bombing, which indirectly led to the defeat of the ruling party in the elections several days later. This was an interesting chapter, in which Tramlett looked at the ways in which the main parties tried to capitalize on this tragedy for political gain. Overall, I found Tremlett to be a very keen analyst of social and political relations, and there weren't really any weak chapters. For instance, I considered skipping a chapter on flamenco music, not being particularly interested in the musical form itself, but the chapter ended up including a fascinating discussion of the social history of Spain's gypsies.

Overall, I would heartily recommend this book to anybody interested in Spanish history, culture, and/or politics. I would NOT recommend it to those expecting more of a travel guide type of book; although Tremlett does visit and write evocatively about numerous regions, such descriptions are not the main substance of this book. If I had to make one minor criticism, it is that the chapters themselves were often not tightly organized. For example, the chapter on the Basques jumps from past to present and does not really follow any sort of structure. This wasn't really a problem for me, because Tremlett writes well and never bored me, but it might be a problem to some. Another minor complaint is that the book doesn't include a map, which might have been useful for readers like me who aren't intimately familiar with Spain's geography. Overall, though, I think that this is social and political journalism at its finest, and anybody wishing to learn more about this fascinating country could do worse than to start here!

Spain's a Fun Country to Visit.......2007-04-29

The first time tht I went to Spain the country was still under Franco. When getting off the plane, every arriving passenger was photographed. This set a tone that made you never forget where you were. Now going to Spain is like going to any other country. There is no problem going from one city to another. The people are friendly to Americans. The food, trains, hotels, highways are all good.

This book looks underneath these obvious outward trappings to the held over anguish from the Franco time. He also looks further backwards to the regional conflicts with Basque seperatists, and more recently to the Islamist bombers who killed 190 people using bomb attacks in 2004.

Spain remains a little bit different than the rest of Western Europe. Mr. Tremlett has lived in Spain for twenty years and has done an excellent job of bringing together the history and the current situation to explain the current country that is Spain.

The Real Spain.......2007-04-15

Giles Tremlett has written a highly readable, incisive portrait of Spain today--its problems and its pleasures. His presentation of the manner in which Spain has chosen to deal with the aftermath of Francisco Franco's death is particularly well written and revealing. He examines how the decades of dictatorship and brutal repression have been swept under the rug of collective consciousness by Spaniards choosing not to confront it or attempt to reconcile themselves with this difficult episode in their nation's history. The author's years of closely observing Spain, and reporting on its politics and culture for Britain's most respected newspaper, The Guardian, have given him a wonderful sense of both the large picture and the quotidian details, which do so much to bring this book to life.
Anyone wanting a sense of what today's Spain is all about will find it in these pages.

Average customer rating: Is sure to inspire readers to ponder how they can make a difference in their spheres of influence today Wilberforce for the 21st Century! The Way We Were Global Paradygm Change is Possible A truly amazing man

Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery Eric Metaxas Manufacturer: HarperSanFrancisco ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover African-American & Black | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books General | British | Historical | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books General | Historical | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books Political | Leaders & Notable People | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books General | England | Europe | History | Subjects | Books Look Inside Biographies | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books Look Inside History Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books Similar Items: Amazing Grace in the Life of William Wilberforce Not for Sale: The Return of the Global Slave Trade--and How We Can Fight It Real Christianity Out of the Depths William Wilberforce: A Hero for Humanity ASIN: 0061173002 Release Date: 2007-02-06

Book Description

Amazing Grace tells the story of the remarkable life of the British abolitionist William Wilberforce (1759-1833). This accessible biography chronicles Wilberforce's extraordinary role as a human rights activist, cultural reformer, and member of Parliament.

At the center of this heroic life was a passionate twenty-year fight to abolish the British slave trade, a battle Wilberforce won in 1807, as well as efforts to abolish slavery itself in the British colonies, a victory achieved just three days before his death in 1833.

Metaxas discovers in this unsung hero a man of whom it can truly be said: he changed the world. Before Wilberforce, few thought slavery was wrong. After Wilberforce, most societies in the world came to see it as a great moral wrong.

To mark the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the British slave trade, HarperSanFrancisco and Bristol Bay Productions have joined together to commemorate the life of William Wilberforce with the feature-length film Amazing Grace and this companion biography, which provides a fuller account of the amazing life of this great man than can be captured on film.

This account of Wilberforce's life will help many become acquainted with an exceptional man who was a hero to Abraham Lincoln and an inspiration to the anti-slavery movement in America.

Customer Reviews:

Is sure to inspire readers to ponder how they can make a difference in their spheres of influence today.......2007-06-06

Just in time for the cinematic release of the same name, Eric Metaxas brings the dynamic but little-known story of British slave trade reformer William Wilberforce to life in this engrossing inspirational biography, AMAZING GRACE.

Metaxas's chronological narrative begins with Wilberforce's childhood, showing how the death of an older sister and Wilberforce's father, followed by the illness of his mother, put Wilberforce into the care of a wealthy aunt and uncle who were at the center of England's spiritual renaissance, "a glowing hotbed of Methodism." One of the aunt and uncle's close friends was John Newton, a former slave-ship captain who wrote the hymn "Amazing Grace" and who would profoundly influence Wilberforce's life.

Metaxas excels at showing the grief Wilberforce feels when his mother, fearful of the religious influence Wilberforce encounters, forcibly removes him from the aunt and uncle's home and forbids him to attend church. By the time 16-year-old Wilberforce goes to Cambridge, he is, as Metaxas writes, "vain and full of fun.... his manners and social graces had been buffed to a high sheen...." Metaxas carefully unfolds how the diminutive Wilberforce moved from being a young, privileged, wealthy politician who spent his evenings gambling and playing cards to an eloquent orator who suffered from a digestive disorder and poor eyesight but became convinced he could make a difference in politics as a devout Christian.

The difference would come on two fronts: "manners" and the slave trade. The author's details about the desperate conditions in which slaves were transported have been written about elsewhere, but will nevertheless shock most readers (especially the "Zong" slave ship case, in which sick slaves were "legally" thrown overboard in order to save money). Metaxas's own outrage comes through in passages such as when he examines a diagram of where the slaves are placed on a ship, and notes: "To look at the image is to crawl to the edge of the abyss, and to stare, agape, at the horror."

Wilberforce also worked to "reform manners," which sounds hopelessly prudish to modern ears, but Metaxas helps readers understand this in light of the ugly, violent and often cruel times in which Wilberforce lived. ("Manners" refers to "attitudes" rather than etiquette). Among the attitudes Wilberforce sought to change was society's view of the poor from that of being ignored or judged to shouldering a responsibility to help the poor better their situations.

The narrative borders on hagiography, from Wilberforce's childhood (in which Metaxas describes him as a "glorious little child, a veritable cherub of twinkling luminosity" or "...brilliantly witty, indefatigably effervescent, and brightly cheerful, not to mention generous") to his legacy ("...it's nearly impossible to do justice to the enormity of his accomplishment: it was nothing less than a fundamental and important shift in human consciousness"). Occasionally, Metaxas gets carried away with wordy prose, as when he describes Wilberforce as "...the sort of boy who could lead even the most jaded misanthropes to think that perhaps the supremely cracked-up race of bipeds of which they were a member was not entirely, not hopelessly, unredeemable."

Metaxas has a wonderful sense of humor, however, that comes through in subtle ways, whether he's punning on someone's name or noting when Wilberforce accidentally shoots the future prime minister William Pitt the Younger while hunting: "Perhaps most scandalous of all, they waited many years before informing the press."

Wilberforce's greatest achievement was indisputably the 1807 landmark victory to abolish the slave trade, which was the work of two decades. (Emancipation in Britain came in 1833, when Wilberforce was on his deathbed.) Metaxas laudably puts this into context for us in his introduction, which reminds us that we can no longer even imagine the society Wilberforce lived in --- a society in which slavery is taken for granted and the idea that slavery was good. "Wilberforce murdered that old way of seeing things.... The entire mind-set that supported it is gone."

Metaxas is a veteran author who has written for The New York Times and The Atlantic and has penned several books (EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT GOD). He does a fine job fleshing out the spiritual and moral times Wilberforce lived in, so the reader has some idea of the tremendous uphill battle Wilberforce faced. His background information on the politics of the time period (elections, such as the one that sent Wilberforce to Parliament, were usually purchased with bribe money) will be invaluable to modern readers without a lot of knowledge of this aspect of English government in the late 1700s to early 1800s.

Metaxas's story of Wilberforce's driving passions, which changed the world, is sure to inspire readers to ponder how they can make a difference in their spheres of influence today.

--- Reviewed by Cindy Crosby

Wilberforce for the 21st Century!.......2007-05-26

Metaxas brings the inspiring life of William Wilberforce to the 21st century in a readable, heart-stirring fashion. The author takes the reader on an intimate journey in getting to know the man behind the abolition of the slave trade and the ending of slavery itself in Great Britain. Wilberforce is a true Christian statesman, whose untiring faith and unwavering conviction is used by God to change the world. This title is one of the best biographies I have read in a long time. I recommend it highly.

The Way We Were.......2007-05-15

This is a marvelous book which introduces us to history I suspect most of us were unaware of. Who ended slavery ? Why, Lincoln of course ! Lincoln standing on the frail shoulders of William Wilberforce, that is. The most striking material in the book for me is the portrait painted of the pale ghost that passed for Christianity in England at the end of the 18th century and the fear and revulsion that was inspired among nominal "Christians" when the genuine article reappeared and became active.

Global Paradygm Change is Possible.......2007-05-12

After reading this book, I believed that ONE person can make a difference. One person can affect others.

I learned this. It is most important to change the beliefs in order to change the wrongs you see. William Willberforce did just this.

A wonderful biography. It is easy to see why Abraham Lincoln called William Willberforce one of his heroes. And, now he is one of mine.

A truly amazing man.......2007-05-04

A friend recently saw the movie "Amazing Grace" and said it was the inspiring story of a man named William Wilberforce who led the drive to abolish slavery in the British colonies. Generally preferring to read a book instead of seeing a movie, I bought the book, which was a good decision.

The author, Eric Metaxas, does a great job of telling the story in less than 300 pages. The long battle that Wilberforce fought to abolish first the slave trade, then slavery itself, involved many other characters, who are included in the book, but the book focuses on Wilberforce, who was clearly the driving force behind the abolitionist movement.

Wilberforce was an amazing person. Never very healthy and often suffering from one ailment or the other, he began the abolitionist battle as a young man and finally saw victory only just before he died. His impact on England was far more than the abolition of slavery, the huge moral evil. In the bigger picture, he helped to bring about a kinder, gentler England, with his ideas of social equality and charity that transformed nineteenth century England into a far different place than it had been.

Most of all, Wilberforce was a genuine devout Christian who led by example. And he never seemed to fail, he was always steadfast in his beliefs and faith, despite losing so many rounds in the long struggle. In every way, he was a true leader who reshaped not only the people around him, but also his country and even the world. Although slavery would not be abolished in many other countries until well after his death, Wilberforce's ideas eventually won out.

The story is played out against the backdrop of major historical events - the American Revolution, the French Revolution, and the Napoleonic Wars being the major ones. Through all of this, Wilberforce persevered until the goal was reached.

Truly an amazing story about an amazing man. In "Amazing Grace," William Wilberforce is brought to life by the author. The author acknowledges that he did not break new ground in this biography - there are longer, more definitive biographies of Wilberforce - but he certainly succeeded in making the story very readable and inspiring.

The book includes reproductions of paintings and drawings of many of the key persons involved in the fight for abolition, which helps to make the characters real.

Highly recommended reading.

Average customer rating: I recommend this book Great Book! surprising Great book, but DON'T MISS the documentary! Other members of the "Greatest Generation"

Rescuing Da Vinci: Hitler and the Nazis Stole Europe's Great Art - America and Her Allies Recovered It Robert M. Edsel Manufacturer: Laurel Publishing, LLC ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover General | History & Criticism | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books General | Museums & Collections | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books General | World War II | Military | History | Subjects | Books Europe | World War II | Military | History | Subjects | Books Look Inside Art Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books Look Inside History Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books Similar Items: The Rape of Europa: The Fate of Europe's Treasures in the Third Reich and the Second World War Museum of the Missing: A History of Art Theft The Power of Art The Medici Conspiracy: The Illicit Journey of Looted Antiquities--From Italy's Tomb Raiders to the World's Greatest Museums Witness to Nuremberg ASIN: 0977434907

Book Description

During and following WWII, a special multinational group of more than 350 men and women served behind enemy lines and joined frontline military units to ensure the preservation, protection, liberation and restitution of the world's greatest artistic and cultural treasures. This "band of unsung heroes," formally referred to as the Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives (MFAA) section, or commonly referred to as the "Monuments Men," worked tirelessly to track down, identify and catalogue millions of priceless works of art and irreplaceable cultural artifacts, including masterpieces by Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rembrandt and Vermeer, that had been stolen by Hitler and the Nazis.

The story of the Monuments Men, including their heroics and exploits in rescuing and safeguarding many of the world's greatest artworks for the benefit of mankind, has never before been fully revealed until now, with the publication of Rescuing Da Vinci, an exhaustively researched historical account written by Robert M. Edsel. Mr. Edsel can best be described as a successful athlete and business entrepreneur turned modern day "Indiana Jones." Mr. Edsel has dedicated the last five years of his life to painstaking and far-reaching research to unravel the secrets of the Monuments Men and, in so doing, to make the world aware of their unprecedented contributions, both during and after WWII, and to ensure that these unsung heroes receive appropriate recognition from the United States government, as well as the broad public.

The detailed documentation, inventories and photographs developed and catalogued by the Monuments Men during and following World War II, have made possible, and continue to make possible, the restitution of stolen artworks of to rightful owners and their descendents. Long after WWII, many Monuments Men went on to become renowned directors and curators of preeminent international cultural institutions, including the National Gallery of Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the Toledo Museum of Art and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, among many others, as well as professors at esteemed universities such as Harvard, Yale, Princeton, New York University, Williams College and Columbia University. Others became founders, presidents, and members of associations such as the New York City Ballet, the American Museum Association, the American Association of Museum Directors, the Archaeological Institute of America, the Society of Architectural Historians, the American Society of Landscape Architects, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as respected architects, archivists, artists and musicians.

"Mr. Edsel's book is captivating in several respects, from the graphic, garish reminders of the faces of the great plunderers, to the singular beauty of the art they sought to steal. And it is a high and overdue memorial to the "Monuments Men," who did the herculean job of tracking down and repatriating the great art." -- William F. Buckley Jr.

Customer Reviews:

I recommend this book.......2007-05-13

If you enjoy WWII history and art, this is a book that should be in your collection. It is full of wonderful photos that you will not find elsewhere. If you have ever wondered about what happened to the great masterpieces of art during WWII, this is the book to buy. Amazon also has a great price.

Great Book!.......2007-04-14

What a great story. Incredible photos too. Quality of the pages is very good. I'm actually surprised it's only $35 after getting it.

surprising.......2007-04-04

This book which is generously pictorial made me think about aspects of WW2 that had never occurred to me.

Great book, but DON'T MISS the documentary!.......2007-03-17

Having perused the book, which any art, history, or WWII buff should own, everyone should see Mr. Edsel's documentary, "The Rape of Europa" (by the same name as Lynn Nicholas' book), as well. A rich, beautiful telling of a forgotten history that is both heartwarming and disturbing at the same time. Disturbing in the realization of the cultural treasures lost, perhaps forever, but overwhelmingly beautiful in seeing and hearing the stories of the heroes, including these great US Monument Men, that saved Europe's treasures on behalf of a civilized world. Particularly, to hear a woman tell how, as a young girl whose parents were hiding the Mona Lisa in the French countryside, she would sneak into the room where the painting was stored, and pull back the cover just to see that wonderful smile, was a real treat. An extraordinary effort to enrich the contextual history of WWII. I'll never be able to see The Louvre, or any of these priceless cultural treasures again without thinking of the heroic contributions of the great individuals celebrated in this book and in the documentary.

Other members of the "Greatest Generation".......2007-03-09

This book was lovingly self-published in large format. It is heavy on illustrations and light on text. Rescuing Da Vinci is a fascinating look at work done by some of Art History's intellectual heavyweights in conjunction with regular service people in the art recovery efforts after WWII.

Average customer rating: Terrific What can I say about Lidia? YUM Not surprising... Excellant cook book

Lidia's Italy: 140 Simple and Delicious Recipes from the Ten Places in Italy Lidia Loves Most Lidia Matticchio Bastianich , and Tanya Bastianich Manuali Manufacturer: Knopf ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books Italian | European | Regional & International | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books General | Italy | Europe | Travel | Subjects | Books General | Italy | Europe | History | Subjects | Books Look Inside Cookbooks | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books Look Inside History Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books Look Inside Travel Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books Similar Items: Everyday Pasta Lidia's Family Table: More Than 200 Fabulous Recipes to Enjoy Every Day-With Wonderful Ideas for Variations and Improvisations Lidia's Italian-American Kitchen Vegetable Harvest: Vegetables at the Center of the Plate Chez Jacques: Traditions and Rituals of a Cook ASIN: 1400040361 Release Date: 2007-04-10

Amazon.com

Who better to take fans on a culinary tour of Italy, than Lidia Matticchio Bastianich? Her new cookbook, Lidia's Italy (a companion to her new public television series of the same name) covers "ten places in Italy Lidia loves most": Istria, Trieste, Friuli, Padova and Treviso, Piemonte, Maremma, Rome, Naples, Sicily, and Puglia. In addition to 140 simple and delicious recipes, Lidia's Italy also offers a short introduction to each locale, featuring cultural treasures not to be missed (as defined by Lidia's daughter and coauthor, Tanya). For the cook as well as the armchair traveler, Lidia's Italy is a rich and satisfying gastronomic journey through Italy. --Daphne Durham

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An Exclusive Video Message from Lidia

Watch the video

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10 Second Interview: A Few Words with Lidia Matticchio Bastianich

Q: What new recipes, tips, and lessons do you have to share in Lidia's Italy? Did you learn anything new while creating this book and the series?
A: There is so much in the Italian culinary tradition, that it amazes me. Every time I go back to Italy and visit another corner, I learn dozens upon dozens of recipes. And today's consumer is ever more educated about food. Cookbook readers want to be challenged by a recipe, and hence recipes that were once considered too traditional, such as "Bigoli" pasta from the Veneto or "Antico Peposo" braised beef with crushed peppercorns, from Maremma, are sought out today.

Q: What was it like to collaborate with your daughter Tanya to write this book?
A: For me to share and collaborate with my children is the greatest reward as a mother and a business woman. To have my children follow my passion and build upon it with their knowledge, spirit and passion affirms to me that they understand and appreciate my art and passion and want to carry on the tradition. My daughter's passion for and knowledge of Italian art history is a natural compliment to Italian food and life. It is Italy!

Q: How did you start cooking and when did you know it was your calling?
A: I always loved being around food. I loved preparing and cooking it, as well as growing and producing it. As a child, I helped my grandma Rosa tend her garden, feed the animals and prepare the vegetables, eggs and cheeses to sell at market. I would also stay by her side when she cooked, helping her knead bread and make pasta and gnocchi. For me, touching and preparing food always felt good. I can still recall the silkiness of the pasta dough she made and strive for that texture when I make pasta at home and at my restaurants. Being introduced to food at a very young age, and carrying these culinary traditions with me, I'm sure had a great deal to do with my chosen profession.

Q: What is your favorite dish?
A: I do not have one favorite dish. That is like asking me which is my favorite child. I love them all the same, but for different reasons, and at different times. But if I were stranded on a deserted island, give me pasta for the rest of my life and I would be happy.

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Italy with Lidia
We asked Lidia to share her favorite itineraries for a few locales from her book, including Piedmont, Friuli, and Florence. Enjoy!

Piedmont for Wine Lovers
Day 1: Journey through the magnificent rice fields, stopping to visit and have lunch with a producer in Vercelli to learn more about where the essential ingredient for risotto is grown, then slowly move into the hills of Piedmont known as the Langhe and Roero. Spend the afternoon wandering the streets of Alba. In the early evening depart for a visit to the Castle of Barolo for a tour and tasting in its dungeon cellar. Dinner is best at the nearby Locanda del Borgo Antico where the husband and wife team of Massimo and Luciana serve up top-notch Piedmontese food in their home.
Day 2: Tuesday is market day in Dogliani and affords the opportunity to experience a local Piedmontese market. Piedmont is well known for its many types of cheese. Occelli Agrinatura produces some of the best. This morning see their production and taste some of their exquisite products. Continue your morning with a visit to the cantina of a local Barolo producer. Lunch at the country restaurant Rosa dei Vini is fabulous, where locals enjoy authentic home-style meals. In the afternoon return once again to Alba for a dinner drink with the locals in its very active bars and find a good local place to delight in the capital of the truffle.
Day 3: Up at the crack of dawn, out with the dogs, embark upon a truffle hunt. Find a local trattoria and have lunch with the hunters and in the afternoon enjoy the sweeping vistas from the hill town of La Morra. Don't miss dinner at the charming La Contea. With the fire ablaze, Tonino keeps the atmosphere hopping and the food coming.
Day 4: This morning head to the city of Asti and enjoy strolling through the city. For lunch visit the local restaurant near the Braida Estate with a tasting of their production. In the afternoon sit in a piazza and enjoy the local production of Asti Spumante which has earned a bad reputation in the United States, but which has some excellent production in recent years.
Day 5: Depart this morning for the Saluzzo area outside of Torino to see one of the most magnificent fresco cycles in Italy in the Castello della Manta, where nine heroes and nine heroines await your arrival in courtly fashion in fresco. Have lunch in the charming town of Saluzzo and arrive in Torino in the early afternoon. Save the rest of the day for shopping or to experience the wonderful coffee houses that Torino is famous for.
Day 6: This morning learn about and visit the residences of the Kings of Italy: the magnificent Racconigi Castle a short distance outside of Torino and the palatial residence in the city of Torino. In the evening have your farewell dinner at La Prima Smarrita where owner and chef Moreno awaits your arrival.

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Friuli
Day 1: Arrive in Trieste and check into the Duchi d'Aosta hotel. Start a historical walk through Trieste starting in Pza. Unita and heading for the canal that ends with the Church of San Antonio. Enjoy an evening drink the Pza. Unita` as the sun sets out on the water and head to Trattoria da Giovanni for a lively dinner.
Day 2: This morning we will depart for the Friulian countryside to visit the production of the important Montasio cheese and Prosciutto di San Daniele. Lunch should be at the renowned Subida in the hills near the Slovenia border. After lunch visit the star shaped city of Palmanova, walk around and stay for dinner.
Day 3: This morning wear comfortable shoes and begin your walk in Trieste by stopping at the roman amphitheater. Keep heading up hill for the Cathedral of San Giusto with the uneven façade and wonderful reliefs. Have lunch in the Carso hills at Savron and then continue towards Muggia and leave time to walk around the picturesque port and old Venetian town of Muggia followed by dinner in one of the regions best restaurants, Risorta.
Day 4: This morning depart for Grado and Aquilea, important centers for Early Christian history. Visit the Churches of S. Eufemia and S. Maria delle Grazie in Grado followed by lunch at Androna. Then continue to Aquilea where the Basilica holds some of the most important and magnificent early Christian mosaics. Return to Trieste in the late afternoon where the evening should be spent relaxing after such a busy day.
Day 5: This morning depart for Cividale del Friuli where you should visit the Museo Archeologico and the Tempietto Longobardo. Have lunch in the countryside at la Frasca before heading to the city of Udine where you should visit the Duomo and the Oratorio della Purita. Stop and see the quaint towns of Gemona and Venzone before heading back towards.
Day 6: This morning have a walking tour of Trieste famous for its pastries and coffee houses. Be sure to visit Caffe degli Specchi and La Bomboniera. In the afternoon visit the very moving site of San Saba, a concentration and refugee camp during World War II, now a museum. On the sade side outside of town, you can also visit the Illy coffee factory.

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Florence
Day 1: You should visit the religious and civic centers of 14th and 15th century Florence. The Duomo or Cathedral is crowned with an engineering masterpiece, Brunelleschi's dome. Brunelleschi devised a system of pulleys and weights, chose his building materials and constructed a double dome, all the while looking to the Pantheon for inspiration, to create what was Italy's largest dome. Inside the Cathedral one will find the tombs and frescoes that decorate the interior, from famous figures on horse back to the elevating frescoes decorating the interior of the dome by Giorgio Vasari. At the Palazzo Vecchio, there are the unfinished frescoes by Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo that were to decorate the walls. Then head to the first town hall and later prison, the Bargello, a museum that now houses sculpture by some of the Renaissance's most important artists such as Donatello and Michelangelo. Donatello's courageous St. George and Michelangelo's inebriated Bacchus are the highlights. For lunch, keep it light because you should head to Fabio Picchi's Cibreo tonight for dinner!
Day 2: This morning head to Florence's central market, the San Lorenzo market where you'll see specialties of the Tuscan gastronomic repertoire. Right around the corner is the church of San Lorenzo that contains Medici masterpiece tombs by Michelangelo. Michelangelo's muscular and overbearing figures appearing to be sliding off the tombs of Dukes Giuliano and Lorenzo, in their faces shadows of deep significance, the meaning of which scholars today are still uncertain of. Next door is the jewel like family chapel by Benozzo Gozzoli in the palace. After lunch, visit one of the world's finest art collections, the Uffizi Gallery, to see works by Lippi, Botticelli, Michelangelo and Leonardo, among others followed by a visit through the Vasari corridor which was used to connect the Uffizi gallery (or Medici offices) the their residence, the Pitti Palace.
Day 3: This morning depart for the Chianti region and stop at Tuscany's most famous butcher, Dario Checchini, who butchers while singing or reciting Dante's Inferno. Visit the vineyard and cavernous cellars of Monsanto where the Bianchi family will greet you and allow you to taste their wines. Afterwards, visit the terracotta production center of Impruneta, where terracotta has been made since medieval times, and visit an artisan production of terracotta garden pots and wares.
Day 4: Depart this morning for San Gimignano, the town of towers, and for Colle Val D'Elsa, the largest crystal production in Europe, where artisans blow one of a kind crystal in a traditional fashion, a profession that has been passed on from generation to generation. Have lunch at the acclaimed Da Arnolfo and then continue onto Siena, the financial capital of medieval Italy. Visit the Palazzo Pubblico, outside of which the Sienese perform the traditional Palio horse race, and inside of which the Madonna reigns supreme. Marvel at the famous Guidoriccio fresco with its controversial attribution to Simone Martini, the Lorenzetti Good and Bad Government frescoes, and Simone Martini's Maesta'. Then head up the hill to the religious center of Siena, the Cathedral complex, and marvel at one of the most stunningly beautiful masterpieces of the Renaissance, the Piccolomini Library. Then head to the campo square and enjoy a gelato while watching the Sienese meet and their children play.
Day 5: Enjoy your last day in Florence. Head over to the museum of Orsanmichele in the morning to see the original statues by Ghiberti and Donatello and peak into the wonderful building that used to be a marketplace but now is a church. For lunch, enjoy a bowl of ribollita or pappa al pomodoro at one of the trattorias on Borgo San Jacopo. Then head up to Fiesole-up above Florence where the rich and famous live. Have a drink on the terrace of the Villa San Michele while overlooking the Duomo by Brunelleschi. Then enjoy a light dinner inside.

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Lidia's Must-Have Cookbooks

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Book Description

In this exciting new book the incomparable Lidia takes us on a gastronomic journey—from Piemonte to Puglia—exploring ten different regions that have informed her cooking and helped to make her the fabulous cook that she is today. In addition, her daughter Tanya, an art historian, guides us to some of the nearby cultural treasures that enrich the pursuit of good food.

· In Istria, now part of Croatia, where Lidia grew up, she forages again for wild asparagus, using it in a delicious soup and a frittata; Sauerkraut with Pork and Roast Goose with Mlinzi reflect the region’s Middle European influences; and buzara, an old mariner’s stew, draws on fish from the nearby sea.

· From Trieste, Lidia gives seafood from the Adriatic, Viennese-style breaded veal cutlets and Beef Goulash, and Sacher Torte and Apple Strudel.

· From Friuli, where cows graze on the rich tableland, comes Montasio cheese to make fricos; the corn fields yield polenta for Velvety Cornmeal-Spinach Soup.

· In Padova and Treviso rice reigns supreme, and Lidia discovers hearty soups and risottos that highlight local flavors.

· In Piemonte, the robust Barolo wine distinguishes a fork-tender stufato of beef; local white truffles with scrambled eggs is “heaven on a plate”; and a bagna cauda serves as a dip for local vegetables, including prized cardoons.

· In Maremma, where hunting and foraging are a way of life, earthy foods are mainstays, such as slow-cooked rabbit sauce for pasta or gnocchi and boar tenderloin with prune-apple Sauce, with Galloping Figs for dessert.

· In Rome Lidia revels in the fresh artichokes and fennel she finds in the Campo dei Fiori and brings back nine different ways of preparing them.

· In Naples she gathers unusual seafood recipes and a special way of making limoncello-soaked cakes.

· From Sicily’s Palermo she brings back panelle, the delicious fried chickpea snack; a caponata of stewed summer vegetables; and the elegant Cannoli Napoleon.

· In Puglia, at Italy’s heel, where durum wheat grows at its best, she makes some of the region’s glorious pasta dishes and re-creates a splendid focaccia from Altamura.

There are 140 delectable recipes to be found as you make this journey with Lidia. And along the way, with Tanya to guide you, you’ll stop to admire Raphael’s fresco Triumph of Galatea, a short walk from the market in Rome; the two enchanting women in the Palazzo Abbatellis in Palermo; and the Roman ruins in Friuli, among many other delights. There’s something for everyone in this rich and satisfying book that will open up new horizons even to the most seasoned lover of Italy.

Customer Reviews:

Terrific.......2007-06-22

Do I really need another cookbook? No. But there's always an exception and this is it. I've tried several recipes and they're easy and company perfect at the same time. Plus, the overview of Italy has super general reading value. Wonderful color photos and coverage of landscapes from where all these great eating suggestions originate.

What can I say about Lidia?.......2007-06-08

She's the queen of Italian cooking and this book is just another great addition to all her other cook books. Highly rated in my eyes.

YUM.......2007-05-30

If you want some authentic Italian recipes they are here. I thought I cooked it all but I learned alot from this book. It is the first cookbook I have bought in a few years. All of them are so repetitive. This one gives you some new ideas.

Not surprising..........2007-05-29

...I own all of Lidia's books, watch her shows and have become a better cook because of her. This book not only has simple and delicious recipes, it also has the nice addition of art history. Beautiful design, pictures, too.

Excellant cook book.......2007-05-19

Great book I bought for my mother because she absolutely loved Lydia's Italian Kitchen. Thank you, Jeffrey Hazel

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