The shortest history of Italy 3,000 years from the Romans to the Renaissance to a modern republic--a retelling for our times

Few countries can rival Italy for our collective fascination. The name alone evokes food, fashion, and cars, to say nothing of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance. King (The Bookseller of Florence, 2021), who has written extensively on the history, art, and culture of Italy and is known for his impeccable research and engaging style, is the perfect Virgil to guide us from The Aeneid to COVID-19 in this densely packed volume of tantalizing details. King dexterously moves from the founding of Rome to the rise and fall of the empire, noting such highlights as Julius Caesar's crossing of the Rubicon and Hannibal's crossing of the Alps. We learn that Italy has been occupied by many foreign forces, including the Greeks, Huns, Ottomans, and Normans, resulting in "a land of many races and of many tongues," or what Dante called the "cacophony . . . of Italian speech." King has a keen eye for the provocative anecdote, ranging from the debauchery of the emperors to papal history and the origins of the Mafia. We're reminded of Italy's enormous impact on literature (Dante, Petrarch, Collodi), art (da Vinci, Michelangelo), and luxury brands (Fiat, Gucci, Versace, Ferrari). Each page brims with Bill Bryson--like trivia that is sure to delight. Ridi spesso, ama molto.