Tag Archive for ‘Italy’
The End of the Berlusconi Era
Berlusconi sacrificed nothing and served himself. Italy deserves better.
Aeneid 7-12, Part I
The second half of the Aeneid has rarely delighted readers to the same extent as the first half, but the poet tells us explicitly that in bringing Aeneas to Italy he has embarked upon a greater theme. It would be a mistake, then, to underrate books 7-12, though it is probably a good idea to read it through rapidly the first time.
Florence Diary I: Getting There
I shall begin with a confession. I have never really liked Florence. My initial negative impression was formed while spending a few days with the late Leo Raditsa at Ulivello, his family’s villa outside Florence. The first half day was spent in the Santa Maria Novella Station, trying in vain to reach our host. Leo lived at a greater distance than I had imagined, and as a result I was not putting enough gettoni into the slot. I finally paid something like 80,000 lire to a taxi driver, who explained I had to pay for both ways.
To Brighten Your Day
I was sitting in the little apartment we had taken for a week in Florence after our Winter School. Waiting to go out to dinner, I leafed through back copies of Gente (People) and read simple-minded interviews with whorish starlets and whoring TV presenters. I looked at a picture of an heir to the house of Savoia, who, though claiming fidelity to his wife, was posing like a rough trade model. Jeezum, I exclaimed in disgust, what nasty spoiled children.
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