An Italian Education [Paperback]

"There is more here about the pleasurable business of coming from Italy than in any other book in the English language." -"Independent"
"Vignettes...reminiscent of Calvino or Moravia." -"Sunday Times"

'There is more here about the pleasurable business of coming from Italy than in any other book in the English language' Independent

How does an Italian become Italian? Or an Englishman English, for that matter? Are foreigners born, or made? In An Italian Education Tim Parks focuses on his own young children in the small village near Verona where he lives, building a fascinating picture of the contemporary Italian family at school, at home, at work and at play. The result is a delight: at once a family book and a travel book, not quite enamoured with either children or Italy, but always affectionate, always amused and always amusing.

'Parks is more than just an effortless raconteur playing for laughs...he offers detailed cultural observation, witty yet eagle-eyed, of what makes Italians so Italian' The Times

How does an Italian become Italian? Or an Englishman English, for that matter? Are foreigners born, or made? In An Italian Education Tim Parks focuses on his own young children in the small village near Verona where he lives, building a fascinating picture of the contemporary Italian family at school, at home, at work and at play. The result is a delight: at once a family book and a travel book, not quite enamoured with either children or Italy, but always affectionate, always amused and always amusing.

'Tim Parks is Italian enough to understand the country, foreign enough to see its peculiarities and talented enough to make them funny without resorting to cliché' Daily Express

'There is more here about the pleasurable business of coming from Italy than in any other book in the English language' Independent

Born in Manchester in 1954, Tim Parks moved permanently to Italy in 1980. Author of novels, non-fiction and essays, he has won the Somerset Maugham, Betty Trask and Llewellyn Rhys awards, and been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize.His works include Destiny, Europa, Dreams of Rivers and Seas and the 'Italian series': Italian Neighbours, An Italian Education and A Season with Verona.