Understanding Italy by Reading Its History
From accessible non-fiction essays to historical novels that bring entire eras to life, there are various ways to approach Italian history without relying on academic textbooks. Here are five books — both non-fiction and fiction — perfect for those who want to better understand their country, one era at a time.
1. History of Italy — Indro Montanelli
The monumental work of the most famous Italian journalist-historian of the twentieth century, divided into volumes covering from the Roman era to the post-World War II period. Montanelli's style is narrative and biting, far from the dryness of a textbook: each volume reads almost like a novel while remaining rigorous in historical reconstruction.
2. A Day in Ancient Rome — Alberto Angela
Alberto Angela reconstructs hour by hour a typical day in imperial Rome, from the emperor's awakening to the night in the working-class neighborhoods. An immersive and detailed way to discover Roman daily life, perfect for those who prefer history told as a lived experience rather than a sequence of events.
3. Empire — Alberto Angela
A journey along the borders of the Roman Empire at its peak, from Britannia to the Middle East. Angela confirms his talent for making even the most complex history accessible and engaging, with an almost documentary approach to writing.
4. The Name of the Rose — Umberto Eco
A mystery set in a Benedictine abbey in the fourteenth century, which is also a treatise on medieval philosophy, theology, and the power of the Church, disguised as an investigative novel. Eco shows that historical fiction, when written with rigor, can teach as much as a non-fiction book — while being much more entertaining.
5. The Viceroys — Federico De Roberto
A great Sicilian historical novel that tells the decline of an aristocratic family during the years of Italian unification. Less known than The Leopard, to which it is often compared, but equally effective in showing the contradictions and hypocrisies of the Italian ruling class at the end of the nineteenth century.
Non-Fiction or Fiction: Where to Start
If you prefer facts told with style, start with Montanelli or Angela. If you want to experience history through characters and emotions, The Name of the Rose and The Viceroys remain unbeatable for immersing yourself in an era without ever getting bored.
Keep Track of Your Historical Reads
With Bookstack, you can organize your upcoming history books in a dedicated wishlist and track your progress era by era.
