A Traveller in Southern Italy
H.V. Morton
The vivid story of a journey by road through Italy's southern regions, by one of our greatest travel writers
When the Autostrade del Sole extended south from Naples to the Reggio di Calabria, Morton seized the chance to explore a part of Italy comparatively unknown (as it still is) to travellers. From the mountains of Abruzzi he went to the 'heel' and 'toe' of Italy, with their memories of Magna Graecia; and he explored the undeveloped rivieras of the Tyrrhenian and Ionian coastlines. Everywhere he went he found himself - characteristically - fascinated by the people, their folklore and traditions. In Cocullo he saw the local saint's statue carried through town, covered with living snakes; in Bari, he attended the annual feast where the statue of St Nicholas is taken out to sea for a day; and in the 'deep south', he found people who believe that a cure for being poisoned by the tarantula spider is to dance the 'tarantella' until they fall down exhausted. Lively, intimate, informative and personable, this, like all of Morton's books is travel writing at its very finest. "Easily this century's best general English book on the Mezzogiorno - Campagnia, Apulia, Basilicata and Calabria. Selective, but generous; particularly strong on Apulia, whose glories receive their due at last, on popular piety, pagan survival and - unfashionable traveller - on people. Read it first, but do not leave it behind either" - The Times 'This veteran Fleet Street reporter was quiet simply peerless as a travel writer' Nottingham Evening Post Rights & Permissions Information: please note that ALL rights in H V Morton's works are handled by Methuen Publishing Limited. All enquiries for the use of Morton's works should be sent to methuenpubltd@btinternet.com (or fax 01825 723655).
Related titles
About H.V. Morton A Fleet Street reporter, H V Morton (1892-1979) fought in the First World War and was present at the opening of Tutankhamun's tomb. One of the century's most popular travel writers, he published travelogues from Spain, Italy and the Middle East as well as the famous series on the British Isles. After the Second World War Morton moved to a farm in South Africa, where he died in 1979.
Other titles by H.V. Morton
|
|
