An exceptional introduction to Italian literature for English readers, the 40 authors compiled in this anthology gift us with vivid stories that when placed into one binding challenge trite perceptions and unveil a raw, more realistic portrait of Italy, from its birthing pangs as a modern nation to the end of the 20th century.

The award-winning author and Princeton professor, Lahiri’s thoughtful selection of authors exhibits a remarkable cross-section of Italian society that includes both men and women, well-known and unknown, who hail from different parts of Italy, belong to various social classes, and are employed in various professions, from poets to politicians, from musicians to editors, and beyond.