The ancestral village of the Author's family, in a remote and unspoiled part of Southern Italy, has an unusual history. Founded in the 18th Century by a progressive noblewoman on the site of an ancient Greek acropolis, it was a model penal settlement, putting to shame the harsh conditions suffered by the convicts who began to be transported to Australia 23 years later. Also included in the book are a collection of essays expressing hopefully fresh insights into Italian history, language, and culture. This updated edition adds substantial information, which may be new to American readers, about the Serra family and Cardinal Ruffo, “The Fighting Cardinal.”
