A well observed and beautifully told description of the poorest region of Italy during the 1930s. His assessment at the end is brilliant. I don't know much about Italy, and I wonder if and how that region has changed. This is a truly beautiful book. ( )

It seems that the people of Gagliano do not have a burning hatred for fascism or even a tone of resentment towards it. Rather, they seem to be indifferent to, and accepting of, the conditions under which they live. Fascism to them is just another in a string of ideologies that Rome has embraced and that, in the long run, will likely not have much of an effect on their lives. In fact, the author points out that the people of the region have had similar reactions to all of the political systems that have been forced upon them at various times. The State as an institution is foreign to the citizens of Gagliano, explains Levi, who himself is an anarchist. The people feel forgotten but are accepting of that fate. They have never been a part of history, so they look at themselves as being excluded from the history of mankind.

Lo sforzo di adattarsi per capire, il rispetto, una potente sospensione di giudizio che non si fa limitare da prospettive scientifiche. C'è molto da imparare, qui, di Storia, Sociologia, folklore, ...

Ma per tutto l'impegno (o forse proprio per quello), e nonostante l'ultimo capitolo, si termina con la tristezza addosso, e la sfiducia, in fondo, che qualcosa si possa fare. ( )

Life in an Italian villiage. Found it boring. ( )

Excellent writing, very insightful author. This has many reviews so anything I write won't add to the opinions. Read as part of my research into my Italian family roots ( )