The Light in the Piazza and Other Italian Tales (Banner Books)

More years ago than I care to remember, I saw the movie based on Spencer's story, The Light in the Piazza, with Olivia de Havilland, Yvette Mimieux, Rossano Brazzi and George Hamilton. A few years ago, I saw the Craig Lucas/Adam Guettel musical. I have now, finally!, read the book.

In the title story, a well-to-do American woman, Margaret Johnson, is traveling in Italy with her daughter, Clara. They make the acquaintance of a young Italian, Fabrizio Naccarelli, who falls in love with Clara. But Clara, due to an accident, is still mentally a child, and Mrs. Johnson had resigned herself to Clara's never being in a position to marry. Now she sees the possibility. Her struggle between her desire to see Clara settled and happy, and her show more concerns that her disability will prevent that, form the conflict. In Margaret Johnson, Spencer has created an interesting and strong woman, one who will do what she has to for her child's well-being. She is rational, practical, not seduced by the romanticism of Florence's light.

Spencer's women deal. In one of my favorite stories, The White Azalea, the protagonist is a southern spinster traveling in Italy following the death of her father, whom she had nursed through his final illness, as she had nursed her mother and an aunt. She had spent those years reading the classics, dreaming of Europe, and has followed that dream. But now a letter from her brother George ("the only boy, the family darling") arrives, urging her return home to live with and look after an elderly cousin. She literally buries the letter. Three cheers! show less

I'll admit it: I am on an Elizabeth Spencer jag. One of the most pleasure a reader can have is to find an author who has fallen from favor or from print and discover a trove of amazing books and stories. Spencer was first published in 1948 and she's still writing. This is probably her most famous work, as it was made into a very popular Broadway musical. It's a simple story of a complicated circumstance: a mother and her daughter travel to Florence, where young Clara and a man fall in love. So what's the problem? Clara is not in any way mentally mature due to a childhood accident; yet she gives the physical appearance of a typical young woman abroad. The story is told by Clara's mother, an incredible woman who is able to puzzle through show more the awkward situation and make the impossible decisions. The reader must judge right or wrong. At only 110 pages, it is the slenderest of tales packing the greatest of wallops. Highest recommendation. show less

Upon reflection, I changed my rating to four stars, because this is one HELL of a perfect psychological study of parenting. And it's short, at just over 100 pages. AND it takes place in lovely, picturesque Florence.

Your child has suffered brain damage, of which she is unaware -- but you are fully aware of her truncated chance for a happy, fulfilled life. When she falls in love with a boy who clearly loves her in return, what do you do? To what lengths will you go to secure her happiness? And to what lengths will you go to relieve your own burdens?

An amazing little book that packs a punch.

Author Elizabeth Spencer's famous novella "The Light in the Piazza," which concerns an American mother's schemes to procure an Italian husband for her beautiful but brain-injured daughter, is the star of this collection. The other “Italian tales” are just padding.

Three novellas set in Italy which deal with how Italy, its weather and its architecture, its general beauty affects the relationships of the people who visit it.

The title story was absolutely captivating, presenting a moral dilemma of a holiday romance complicated by innocent secrets and ulterior motives. The other two I found unfocused and unwieldy.

A short story, rather than a novel, I think. During a prolonged visit in Florence, the prospect of love and a fuller life is offered to brain-damaged, but beautifully child-like Clara. Her mother becomes aware of the possibility and finally decides to allow and encourage it. Late twist towards the end concerning the young man's father's intentions. Ends quite abruptly and unsatisfactorily. Seems there was more that could have been concluded.

A very odd subject. A young woman (blond and very pretty) was kicked in the head by a colt when she (the young woman) was just a colt herself. Her mother has, naturally, been very protective of her developmentally challenged daughter. So they go to Italy for a vacation, where the young woman behaves like all the other Italian women, fits right in and lands a rich husband. What this implies about the IQ of the Italian people, I'd rather not explore.