Category Archives: Books

Elsa Morante

Posted on February 11, 2026 by Art for Housewives

Before climate change, October in Rome, known as Ottobrata Romana, was a special month because of its light that was golden and warm. So lovely was the weather that Romans had the tradition of going to the countryside for picnics … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Fascist Italy, Rome/Italy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gadda’s Mess

Posted on January 24, 2026 by Art for Housewives

Part I It was George Santayana, Spanish philosopher, who wrote “those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” And it looks like some of us missed out on a few history lessons. Especially those related to fascism. … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Conditions of Possibility, Fascist Italy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Pietro Citati & Cristina Campo

Posted on December 23, 2025 by Art for Housewives

The summer of 1993, I was in Venice for the Biennale. For the train ride back to Tuscany, I’d been given a first-class ticket and eagerly went to my compartment. There was still some time before departure so I sat … Continue reading →

Posted in Art Narratives, Books, Fascist Italy, Rome/Italy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Tribunal of Souls

Posted on December 10, 2025 by Art for Housewives

Feltrinelli’s book store, towards Piazza della Repubblica, Roma When we go to Feltrinelli’s at Piazza della Repubblica, I immediately head for the English language section. That’s where I discovered Donato Carrisi’s “The Lost Girls of Rome” (2011), the English translation … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Roman Diary, Rome/Italy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A DIY Tour of Parioli

Posted on November 30, 2025 by Art for Housewives

It’s Palma‘s fault. Reading her biography (“La regina di quadri, vita e passioni di Palma Bucarelli” by Rachele Ferrario) made me wonder about the effects of Fascism on a woman’s image of herself and on the possibility of her ever … Continue reading →

Posted in Art Narratives, Books, Fascist Italy, female consciousness | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments