De America.
Milano: Garzanti, 1953. Item #1107
8vo. 220 x 145 mm., [8 3/4 x 5 3/4 inches]. xxiv, 523 pp. Illustrated with 32 photographic reproductions, one in color, the others in black and white. Bound in publisher's blue cloth, illustrated with an image of the NY skyline in gold on upper board, title on spine, dust jacket; tail of spine lightly frayed, dust jacket with chips and tears to the head and tail of spine, edges chipped, tear to rear wrapper. A fair copy of the dust jacket only.
First edition. Piovene was a journalist and travel writer who came to the United States in 1951-52 to examine for the Italian public the condition of American after the War. He begins in New York City and writes about city life, university life and the business and industry that fuels the City. He travels to Washington D.C. and describes in detail the Capitol and the numerous governmental buildings and provides a lovely image of a young black women in Sunday dress. From D.C. he write about his travels to Philadelphia, Chicago, and the Old South and provides a vivid narrative on the conditions of the Black community below the Mason Dixson Line. He continues his travels from Chicago to the Southwest and on to California.
At the end of his journey Piovene had both a love and distaste for what he found in America. He considered it a harbinger of future but dragged down by the past. Something of a warning to his European audience.
Price: $40.00