La Storia: Five Centuries of the Italian American Experience

So before time to give it, I had time to read it. What a history!! This should be required reading for EVERY person in America with Italian heritage! Learn, see what drove them here. Mostly concerned with around turn of century, tells where they came in ( I love the history of Ellis Island) but tells the awful conditions they were subjected to once here (most became the lowest in the pecking order of society) and how pitiful the women were. Why the Mafia gained power in America. You won't be sorry.

What a great book! It chanced to catch my eye in recently and I've found it hard to put down.This book eloquently ties together the *entire* experience of the Sicilian immigrant before, during and after their arrival. Although it is light on the parallel history of Sicily (Sammartino's Sicily is an EZ read) the focus on the American aspect makes it that much more unique. Yet, there is excellent treatment of what the hollow term "Italian" meant to a peasant from Sicily - not much. Once they came to the US, they were effectively lumped together with everyone from what had only recently been joined (and by force at that) into a nation. The authors also provide context to the socio-economic misery effectively inflicted upon the southern regions to the direct and exclusive benefit of northern regions.Also demystified is the pervasive myth of the Mafia, originally perpetuated by northern Italians as reasons why their welcome in the South quickly wore out - the Sicilians were regularly maligned as genetically inferior, lazy, unintelligent and all part of the Mafia. With the constant perpetuation of the "secret-society" angle - it's has all the chracteristics of a great meme. The roots are detailed including how and who profited from this wicked myth including: opportunistic northernern Italians, sensationalist meida, ignorant Americans and isolated criminals interested in making themselves bigger than life. It's a bitter irony that so many southern Italians immigrants and their descendants became successful in America while their own homeland refused to give then any opportunity. Armed with the facts, Italians and Italian-Americans have a chance to separate the fact from fiction.I'm a 3rd generation (Sicilian-Calabrese) American originally from Chicago, and the book rang true again and again. My experiences, the stories that I'd heard from family and friends, the make-up of the neighborhood I grew up in and how the media often portrays Italians.I recommend this book for all Italians, Italian-Americans and especially those of southern Italian descent. I'd even recommend this book to people that have friends and family that are Italian or have any interest in the culture.Bravissimo to the authors for writing a detailed, well researched treatise on what for many of us has been unwritten until now.

La Storia provides an excellent historical record, as well as an in-depth discussion of the social consequences faced by immigrant Italians and their children. It is OUTSTANDING reading not only for Italian Americans (especially those of Southern Italian descent), but also for those wishing to better understand an often marginalized group of people who have contributed to this country in fascinating and tremendous ways. I have given this book as a gift to several friends.

A book of this sort was long overdue. Perhaps I am not familiar enough with works in this area, but it was refreshing to see a well researched, serious account of the early Italian American experience. As a second generation Sicilian, I can testify that the anecdotes regarding family traditions, etc are authentic. In addition, the book lends tremendous insight into the connection between current Italo-American customs and beliefs and their genesis and roots back in Sicily. This book is also a monument to the many and varied contributions that Italian -Americans have made to this country. It should serve as a wake-up call to all Italian-Americans that we have let assimilation rob us of our unique identity as Italians and as Americans. This book is a "must read" for all Italian-Americans and anyone who thinks (from thier exposure to shamefully biased and opportunistic gangster films) that they have even the vaguest notion of what it means to be an Italian American.

All throughout grade school, High school and college I was always a bit disturbed that history classes spoke so little about the italian influence on the exploration of the New World. From reading this book you get a true picture of what the italians contributed to the early exploration of America. My parents are both immigrants from Sicily and they have told me a little about the trials and tribulations they and family members went through when they first arrived. Once I complete the book I will be sure to give a final review of the whole story. I want to take this opportunity to find out if the book is printed in Italian. My parents would love to read the story about their past experiences. Please send me an e-mail. Thank You