Under the Southern Sun: Stories of the Real Italy and the Americans It Created

Bravo Mr. Paolicelli. You've penned another great, informative, unique book on Italy that too few will discover and savor.If you want to learn about the other Italy, as well as its gift to the United States through generations of creative imigrants who brought not only their talents, but their values as well, this is the book for you.Paolicelli's writing continues to be wonderful (as it was in Dances), his research thorough, and his point of view unprecedented. Those who have journeyed to Southern Italy will want to go back with a fresh set of eyes; those who haven't been will be changing their itinerary to include a southern swing.

I haven't read "Dances With Luigi" yet but I will be sure to check it out now after reading Paul's sophomore effort, "Under The Southern Sun." It's been a long time since a book had me so captivated and made me wanting more. This is not your conventional "I went to find my Italian roots" book. Paul was on an even bigger quest: To find what value system the Southern Italian immigrants brought over with them. He set out to tell the story from the Italian side of immigration, and I believe he did his job and then some. I was pleased that Paul was so forthright about the prejudice against Southern Italians by Northern Italians and the history of Southern Italy (some areas pre-dating the Roman Empire and Greek influence). He tackled the subject tactfully and his and his subjects' honesty was a welcome breath of fresh air. Regarding various Italian settlements around this country: I was surprised to find out that there is an Italian settlement in Denver, Colorado. I was a bit irritated that more mention was made of that and the settlements in North Jersey and New York and no mention whatsoever made of Italians in Philadelphia (besides South Philadelphia). In all, Paul did an excellent job of conveying the belief and value system of Southern Italians. This book not only made me even more proud to be from the southern part of Italy, it has made me want to make that trip to my ancestral home (Calabria - provincia di Cosenza and Campania - provincia di Salerno), and experience my roots firsthand.

I waited a long time to read this book; and I was not disappointed. Paul's odyssey through southern Italy is welldescribed with anecdotes about people he met, the climate, the food, and the language. I went through the entire book laughingand thinking "AHA!"He made it as authentic as he could using words in a book. I thought of my grandparents often, as he echoed sentiments I have felt, and that they had showed me in many many ways.My grandfather was not an articulate man. He was quiet and rarely had much to say. As a child I recall peppering him with questions about his childhood, about Italy, and not getting very satisfying responses. Paul has done a good job of answering the questions.If you, like me, have this incredible longing to go back (and I have) to where your family is from, this book will help show you the way. I recommend this book to the millions of italian americans out there, who are wondering where they came from. Paul will explain.

Paul's latest book continues his soulful journey that began with his book of discovery, "Dances With Luigi." As I read through this book, I felt as if I'd been lifted physically and transported to the scenes and times Paul writes about with such excitement. "Southern Sun" is a passionate retelling of the lifes of our ancestors. Stories that history books have missed or ignored but need telling none-the-less. My grandparents and great grandparents came from villages near Cosenza, in Calabria,Italy. I'll never know all the reasons why they chose to leave, just a few bits and pieces. Through Paul's words I can now fill in some of the blanks and at least understand the economic challenges and attitudes that must have drove them to make such a courageous decision. If you love the Italian culture and seek to understand and preserve it, this is a book to be read and shared with others.Paul writes with a sense of wonder and zeal for every new bit of discovery he makes. He has created a road map for my own journey of discovery soon to be made when I follow his lead and retrace my family's roots. Roots that stretch back to Italy and were originally nourished under the southern sun. Bravo!

Paul Paolicelli's reprise of Dances With Luigi is an eloquent and articulate series of vignettes that explain historically and culturally why 25% of Southern Italians immigrated to North and South America around the turn of the 20th century. He explains the origins of the values and attitudes that I saw in my Nonni, my parents and the people that lived around us. Thanks to Paul's research into the psyche of the Umbriana, the Abruzzese and Molisiana, Campanese, Apulese, Basilicatese, Calabrese and Siciliana I now understand and appreciate the essence of the stock from which I am bred. While I may have always appreciated my heritage, I have not understood it as I do now. This evocative book was written from the heart and will stir your memory and your senses.