In 1 844, Charles Dickens took a break from novel writing to travel through Italy for almost a year, and Pictures from Italy is an illuminating account of his experiences there. He presents the country like a magic-lantern show, as vivid images ceaselessly appear before his -and his readers" - eyes. Italy"s most famous sights are all to be found here - St Peter"s in Rome, Naples with Vesuvius smouldering in the background, the fairytale buildings and canals of Venice - but Dickens"s chronicle is not simply that of a tourist. Avoiding preconceptions and stereotypes, he portrays a nation of great contrasts: between grandiose buildings and squalid poverty, and between past and present, as he observes everyday life beside ancient monuments. Combining compelling travelogue with piercing social commentary, Pictures from Italy is a revealing depiction of an exciting and disquieting journey. Формат: 13 см х 19,5 см.