La Bella Lingua: My Love Affair with Italian, the World's Most Enchanting Language

by Dianne Hales

Book Overview

A celebration of the language and culture of Italy, La Bella Lingua is the story of how a language shaped a nation, told against the backdrop of one woman's personal quest to speak fluent Italian.

For anyone who has been to Italy, the fantasy of living the Italian life is powerfully seductive. But to truly become Italian, one must learn the language. This is how Dianne Hales began her journey. In La Bella Lingua, she brings...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0767927702
• ISBN13: 9780767927703
• Release Date: April 2010
• Publisher: Crown Publishing Group (NY)
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.4" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

A surprising charmer

I picked up La Bella Lingua in preparation for my first visit to Italy, but even those not planning to go to Italy will enjoy it. La Bella Lingua does for the history of the Italian language what Eats Shoots & Leaves does for English punctuation: Takes a seemingly dry linguistic topic and turns it into a page-turner. Talented writer Dianne Hales could make any subject entertaining!

An Italian Vacation in a book

When I saw this book, I wanted to read it right away. I did so and as a result, I have fallen even more in love with the italian language. When I was a student in Firenze years ago, before I knew much of the language, I used to read billboards and ads and think that the italian words were the most beautiful that I had ever seen without knowing what they meant. This book covers all aspects of the language from historic to artistic to poetic to the not so poetic! I learned so much in every chapter that I hated to see it end. This book will take you on a memorable voyage over the landscape of what is truly the world's most beautiful language.

Grazie, Sra Hales!

As a languishing adult student of Italian, I am grateful for Sra Hales' book and envious of her linguistic and cultural accomplishments. Her enjoyment of all things Italian both in Italy and her native San Francisco area are generously shared with the reader. There are two improvements I would like to see in the next edition: More translations - a fair number of words weren't translated and, if possible, a glossary. I would also love a well-spoken unabridged audio version. PS. I've added Mastroianni's I Remember DVD to my Netflix list.

A must read for Italian language lovers

For anyone who has been enchanted by the always beautiful, often frustrating Italian language and tried to grasp its basics as well as its intricacies, Dianne's tales will not only ring true but also comfort you. From obscure word etymologies to entertaining anecdotes, La Bella Lingua will keep you turning pages, nodding along in agreement, laughing, and even learning--I picked up quite a few new words myself even though I've been living in Italy for six years now. And Dianne's writing? A sheer pleasure. Truly. La Bella Lingua is a *must* for any lover of the Italian language and assolutamente warrants five espresso cups out of five. ~ Michelle Fabio bleedingespresso.com