In the illuminating prose that made Italian Days a contemporary classic and Barbara Grizzuti Harrison one of our most celebrated writers, this collection of essays spreads before us the rich abundance of life as it documents the author's love affair with the world. Harrison sorts through the complexities and contradictions of our times, bringing to each of her subjects a rare and generous ability to see the extraordinary amidst the mundane. She offers an exhilarating assortment of people, places, cultures, and--as always--food, as well as personal reflections on her own life and heritage. The most perceptive of travelers, Harrison takes us from Bensonhurst to Budapest to Morocco, from the hills of Tuscany to the walled city of Dubrovnik. We meet Nadia Comaneci, visit Gore Vidal in his Roman apartment, spend a day with Governor Mario Cuomo, and go on set with Francis Ford Coppola. In Yugoslavia Harrison explores purported sightings of the Virgin Mary, and in a small town in Vermont she witnesses the horrifying effects of a religious cult on children. Under her captivating gaze the world takes on new color, and her refreshing vision reminds us how astonishing our world really is. This collection of some of her finest writing will be a treat for Barbara Grizzuti Harrison's many fans and a wonderful surprise for the uninitiated. Altogether, these essays constitute a luminous reflection of our world and a personal testament by one of our most beloved writers.