The Hero's Way: Walking with Garibaldi from Rome to Ravenna

Description

An entertaining and informative journey across Italy in the footsteps of the great Italian political hero, Garibaldi. Bestselling author of Italian Ways Tim Parks follows the hair-raising journey of Italian revolutionary Giuseppe Garibaldi, 250-miles on foot from Rome to Ravenna, to explore Italy's past and present. In the summer of 1849, Giuseppe Garibaldi, Italy's legendary revolutionary hero, was finally forced to abandon his defence of Rome. He and his men had held the besieged city for three long months, but now it was clear that only surrender would prevent slaughter and destruction at the hands of a much superior French army. Against all odds, Garibaldi was determined to turn defeat into moral victory. On the evening of 2 July, riding alongside his pregnant wife Anita, he led 4,000 hastily assembled volunteers out of the city to continue the struggle for national independence in the countryside. Hounded by both French and Austrian armies, the garibaldini marched hundreds of miles through Umbria and Tuscany, then across the Appenines, Italy's mountainous spine, until, after thirty-two exhausting days of skirmishes and adventures, 250 survivors boarded fishing boats on the Adriatic coast in an ill-fated attempt to reach the independent Republic of Venice. It would be ten years and much world-wandering before Garibaldi would astonish the world when his revolutionary campaign in Sicily became the catalyst to the unification of Italy. This is the lesser-known story, brought vividly to life by bestselling author Tim Parks, who in the blazing summer of 2019, together with his partner Eleonora, followed Garibaldi and Anita's arduous journey. The Hero's Way is a fascinating portrait of Italy past and present, and a celebration of determination, creativity, desperate courage and profound belief.

Born in Manchester, Tim Parks grew up in London and studied at Cambridge and Harvard. He lives in Milan. Parks is the acclaimed author of novels, non-fiction and essays, including Europa, A Season with Verona, Teach Us to Sit Still, Italian Ways and Italian Life. He has been shortlisted for the Booker Prize and has won many awards for both his work in English and his translations from the Italian, which include works by Alberto Moravia, Italo Calvino, Roberto Calasso, Antonio Tabucchi and Niccol Machiavelli.

A delightful account of an enthusiast's romp through history and his adopted country... Parks shows one simple way...in which this troubled yet beautiful land and its constantly debated history can still offer nourishment -- Max Norman * Literary Review * Parks intertwines his travelogue with thought-provoking contemplation on leadership, history, memory, politics, idealism and the true meaning of love of country'... Parks's deep affection for Italy with all its flaws...is implicit and compelling -- Jeremy Cliffe * New Statesman * Park's prose reflects the hot sun overhead, the hard stone underfoot; it spares none of the senses, and it makes for sympathetic reading... the reader gasps at Garibaldi's charisma and intelligence -- Harry Cochrane * Tablet * The Hero's Way is one of the most enjoyable books I have read in a long time. Following in Garibaldi's footsteps, Tim Parks recreates the thrilling history of his legendary escape from Rome in 1849. Elegantly written, full of wit and charm, this is travel writing at its very best -- Orlando Figes