What do you think?
Rate this book
Looking for Garibaldi: Travels on Three Continents in the Footsteps of a Hero
Can following the footsteps of one of history’s most colorful figures lead to an unusual travel adventure? Absolutely. Giuseppe Garibaldi led freedom fighters on two continents, unified Italy, and almost headed America’s Union Army. His statues stand in cities around the world. So what do people today think of his accomplishments? In Looking for Garibaldi, John and Nancy Petralia discover that answer and more as they explore, often in hilarious ways, the places Garibaldi lived and fought, and how their lives parallel his. In stories of gun wielding gauchos, Italian family roots, nautical Christmas displays, historic battles, young lovers, old soldiers, tango missteps and travel with friends, the Petralias remind us that life’s most memorable moments often begin by taking a chance.
210 pages, Paperback
Published December 7, 2017
12 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 19, 2017
Looking for Garibaldi is this US-American writing couple's second travel memoir. The first, Not in a Tuscan Villa, provides lots of details about their one year living in Italy. At times I felt inundated by details while reading that book. That is not the case with Looking for Garibaldi. I feel they have achieved the right balance with this one, between a vicarious travel book and a spot of history for casual readers.
Giuseppe Garibaldi was a complex man with a complex life. I've always thought that the many history books dedicated to his story appear to struggle to present a coherent narrative. So I approve of the Petralias' choice to not write a history book, but instead a travel memoir in which they describe some of their experiences while crisscrossing the Atlantic, just as Garibaldi did, while visiting points of interest from Garibaldi's story.
If readers are later drawn to learn more about the Italian freedom-fighter (from Spanish colonialism) and Italian unification military leader (of the famous Red Shirts) I think that's wonderful. When traveling in Italy and many parts of Latin America, one can't help but encounter squares, streets and parks named for Garibaldi. Gaining greater understanding of why that is, can only help one appreciate Italy and Italians better.
Italy is a relatively young country, formed of very different regions with different histories, languages and values. The Petralias describe these contrasts well in their earlier book, and touch on them again in this memoir as they move from the north to the center, then to the south of Italy. Once again, the personal connections they make as they travel are the most memorable parts for me, and the connections to John Petralia's Italian-immigrant family that come up during their travels are very moving.
In this book we encounter the loving couple as they deal with the difficulties of aging combined with the difficulties of travel, which many readers will find understandable. We also get some interesting recollections from John and Nancy's childhoods in the States. Fans of the couple will get to know them better. Be warned, some of John's chapters (they alternate chapters) contain vulgarities, politics, controversial economic theories, some coarseness, and punctuation that purists may find distracting.
I enjoyed my vicarious travel with the couple. For those of us who can't, for whatever reason, hop on a plane to Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, France, Italy, or the east coast of the U.S., this travel memoir could help fill the void for excitement, risk, human contact and sensory stimulation. Their writing brings people and places alive. I wish them success and good health. I received a review copy; this is my honest review!
Giuseppe Garibaldi was a complex man with a complex life. I've always thought that the many history books dedicated to his story appear to struggle to present a coherent narrative. So I approve of the Petralias' choice to not write a history book, but instead a travel memoir in which they describe some of their experiences while crisscrossing the Atlantic, just as Garibaldi did, while visiting points of interest from Garibaldi's story.
If readers are later drawn to learn more about the Italian freedom-fighter (from Spanish colonialism) and Italian unification military leader (of the famous Red Shirts) I think that's wonderful. When traveling in Italy and many parts of Latin America, one can't help but encounter squares, streets and parks named for Garibaldi. Gaining greater understanding of why that is, can only help one appreciate Italy and Italians better.
Italy is a relatively young country, formed of very different regions with different histories, languages and values. The Petralias describe these contrasts well in their earlier book, and touch on them again in this memoir as they move from the north to the center, then to the south of Italy. Once again, the personal connections they make as they travel are the most memorable parts for me, and the connections to John Petralia's Italian-immigrant family that come up during their travels are very moving.
In this book we encounter the loving couple as they deal with the difficulties of aging combined with the difficulties of travel, which many readers will find understandable. We also get some interesting recollections from John and Nancy's childhoods in the States. Fans of the couple will get to know them better. Be warned, some of John's chapters (they alternate chapters) contain vulgarities, politics, controversial economic theories, some coarseness, and punctuation that purists may find distracting.
I enjoyed my vicarious travel with the couple. For those of us who can't, for whatever reason, hop on a plane to Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, France, Italy, or the east coast of the U.S., this travel memoir could help fill the void for excitement, risk, human contact and sensory stimulation. Their writing brings people and places alive. I wish them success and good health. I received a review copy; this is my honest review!
January 12, 2018
Affordable book, part memoir, I found this book to be an interesting romp following the footsteps of a larger than life historical figure. The authors alternate writing chapters and I found this distracting as their writing styles and focus are so disparate. I thoroughly enjoyed Nancy's chapters, wherein I learned something about our hero, Garibaldi, and chuckled and smiled at her recounting of their adventures and mis-adventures.
February 9, 2023
Don’t expect to learn a lot about Garibaldi. You get an outline of his life. What was most interesting to me was their time in Puglia and hearing the attitudes of the people living there. I love the region and being from Appalachia identify with their under appreciated appeal. The industry and money may be in the north but there is so much history and value in the south.
A few too many misogynistic comments for my taste, hence only 3 stars.
A few too many misogynistic comments for my taste, hence only 3 stars.
April 20, 2018
Good Read about A Famous but Not-Well Known Figure
I have heard of Garibaldi over the years but never gave a thought to his contributions. In this book we meet him, but our authors as well.
I have heard of Garibaldi over the years but never gave a thought to his contributions. In this book we meet him, but our authors as well.
June 17, 2020
Again, a wonderful book from this couple. Although I preferred their first book, this one was just as amazing and I hope they continue to write more!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews