La Storia: Five Centuries of the Italian American Experience

by Jerre Gerlando Mangione

"A saga of a people, their struggles, and the triumphs in a new world, told with drama and passion....Should be read by all Americans interested in what binds us together, despite our different backgrounds and histories."   —  New York Times Book Review From the early Italian adventurers who played an important role in the European expansion across the Atlantic to the political and business leaders of the 1990s, this book tells a dramatic story. The heart of the story is the mass migration that took place between 1880 and 1924, when a whole culture left its ancient roots to settle in the cities and towns of America.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Italy, Italian Literature, Historical, Cultural, Sociology

508 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 1992

About the author

An Italian-American writer best known for his depiction of the lives of Sicilian immigrants in Rochester, New York, in the first half of the twentieth century as their customs blend and clash with those of their adopted country.

Reviews

[Tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of information. It requires patience and an interest in the subject. I found it fascinating and engrossing, but it was a read that took effort and time. It did a great job of drawing a clear throughline from early southern Italy to the Italian American experience. What I found particularly interesting was how it wasn't until the mass migration that Italians thought of themselves as Italians as a whole, as prior to living here, they identified by the region from which they came. It was only under the American blanket of Italian- Americans that they used Italian as an umbrella term. It covered a lot of subjects all of which could be entire books in their own right. Though academic, it was written in a digestible and unpretentious way that was often moving and filled with compassion. Note: it's 30 years old so a lot of the writing and perspectives can be quite dated and jarring for the modern reader.

[captain america · Rating 2 out of 5]

pretty good but only two stars 'cause i'm northern italian and we ain't repped here.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a shame this book is such sloppy history, because the topic is certainly interesting. But the authors put the reader on notice early on in the book with a few howlers- for example, claiming that Spartacus' revolt was due to the oppression of southern Italy by Rome (possibly they were thinking of the Social War?)- and this looseness with facts continues throughout the book. (Italian-Americans only served in the Pacific theater in WWII unless they were working with OSS? Really?) Also, both the World Wars together get only half a page, and Enrico Fermi doesn't even get a name drop. For a book published in the 1990s claiming to cover five centuries of the Italian-American experience, I'd say those are major omissions.

[Fr. Peter Calabrese · Rating 3 out of 5]

I chose this as my “fun” book but in fact it was quite a serious treatment. I enjoyed it all but the first half where it dealt with the history of Italy and why there was immigration as well as the chapters dealing with pre 20th century immigration were excellent. The treatment of the late 20th century was perhaps journalistically sound but seemed to analyze more the academic and high culture side of life rather than the everyday aspects of late 20th century life for Ericams of Italian descent. A must read for sons and daughters of Italy even if the latter half is more challenging to complete

[Roxanne Eberle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting background on why my Italian-American relatives left Italy and what their journey may have been like. I started reading it after I saw "The Golden Door" a wonderful indie about immigration -- it starts in Sicily and ends just as the protagonists are about to leave Ellis Island.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book filled in the gaps of information that I had heard from my father and ancestors about their experiences as Italian immigrants. I’m especially grateful to understand the causes of poverty and discrimination. Well worth the read.

[Vincent Lombardo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well written and comprehensive history of Italian Americans from 1492 to 1992. Most informative and a pleasure to read. A great reference book, too. I always return to it for answers.

[Clarissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book... I learned a lot about USA history in relation with the Italian emigration. One main omission is the contribution of Italians in the science, engineering and architecture. There are two chapters about their contribution on art and literature, one on sports... but none on science.

[Cheryl Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating! Incredible research.

[Paul Mastrodonato · Rating 3 out of 5]

In-depth look into what Italian immigrants went through when they came to America. Racism and hate they faced, differences between their lives in Italy and America, and much more

[Michael Adam Reale · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this several times. it helped me in understanding the lives of my Great Grand Parents and their journey.

[Margaret Czekay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not Italian by heritage but this was a very interesting read.

[Karen Harper Ren Ruggiero · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very dense read. This book was written in 1992 and is perhaps due for an update twenty years later. Some good information, but makes broad generalizations about Italian immigrants in regards to religion, gender roles, and mental illness. But I suppose it's difficult not to make blanket statements in a book about a specific culture. Interesting stuff here, though, especially about attitudes towards the Mafia.

[Nick Crisanti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Obviously I enjoyed this book because I'm Italian and most of my ancestors came from southern Italy, and Abruzzo in particular. The first half of the book, which deals with the Italians leaving Italy and settling in American, was the most meaningful part to me. It taught me a lot about what my ancestors must have went through. The rest of the book was just about famous Italian Americans, and wasn't really that insightful.

[ANGELA · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for anyone with some italian blood- it tells the history if italian american from the first to ever come to the US and the famous ones...and the contributions made by all Italian Americans on our great country....

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for school research; certainly a good and useful book, but is very focused on NYC and Sicilian experience.