Italian connection celebrated at launch

A large crowd was present at Readings Bookshop in Carlton on July 30 for the launch by Professor Ian Donaldson of Australians in Italy, a new publication for the Monash University ePress.

The book, edited by Bill Kent, Ros Pesman and Cynthia Troup, tells the previously unexplored story of the scholarly and cultural engagement of Australians with Italy, especially in contemporary times.

Long before the advent of modern tourism, Australians travelled to live in Italy, or undertook extensive visits there. Indeed they continue to do so in increasing numbers, as people in their thousands seek ‘the good life’ that Italy – in Ros Pesman’s words, this ‘culturally endowed place of rebirth’ – seems to promise.

While many are familiar with celebrated expatriates such as Germaine Greer, Jeffrey Smart, Peter Robb and David Malouf, hundreds of other artists, writers, musicians and intellectuals have made and continue to make a notable contribution to the cultural and intellectual lives of both countries. Whilst Australian Studies flourishes in Italian universities, Australian academics write distinguished accounts of Italian history covering various eras. Despite this sustained activity, the scholarly and cultural engagement of Australians with Italy is not a well known story.

Australians in Italy is available as a paperback and as an ebook.

7 August  2008

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