Dianne Hales: La Bella Lingua: My Love Affair with Italian, The World’s Most Enchanting Language (Broadway Books, 2009) [IBR2026]

Italians say that someone who acquires a new language “possesses” it. In my case, Italian possesses me. With Italian racing like blood through my veins, I do indeed see with different eyes, hear with different ears, and drink in the world with all my senses – an experience Italian encapsulates in the word sentire. …. In La Bella Lingua – a true opera amorosa, a labor of love – I invite you to come along on my idiosyncratic journey through what I consider the world’s most loved and lovable language. I have cherry-picked the liveliest parts of italian’s history and the golden eras of its literature, art, music, movies, and culture. In these pages, you will meet the people, visit the places, read the words, behold the paintings, hear the music, taste the meals, watch the movies, and discover the secrets that bring joy to my soul – and I hope, to yours. Alas, I’ve never been able to get anywhere close to communicative competence in a language other than English. I’ve tried many different…