ITALIAN WOMEN CONFESS

by Gabriella Parca ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 3, 1963

Sunny Italy with its men crooning of love, turns another face to view in the confessional bath of tears from its women wounded by amore, or what is taken for it. Here are examples of distaff suffering dealt out from a spate of 8000 letters to middle class and ""fumetti"" or movie-magazine type slicks requesting advice in matters of the heart. Sample headings: ""The Famous Proof of Love"", ""Dangerous Games, ""There Was Someone Else"", ""Dreams of Art"", ""Love at First Sight"", ""Forbidden Loves"", ""Wives Who Suffer,"" ""Adultery Or Almost"". Thus, from the adolescent dreaming of love or bowed by the fact that she has ""fallen"", on through the gamut, always centered on the physical aspects of purity and fidelity, or their lack, these dreary divulgences reveal a culture strictured by superstition and prejudice. As the author remarks, ""in this Italy of ours, made by men and for men, the woman is only a guest"" -- and a rudely treated one, if we are to believe the lorn ladies opening their hearts here. Only of intermittent interest in book length presentation.

Pub Date: June 3, 1963

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Farrar, Straus & Co.

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 1963

Categories: NONFICTION