John De Luca

Mezzogiorno Mistaken John De Luca

This punchy and humorous book debunks the Top 10 Myths about Southern Italians and Southern Italy ("Mezzogiorno"). Despite excellence throughout history, Southern Italians still endure stereotypes about their intellects, bloodlines, and whether they are inherently criminal. This book reviews and rebuts the various stereotypes, tall tales, and myths, like the notion that Southern Italian culture and genes come from exotic influences; that every Southern Italian is involved in the mafia, and that Northern Italians are somehow superior. It covers a variety of issues in a readable, hard-to-put-down fashion, everything from the controversies surrounding Columbus, to the Italian American immigration experience, to various notions on Italian food. It is a delightful and humorous mix of history, pop culture, and travelogue.