Italia ancora
Sir: The gist, surely, of Petronella Wyatt's amusing article (Furthermore, 10 Febru- ary) is that the point of the Italians is their machismo — not in my opinion a very cred- itable point. Now, however, that they are no longer macho, there is very little point to them at all. Does that summary entitle me to the £250 cash prize on offer from Alexander Waugh?
And now to Carla Powell (Letters, 17 February). Both Burke and Adam would have every chance of securing honourable draws against Machiavelli and Palladio. Leonardo and Turner, on the other hand, Would never be on the same pitch. Italian fair play would dictate the choice of a romantic landscape painter to compete with Turner, and I doubt that either Ippolito Caffi or Giacinto Gigante would seriously trouble him.
The English are perhaps lucky to be let off the hook by Carla Powell's magnanimity in not mentioning Verdi v. Sullivan, who died only two months before him (a penalty that not even Baresi would miss), but then equally she is skilful in avoiding an own goal by omitting Mussolini v. Churchill. She is also wise to steer well clear of literature. Shakespeare and the English literary her- itage would easily overrun any Italian defence, even one marshalled by Dante.
Her mention of Casanova in the point- scoring game brings us to the stereotype. The myth that the Italians are great lovers was surely exploded a long time ago: all gong and no dinner!
I have lived and worked in Italy, and share many of the passions of the Italians. The cultured conductors and composers lilte Giulini and Menotti are wonderful People, but, alas, the boring smooth stereo- type is rather lacking in something. Could it be a sense of humour?
Oliver Gilmour
14 Ashburnham Road, London SW10
Previous page
