Endorsements

This is a highly original book that changes the way we think about one of the oldest and most studied nations on earth. Through abundant details and intriguing stories, Armiero convincingly shows how central to Italy’s identity its mountains have become. Donald Worster, author of A Passion for Nature: The Life of John Muir;‘Armiero scales the summits of environmental history, deftly blending cultural and materialist approaches. His book provides a full and fascinating account of the evolving role of mountains in shaping Italian nationalist imagination and the role of nationalism in shaping the mountain landscapes.’ J.R. McNeill, Georgetown University;‘Finally we have a sequel to Nicolson’s Mountain Gloom and Mountain Glory. Marco Armiero focuses not on the Swiss Alps as viewed by the British, but on the Italian Alps and Apennines as viewed by their own countrymen to show what became of mountain glory. Richly documented and imaginatively argued, A Rugged Nation brings vital understanding into the natures of nations, and will set the standard on mountain studies for years to come.’ Marcus Hall, University of Zurich