Join Us for September’s Exciting Authors Presentations at the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum Coming September 11 and September 13, 2014 CALL NOW TO RESERVE A SEAT 718-442-1608 On Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014 at 7 p.m. Garibaldi-Meucci Museum proudly presents: Diane Hales Author of: Mona Lisa A Life Discovered Dianne Hales, a prize-winning, widely published journalist and author, was awarded an honorary knighthood by the President of Italy in recognition of her best-selling book, La Bella Lingua: My Love Affair with Italian, the Worlds Most Enchanting Language. Her newest book, MONA LISA: A LIFE DISCOVERED blends biography, history, and memoir to tell the story of Lisa Gherardini, the flesh-and-blood woman in the worlds most praised and parodied painting. Dianne Hales takes readers with her to uncover Lisas colorful family history, explore her neighborhoods, and meet her present-day descendants. In this voyage of discovery, we come to know Lisa as a daughter of Florence, a Renaissance woman, a merchants wife, a loving mother, a devout Christian, and a noble spirit. Dianne has served as a contributing editor for Parade, Ladies Home Journal, Working Mother and American Health and has written for many national publications, including Family Circle, Good Housekeeping, New York Times, Readers Digest, Washington Post, Womans Day, and World Book. In addition to more than a dozen trade books, she is the author of 24 editions of the leading college health textbook, An Invitation to Health. A Mona Lisa, A Life Discovered: From Booklist Biography, history, and memoir are woven together in Hales (La Bella Lingua, 2009) lyrical biography of Lisa Gherardini, the donna vera (real woman) captured in Leonardo da Vincis early sixteenth-century masterpiece, Mona Lisa. Hales paints a vivid history of the dramatic, often violent Renaissance Florence in which Gherardini lived: a town populated with scheming politicians, warring religious factions, and artists boasting rock-star popularity. Intertwined with this tale is Gherardinis personal biography as a daughter, a merchants wife, a devoted mother, and a family matriarch–a story that provides counterpoint to the epic, male-dominated history of the age. The verifiable facts of Gherardinis life are scarce, so Hales leans heavily on informed imagination, delving deeply into the customs, rituals, and relationships that governed womens lives in Renaissance Italy. Throughout the book, she scours archives, interrogates scholars, and walks the streets of Florence, seeking traces of Gherardini in detail and in spirit. These first-person accounts reveal the authors deep kinship with Gherardini, and her quest endows human subjectivity to one of art historys greatest icons. Lindsay Bosch On Saturday, Sept. 13 at 2 p.m. Garibaldi-Meucci proudly presents Nancy and John Petralia Co-authors of: NOT IN A TUSCAN VILLA This is a delightful book for many reasons. First, it is well written, every page immersing the reader deep into the experience of two people who had the courage to...do something totally different from their previous experience. There is an exciting sense of adventure, a willingness and sense of humor to accept that everything will not be as you planned, and the ability to change focus (and houses) when reality proves to be below expectations. Lewis Weinstein, author, The Heretic and The Popes Conspiracy Not in a Tuscan Villa took me to Italy without even boarding a plane! John and Nancy Petralia have a crisp, engaging writing style that pulls the reader into the memoir right away. I felt I was there with them as they spent their year in Italy. I could taste the food, drink the wine and view all the behind the scenes sights of a country that is truly fascinating. I highly recommend this book to everyone who has ever dreamed of doing anything that seems unattainable. What a grand adventure this couple is sharing with readers! Its a dont miss book for all. - Margaret Hawke, author, Bellehaven Not in a Tuscan Villa, is currently a bestseller in the travel book section on Amazon. The book tells the real-life story of this middle-aged American couple who went to live in Italy for a year, and explores the harsh reality of what unforeseen complications can happen when you try to make your dreams come true. Newly retired and looking for more than a vacation, John and Nancy pack some suitcases and head to the perfect Italian city to live for a year. Within days of their arrival their dream becomes a nightmare. While enjoying the art and the food, making new friends and learning new customs, they must also learn to negotiate the roads and the health care system, and discover how much more difficult everything becomes when you dont really speak the language. Through the good and the bad, the Petralias learn more than they anticipated-about Italy, themselves, what it means to be American, and whats important in life. Part memoir and part commentary, Not in a Tuscan Villa is a quirky and sincere exploration of the thrills and trials that can arise when you have the courage to step out of your comfort zone and do something challenging in later life. It graphically illustrates the axiom that you must be careful what you wish for... Admission to each event is $10, $5 for members and includes a light reception. Books will be available for sale for the authors to sign. WALK-INS ARE WELCOMED. Hope to see you there.
Posted on: Wed, 20 Aug 2014 10:00:00 +0000
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