There is often a level of trepidation when approaching a travel memoir – what new truth or epiphany is going to be revealed this time? Happily, in the hands of Tim Parks, Italian Ways doesn’t rely on the quest for personal growth that has lately become the norm for so many books of this genre.

Parks’s reflections on his journeys as a passenger onboard the trains of Italy are not just mere travel adventures. Rather, they delve into Italy’s past, and not only observe the cultural identity of the country as a whole, but also consider where this might be heading in the future.

Having lived in Italy for 30 years, Parks is a refreshingly legitimate voice, but in true Italian style he’ll never be considered a local. Thus, we get to enjoy his perspective as our connected but far from constricted guide. Parks relays hilarious accounts of the charms and eccentricities of fellow passengers during his daily commutes from Verona to Milan, or jaunts to Florence, Rome, Naples and Sicily as well as other less familiar destinations.

At the same time, his travels often reveal the links between the rail system and the political and social aspects of the Italian way of life, both then and now.

For those of us who have been charmed by Italy, or who have dreams of visiting, Italian Ways is an utterly enjoyable and unpredictable journey.

Danielle Mirabella