Dear Readers,
October, Italian Heritage Month, is a good time to remind you that the bilingual edition of Heritage, Italian American Style by Leon Radomile should be in every Italian American’s bookshelf. Italian Americans like myself, who think they already speak and read Italian “pretty good” will benefit greatly from this bilingual edition because even a cursory glance at the cover will begin expanding their Italian vocabulary horizons (i.d: Heritage=patrimonio; Entertainment=spettacolo) as it did mine.This bilingual editiono of “Heritage, Italian American Style” is a great gift item for family members and friends, not only for the upcoming holidays but for any occasion.
It is written in English and Italian, therefore you can even mail a copy to relatives and friends across the Atlantic who cannot read English but will enjoy it just as much in Italian.
I first met the author Leon Radomile circa 1985 at an Italian festa held at San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf, when he was introducing his “Italian edition Heritage Game”, a boxed board game that “not only tests your knowledge but gives you knowledge” with 1492 questions in five categories.
In 1999, he decided to turn the heritage game into a more portable book version and published a fully indexed “Heritage, Italian American Style” e-book with 1492 questions and answers for Italians (and those who wish they were) on the significant contributions Italians and Italian Americans hqave made to the world in the following categories: food, music, entertainment, art, science, literature, history, geography, business, sports and Roman civilization.
The book was printed in English. To me it is this 2002, revised, expanded and bilingual edition of “Heritage, Italian American Style” by Leon Rodomile, published by Vincerò Enterprises (490?Marin Oaks Drive, Novato, California 94949; www.italianheritage.net) that is really the “frosting on the torta”.
Here is a sample of what awaits you in the “Cucina, Musica e Spettacolo” category:
This Italian made his film debut in 1939 and rapidly became one of the leading romantic stars on the Italian screen. His first Hollywood appearance was in Little Women (1949), but it was not until The Barefoot Contessa that he established himself as a Hollywood star specializing in continental lovers and aristocrats. He is perhaps best known for his performance in South Pacific.” (Name this debonair actor).“Quest’italiano ha debuttato nel cinema nel 1939 ed è diventato in breve uno dei divi romantici dello schermo italiano. La sua prima apparzione cinematografica fu nel film Piccole donne (1949), ma fu con La contessa scalza che si guadagnò la reputazione di stella di Hollywood, specializzandosi nei ruoli di amanti e aristocratici. È meglio conosciuto per la sua interpretazione nel film South Pacific.” (* Individuate questo gioviale attore...)
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From the “Arte, Scienza e Letteratura” category:
“Born in Pisa on February 15, 1564, this man is considered by many to be the most influential of all Italians throughout history because of his major groundbreaking contributions in the area of astronomy, cartography, entomology, hydrodynamics, mathematics, mechanics, physics and timekeeping. (Hint: he conducted an important experiment from the Leaning Tower of Pisa.” (* Who was this intellectual giant?)“Nato a Pisa il 15 febbraio 1664, quest’uomo è considerato da molti il più influente italiano della storia per i suoi contributi rivoluzionari nei settori dell’astronomia, cartografia, entomologia, idrodinamica, matematica, fisica e misurazione del tempo. Condusse un famoso esperimento dalla Torre di Pisa”. (* Chi era questo genio?)
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From the “Storia, Geografia e Economia” :
“Regarded as the George Washington of Italy, he led 1000 volunteers, known as Red Shirts, in the conquest of Sicily, which led to the establishment of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861.” (* Who was he?)“Considerato il George Washington italiano, quest’uomo condusse mille volontari, chiamati camice rosse, alla conquista della Sicilia che portò all’unificazione d’Italia nel 1861”. (* Chi era questo condottiero?)
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Categoria Sport:
“He is the only driver in history to win Daytona 500 (1967), Indy 500 (1969) and Formula One world championship (1978).” (Hint: His son Michael is also a top driver.) (* Who was he?)“È stato l’unico pilota automobilistico nella storia a vincere i campionati mondiali di Daytona 500 (nel 1967), Indy 500 (nel 1969) e Formula Uno (1978). (Suo figlio Michael è anche un pilota)“. (* Di chi si tratta?)
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Beyond the 1492, questions and answers of the English edition, the bilingual version boast a new supplement section that moves on to question 1776:
“His parents migrated in the 1730s from the Italian city of Siena to Maryland, where he was born on October 30, 1740. In July 1776, he was one of the four Maryland representatives who signed the Declaration of Independence, In 1789, President Washington appointed him a federal judge for the state of Maryland, a position he held until his death in 1799.” (Identify this Italian American signer of the Declaration of Independence). (*William Paca).***
In the spirit of “what type of Italian book would this be without at least a couple of Italian recipes,” author Leon Radomile included two of his mother’s favorite dessert recipes, an Abruzzi black cake and a Sicilian cream tart, which represent the two regions where author Radomile has his Italian “roots,” and a couple of granita (ice) recipes from an American friend in New Jersey.In the Supplemental Section you will also find an essay by Bill Del Cerro, “What Columbus Started.” In the 500-plus years since Cristoforo Colombo first traveled to the Americas, Italy’s diverse contributions include: Guglielmo Marconi, Salvatore Guaragna, Antonio Meucci, the Jacuzzi Family and this acknowledgement by Queen Elizabeth II in 1980, speaking before the Italian Parliament: “Voglio ringraziare la vostra nazione per avere portato civilizzazione alla mia gente.”
The Supplement Section also includes an internet website and directory, so on the world-wide web you can access information about Italian art, geneology, culture, food, travel, language, films, fashion and much more.
A list of books, magazines, organizations and newspapers of interest to Italian Americans is also included, along with telephone numbers or other contact information.
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October being Italian Heritage Month, Vincerò Enterprises has a special offer for L’Italo-Americano readers who want to order the bilingual gem, Heritage, Italian American Style. A great gift item for family members and friends: for every two books purchased, receive one book FREE + $3.00 shipping. Single copy price is $19.95 with S/H. Order the “book special” direct by calling 415/883-1545 or visit: www.italianamericanfacts.com. Mail order to: Vincerò Enterprises, 490 Marin Oaks Dr., Novato, CA 94949.***
ABOUT THE AUTHOR - For the last 25 years, Leon J. Radomile has been a businessman and entrepreneur primarily involved in the nutritional supplement industry. Born in Philadelphia in 1949 of Italian parents, he was raised and educated in the San Francisco area with a degree in History form the University of San Francisco in 1972. Happily married to his wife Lanette since 1975, ha has two daughters, Lea Linda and Alxandra Marie.
10631 Vinedale Street, Sun Valley, CA 91352 - Phone (818) 767-3413 - Fax: (818) 767-1410
