City of the Soul: A Walk in Rome (Crown Journeys)

• Hardcover - 04 February, 2003 - Crown
• Usually ships in 24 hours
• By: William Murray
• ISBN: 060960614X

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Reviews by readers

Rome for Romantics

I finished this book wanting to read more - about Rome and about William Murray and his family. Shortly after finishing City of the Soul, we went to Rome and enjoyed many of the walks he described. Not only that, the maps on the end pages are excellent, and the small size of the book makes it an ideal book to take along.

Murrays' mother was Italian and he grew up in Rome, although he was just as at home among Americans and British. While guiding us through central Rome and the discussing the history of the landmarks, he talks about growing up with his journalist mother and her lover. Murray's Rome is populated with artists and writers and this is both a great walking tour as well as a revealing journey of post-war Rome.

average

i had just finished reading H.V. Morton's excellent "A Traveller in Rome" when I started Murray's slim volume "City Of The Soul". Morton's book was so good, that Murray's came out as average at best. Written in 2003 with a definite personal angle from the various parts of his life spent living in Rome, the 133 pages don't take the time to venture as deeply into such a interesting city as Rome, but Murray seems to have said everything he wanted to by the end. It is possible this is only a 2 star book. If you have an interest in Rome and travel writing, read Morton's book first.

Rome is eternal - (this rating is supposed to be 4 stars, not 1)

City of the Soul - I certainly have to concur with author Murray that Rome is a unique and wonderful place. This little book is a gentle pleasure to read. Not much new here, but there are some interesting factoids and it's nice to read of this man's personal attachment to a place that I also love. He's a good writer with the soul of an opera singer, which he originally wanted to become, and has a genuine talent for describing some of the very special locations that exist only in the eternal city.

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