I have been working with Corinna Cooke, Glam Italia author, for years. Initially, I was surprised by her passion for Rome. Then I got used to it!
When we meet up for drinks after work at my local bar, our encounters resemble cultural boxing matches. She might, for example, ask me about Emperor Diocletian. After hearing my opinion, she would rebut, “Yeah, okay, but surely Constantine was better…” And one round of spritz segues into a second. I could slam Constantine for ages. (Let’s just start by talking about moving the capital of the Empire to Turkey!) And Corinna would listen attentively to every word I said. After digesting our conversations, she would re-elaborate them doing research on her own.
We have seen each other yearly for nearly a decade. And Corinna always surprises me by sharing her research with me. One day, she surprised me even more by turning her research and passion for Rome into a book. When she gave me my copy of Glam Italia, 101 Fabulous Things to Do in Rome, it contained a beautiful dedication. But she mumbled something like, “Please don’t read it. I’m afraid you won’t like it!” I didn’t like it; I loved it!
What’s so Fun about Corinna Cooke and her Glam Italia 101 Fabulous Things to Do in Rome?
Thank goodness, Corinna Cooke has broken with the tired tour book trend. Rest assured, you won’t find a litany of names and dates in her book. And forget “Rome’s Top Ten attractions. ” You know, the ones you have to see. In their place, Corinna delivers enthusiasm, memorable stories, and insight. She also gives you the occasional adorable typographical error and one or two bits of historical misinformation. That’s inevitable when you crunch 3000 years of history into one user-friendly and upbeat book… Why buy the reprint of the reprint of that big-name (and dry) guidebook? Enjoy Glam Italia, 101 Fabulous Things to Do in Rome!
