Henry James was a renowned observer of European culture, both in his fiction & in his life. In particular, he loved Italy, visiting it 14 times & setting several of his novels in the country. Between 1873 & 1909 he also wrote numerous essays & travelogues that were ultimately collected into one volume & published as Italian Hours. James is famous for his fine perception & baroque prose, & both are found in abundance in Italian Hours. As one would expect, he is a wonderful cultural critic, providing passionate & discerning reviews of the highlights of Italy`s art & architecture. He also presents a surprisingly familiar view of the changes that time & tourism were bringing to modern Italy. For all of his acute insights, Italian Hours is, above all, an affair of the heart, & will resonate with anyone who shares his love of the country.