The Story of San Michele
I decided to read The Story of San Michele by Axel Munthe due to it being on a list of must read books on Italy by Lonely Planet. While an enjoyable and interesting read, he only gets into Italy about halfway through the book and that is really when the book becomes interesting.
Munthe wrote the book in 1929 and was a physician with many famous friends including Henry James, Howard Carter and Somerset Maugham among others. He was a French-trained physician and traveled throughout Europe and detailed his journeys along with his patients in the first half of the book. The book is at times gruesome but always with humanity and an incredible love of animals. Strangely, Munthe does not mention any of his immediate family or any woman in his life, although apparently he was married with children. He does discuss in great detail the type of patients he sees, the type of doctors he deals with and if he believes they are doctors.
There is a real love by Menthe of his home construction of San Michele in Capri, Italy. I thought before reading the book that the book would be about San Michele, but again that does not start until halfway in the book. I believe that detracts from the book as the reader is left wondering when the Italy section begins. Since he conveys a love of Italy and of ancient architecture, I wish he had spent more time on Capri, but no one can downplay his storytelling. One interesting segment at the end of the book occurs when the author talks about his death and meeting St. Peter in heaven, not a normal part of a book. I would not put this book as a necessary read for Italy, but it is enjoyable.
