Author Description

Winner of the 2011 Strega prize, Italy's most prestigious literary award, this blend of essay, social criticism, and memoir is a striking portrait of the effects of globalization on Italy's declining economy. Starting with the story of his family's textile factory in Prato, Tuscany, Edoardo Nesi recalls a time of great prosperity when textiles were king in Prato, and he was heir to a company with a decades-long history. Spending his days leraning the ins and outs of fine fabric production, his nights ensconced in the works of F. Scott Fitzgerald and David Foster Wallace, Nesi led what some might call a charmed life. However, in 2004, after more than fifty years in business, the Nesi family decided to sell their company, and in so doing, sold part of their identity as well. Story of my people is a denunciation of big business, corrupt politicians, the arrogrance of economists, and cheap manufacturing. It's a must read for anyone seeking insight into the financial crisis that's battering Europe today.--Book cover.