Bailey Alexander

Category: Blogs and Blessays

  • The treasure beneath our feet

    The treasure beneath our feet

    Thanks to Piemonte, Italy was united. But my next book “Personal Legends of Piemonte” isn’t about that history, or Turin – the former capital of Italy, the former capital of fashion. Agnelli was cool, as were his cars. But this book is about the small towns, where the heart of Piemonte lives and breathes. Where…

  • Let’s Go Gastone

    Let’s Go Gastone

  • The story of the Piemontese

    The story of the Piemontese

    Finally, I sent my book to the editor. To proofread. After editing it 7 more times, just this past month; even he agreed. Proofread only. He’ll turn it around, then the translator will turn my words into Italian. It took me forever to figure out what I really wanted to say. I had to cross…

  • Poolside chat

    Poolside chat

  • Spring on Lake Garda

  • Dawn Powell on Gore Vidal

  • Hemingway to Dawn Powell: “you are my favorite living writer”

    Best thing I can do with my day is bring back Dawn Powell. Hemingway wrote to her, “you’re my favorite living writer” Vidal said she was America’s finest comedic novelist (still is) Dawn said satire is “people as they are”. You should find out why and read one of her novels. You will love her…

  • Gore Vidal on his idea of heaven

    Gore Vidal on his idea of heaven

    Vidal admits he didn’t speak Italian well – but is convinced they don’t have a word for wit. Vidal had many Italian friends and his partner, Howard, not only spoke fluent Italian, he understood different dialects – they did get nuance… The only word I know that comes close to wit – is arguzia, but…

  • Save yourself Save the planet

    Save yourself Save the planet

    The treasure beneath our feet. How often do we think of that way? The Piemontese I interviewed for my next book, they think of it that way all the time. That’s how artisans like Fabrizio think of it while making their world famous Robiola cheese in Roccaverano. They till the soil with care, and dearly…

  • Cultural reality of the croissant

    Cultural reality of the croissant

    If you’re traveling between France and Italy you may find your croissant tastes a bit better in France and your cappuccino superior in Rome. Yet I read an alternative reality to the birth of the croissant recently. The exact origins of the croissant are somewhat disputed, but it’s widely believed that it was created in…