The Lost Art of Rome

From the collection, Italy, A Love Story, Barbara Grizzuti Harrison's piece, "Rome, the Art of Living", paints a contradictory picture. The piece is not particularly easy to read, jumping around at times trying to sound more like poetry than an article it is hard to follow the writer's intentions. The piece does not seem to convey "the Art of Living", for the majority of the text. She remarks that, "Rome seems perpetually on the very edge of ruin", which is ironic because most of the piece seems to discuss the state of ruin that she perceives Rome to currently be in. Writing as more of an archeological travel writer some of her writing is beautifully descriptive but not really telling as to what the point is that she's trying to make.

Near the conclusion though she makes some interesting points that highlight the juxtaposition of the current state of Rome, citing how there is now a McDonald's near the Spanish Steps and a Benny Burger on the Viale di Trastevere. Her ending sentence however hints that perhaps she is writing out of a place of love and defense for the historic greatness of the city of Rome, and that is where the angry tone of the rest of the piece is coming from. Shifting from a mild rant about the fast food take over she admits, "...But no one is so beautiful, taking his ease, as a Roman; and at night, on the viale, it is lively and gay, and Rome is not 'spoiled', only minimally altered, immensely lovable, pleasing not in every part but steadfastly beautiful as a whole. It remains in its essentials unalterable".