The author, Robert Thomson, studied Italian in 1960-61 at the Universities of Perugia and Florence. He was on a junior year scholarship funded by the Ministero degli affari esteri. The purpose of the scholarship was to study Italian and improve his conversation skills. This he did but he also did other things as well: studying voice with a teacher of bel canto method and visiting galleries, museums, buildings and monuments of interest. A close reading of Dante leads Thomson to a moral and spiritual awakening about the materialistic influence of schools and family on his life. The year is rich...