Building Little Italy: Philadelphia's Italians Before Mass Migration [Paperback]

Richard N. Juliani (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1998

Philadelphia's first Italian immigrants arrived in the mid-18th century with artists, scholars, tradesmen and entrepreneurs establishing a community - one of the first "Little Italies" in America. This study tells the story of the community and profiles the immigrant experience in its early stages.

Editorial Reviews

Review

In Building Little Italy, Richard Juliani has given us the definitive case study of Italian community formation in the United States. No other scholar has so exhaustively researched, so skillfully written about, or so imaginatively conceived the question of early Italian settlement before the age of mass migration. It will remain the essential guide for all future work in the field. --Philip V. Cannistraro, Queens College/CUNY

In this useful study, Richard Juliani builds on the methods and insights of thirty years of research on Italian American life during the mass migrations, but charts a new course by examining the years before 1870. --Donna R. Gabaccia, Journal of Social History

Juliani's work is a richly detailed study of one of the earliest Italian communities in the United States. There are many community studies of Italians, but there are few that have examined, in such depth, the creation of Italian life before the era of mass migration. --Diane C. Vecchio, Journal of American Ethnic History --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Richard N. Juliani is Professor of Sociology at Villanova University. He is the author of The Social Organization of Immigration: The Italians in Philadelphia (Arno Press/New York Times, 1980) and co-editor of New Explorations in Italian American Studies (American Italian Historical Association, 1994).

Product Details

• Paperback: 398 pages
• Publisher: Pennsylvania State Univ (March 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0271017325
• ISBN-13: 978-0271017327
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #837,455 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Building Little Italy - a Valuable Story and Reference Tool, August 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Building Little Italy: Philadelphia's Italians Before Mass Migration (Paperback)

In Building Little Italy: Philadelphia's Italians Before Mass Migration, Richard Juliani provides a volume that would be of value to many interested readers. Building Little Italy tells the story of the early Italian immigrant to the City of Brotherly Love, complete with the everyday challenges and hurdles faced by this fledgling group. This book brings to life many new details and is in many ways groundbreaking, as little if any has been published in this area before. Dr. Juliani provides a painstakingly researched tome, with statistical information beautifully complimented by wonderful photos. No rocks are left unturned. For those interested in Italian American or European cultural history, Juliani allows you to step into the shoes of an early Italian immigrant - attempting to adjust to a new nation while trying to maintain ties to his people. Some of the immigrants met with more success than others. Several early Italians in Philadelphia contributed a wealth to this ethnically rich city, and others were on hand to see many historical events. In addition to being a fascinating cultural read, Building Little Italy is an excellent reference tool for those studying this area on a scholarly level. This volume will be a worthwhile addition to the bookshelf of many. It is wholeheartedly recommended to any readers interested in Italian American culture or research.