Another useless generalization
Another useless generalization, and a series of stereotypes, for the Anglo-Saxon audience that, however, seems to love this type of literature. The usual trivialities written by somebody who seems to understand it all (good for him). As usual, realities are different, more complicated, and moreover more varied. The South is once more treated with superficiality, lack of real understanding, and a subtle prejudice, as it is usually the case in this type of books written by northerners. It can make an amusing reading, for sure, but do not assume anything written in it is what you will actually see in Italy. It is just like somebody wanting to explain you as Americans really are in a few hundred pages with the only authority of being American (and maybe just from New York), and still pretending to understand it all.