Treasure of Naples
by Giuseppe Marotta (Dutton, 1949)
Ask any Italian to name a book set in Naples and this one will most likely come to mind: a collection of short stories – sometimes witty, sometimes poignant – about what the author calls this “mad and mythological and adorable city.” The basis for the film Gold of Naples, it makes a fantastic travel companion. Sadly, it is out of print, but you may find it in secondhand bookstores or at the library.