Tim Parks 
A Season With Verona 

 »Delves into the very essence of being a fan, while seamlessly exploring Italian history, politics, culture and society,  » Guardian
Is Italy a united country, or a loose affiliation of warring states? Is Italian football a sport, or an ill-disguised protraction of ancient enmities?
Tim Parks goes on the road to follow the fortunes of Hellas Verona football club, to pay a different kind of visit to some of the world »s most beautiful cities. This is a highly personal account of one man »s relationship with a country, its people and its national sport. A book that combines the pleasures of travel writing with a profound analysis of one country »s mad, mad way of keeping itself entertained.