This book provides insight into the Italian railways through the eyes of an expat (prize-winning author Tim Parks). He delves into their unique course of development in Italy, how the railways define the modern Italian nation, how the differences between the Italian North and South are also expressed in its railways, and perhaps most interestingly-- the interpersonal interactions that occur on a daily basis between point A and B among travelers, train conductors, vendors, and ticket window attendants. This book is probably more about people than rails, and it feels like taking a trip on the Ferrovie dello Stato .