Since the days of Christopher Columbus and the earliest European explorers, Italians have made their way to American shores. But only since the late 19th century have Italian immigrants by the millions made a major impact on American culture. Writer and lecturer Adam Tanner tells a personal story of sleuthing into the archives of Southern Italian villages to uncover the ancestry of his grandfather, who moved to the United States at the very peak of this immigration boom to become a professional violinist.

Tanner’s broader narrative unveils how Italian Americans changed our popular culture, politics, and, of course, food—which was initially shunned by other Americans. He also discusses the persistent stereotype of the Mafia, which in turn has inspired some of the best Hollywood movies.

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