"I cannot live without books"
Thomas Jefferson
Books by Friends
Here are sixteen of my friends’ latest books, which I’m excited to share with you—they make wonderful gifts, and I hope you’ll love them as much as I do. The authors’ photographs were taken by me over the years for my blog Contessanally, and are featured along with links to the posts— which you might enjoy revisiting!
Laura Fraboschi
Flashback
Youcanprint - Italian
Flashback by Laura Fraboschi is a heartfelt memoir of ambition, setbacks, and reinvention. Laura’s journey begins as a determined graduate chasing her dream as a PR in Milan’s vibrant 70s and 80s Fashion and Design scene. With her motto, “Work with the best,” she built a career alongside icons like Andy Warhol, Francis Ford Coppola and Giorgio Strehler. A sudden collapse in 1992 brought her to the brink, but Laura’s resilience saw her rebuild her life, turning challenges into opportunities. Her story celebrates courage, creativity, and the power of starting over.
Photo Nally Bellati
Laura Fraboschi
The Cook and the Rabbi
Recipes and Stories to Celebrate the Jewish Holidays
Countryman Press - English
Old friend and James Beard Award–winning author Susan Simon’s The Cook and the Rabbi reimagines Jewish holidays with depth and culinary creativity. Co-authored with Zoe B Zak, the book explores the rich history and customs of 14 holidays, offering kosher recipes that bring new flair to traditional dishes. Beyond a cookbook, this work is a celebration of Jewish resilience and tradition. Susan’s vibrant recipes and her folk-art-inspired illustrations, paired with Zak’s insights, offer an inspiring guide to making these holidays personally meaningful and uplifting.
Susan Simon
blog post
Hudson: Susan Simon’s Guide to her Favorite Places to Eat and Shop in Hudson
Servane Giol
La Regina delle Dolomiti. Vivere a Cortina d'Ampezzo
Marsiglio Arte - Italian - English - German
Servane Giol's book Queen of the Dolomites: Living in Cortina D'Ampezzo, with photographs by Mattia Aquila offers an exclusive, illustrated tour of Cortina, the crown jewel of the Dolomites. Cortina, known for its iconic films, such as The Pink Panther, and as a refuge for writers like Hemingway, it became famous after hosting the 1956 Winter Olympics and will cohost them again in 2026. Servane is an exceptional guide, who leads readers through private homes, castles, mountain huts, and local traditions. With a focus on the region's food, wine, and legends, the book captures both the summer and winter allure of this celebrated destination, showcasing its rustic elegance and timeless charm.
Giovanni and Servane Giol
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Palazzo Loredan - The Venice Glass Week HUB - Preview Highlights
Louise Baring
Carla Sozzani Art Life fashion
Thames and Hudson Ltd. - English
L'ippocampo - Italian
This illustrated biography explores the life of my friend Carla Sozzani, a visionary in fashion, art, and design. Over her 50-year career, she has excelled as a magazine editor, gallerist, publisher, and photography collector. She founded the first concept store, 10 Corso Como, and her own lifestyle brand, becoming a tastemaker and champion of artists and designers. The book recounts her Milanese roots, work at Vogue Italia and Elle with icons like Paolo Roversi, Helmut Newton, and Sarah Moon, her collaboration with Azzedine Alaïa, and partnership with Kris Ruhs. Louise Baring celebrates Sozzani’s enduring influence and creative vision.
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L'Uomo Vogue 40th Anniversary Party
Matteo Thun
Stories
Callway - English - German
This book offers a personal and simpatico glimpse into the life and work of my friend Matteo Thun, one of the most influential architects and designers of our time. Through autobiographical stories and anecdotes by clients and friends, and with illustrations of his most iconic designs—such as the Illy espresso cup and groundbreaking resorts—Matteo reflects on his career spanning over 40 years. His journey, shaped by vibrant Milan and Munich, is captured in a compelling narrative, a must-read for admirers and design enthusiasts alike. The texts are by Sherin Kneifl.
Matteo Thun and Toni Thun
blog post
Corso Como 10 - Matteo Thun – The Index Book signing
Chiara Dal Canto
Racconti d'interni. Case d'autore del Novecento
Mondadori Electa - Italian - English
Chiara Dal Canto presents a stunning addition to the Made in Italy series, showcasing the brilliance of mid-to-late 20th-century Italian Architecture and Design. Featuring interiors by icons like Carlo Scarpa, Ettore Sottsass, Carlo Mollino, and Gae Aulenti, the book explores ten unique projects specially photographed by Lorenzo Pennati. These timeless spaces, from Casa Fornasetti to Casa Mollino, embody the creative spirit of their designers, blending personal style with the trends of their time. A must-have for admirers of bold design and Italian elegance.
Chiara Dal Canto
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Milano: Salone del Mobile – 2016 – The Dutch Pavilion
Le crocerossine Astute. In prima linea nella grande guerra
Gaspari - Italian
Alessandro Gradenigo, a historian passionate about uncovering forgotten stories of the Great War, brings to light the extraordinary lives of Mercedes, Dolores (Lola), and Adriana Astuto, daughters of Admiral Giuseppe Astuto from a noble Noto family. From the comforts of Belle Époque Roman society, they were thrust into the horrors of war, serving as Red Cross nurses on hospital trains, surgical ambulances, and in frontline hospitals across the Asiago Plateau, Vicenza, Schio, the Carso, and Roncade near Treviso. Through Mercedes' diary, Dolores' unpublished writings, and family photographs, Gradenigo offers a vivid account of this lesser-known chapter in history.
Roberto De Feo, Alessandro Gradenigo and Anna Barbantini
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Venezia - Ca' Pesaro - Venetian Portrait Painting of the Nineteenth Century
John Derian Picture Book (2)
WordUnited Ltd - English
Beloved home goods designer John Derian, whose lifelong obsession with printed matter led him to the art of decoupage, unveils John Derian Picture Book 2. This second installment, arriving eight years after his bestselling debut, features 375 extraordinary full-bleed images from his world-famous vintage art collection. From vivid flowers and birds to curious portraits, hand-drawn letters, and breathtaking landscapes, the book celebrates the timeless beauty of John's artistry. This oversized treasure that blends art and commerce, is destined to be the gift book of the season.
James Aguiar, Mark Haldeman , Stephen Kent Johnson
John Derian and Susan Simon
Olga Spanio di Spilimbergo
Di notte e di nuvola son fatte le lenzuola
Edizioni Silenziose - Italian
Di notte e di nuvola son fatte le lenzuola - The Sheets Are Made of Night and Clouds - is a visually poetic exploration by Olga Spanio di Spilimbergo, capturing the ephemeral beauty of sheets that bear the imprints of bodies, absences, and presences. Over three years, Olga photographed sheets, finding continents, animals, and characters in their folds, much like gazing at clouds. These evocative images were transformed into a precious libro d’artista—a signed and numbered edition of just 90 copies. Accompanying Olga’s haunting photographs are stories by Lilia Ambrosi, Claudio Piersanti, and Claudia Quadri, each offers a unique narrative inspired by the images.
Olga Spanio di Spilimbergo and Paola Spanio di Spilimbergo
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Palazzo Fortuny – The Bottega Cadorin - A Dynasty of Venetian Artists
Zaira Zarotti
Venice Between Kitchen and Atelier
Recipes Handed-down for Artists and Food Lovers
Elzeviro - Italian English
Although I do not know Zaira Zarotti personally, I hold a deep connection to this book through my friends Alessandro Tusset Di Collalto, publisher and co-editor and Pamela Berry, co-editor, producer, art director and designer. In this beautiful - atypical - cookbook internationally acclaimed photographer and food writer Zaira Zarotti bridges the ancestral roots of Venetian cuisine and the enigmatic charm of the artist's atelier. Driven by her strong bond to Venice and her family's artistic heritage, and through evocative chiaroscuro imagery and rediscovered recipes steeped in Venetian history and cross-cultural influences - spanning Istrian, Dalmatian, Jewish and Turkish traditions - Zarotti invites readers to explore the alchemy of food and art. A heartfelt tribute to Venice's culinary and artistic legacy.
Valentina Marangoni, Morella Morelli, Flavia Fossa Margutti, Alessandro Tusset Di Collalto, Pamela Berry and Victoria Diaz de Santillana
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Le Stanze del Vetro - Maurice Marinot. The Glass, 1911-1934
Gisella - Volevo Essere Felice
ilmiolibro self publishing - Italian
The biography of Gisella Borioli, a visionary journalist and a key figure in Milan's vibrant artistic and cultural scene, offers an intimate glimpse into the intertwined worlds of Fashion and Art. Through personal anecdotes and untold behind-the-scenes revelations, it paints a vivid portrait of an evolving creative landscape. At its heart, the narrative unfolds as a poignant "novel" of love, ambition, and the complexities of human passion—charting the journey of a once-shy and underprivileged child who defied the odds to achieve her version of happiness. Her story becomes a mirror reflecting the profound transformations in society over the last fifty years, offering both inspiration and a nuanced perspective on resilience and change.
Gaia Lucchini and Gisella Borioli
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L'Uomo Vogue 40th Anniversary Party
Maria Luisa Frisa
I Racconti della Moda
Einaudi - Italian
Maria Luisa Frisa explores fashion’s many contradictions—visionary yet classic, pop yet snobbish, both daily necessity and unattainable dreams. In this collection, she uses literature to examine fashion as art, identity, and a reflection of society. Featuring voices like Joyce Carol Oates, Bret Easton Ellis, and Jhumpa Lahiri, the journey spans from early 20th-century salons to modern runways, uncovering the stories, cultures, and imaginations behind what we wear. Through bold, eclectic, and intelligent narratives, fashion emerges as a universal language that defines how we present ourselves to the world.
Mario Lupano and Maria Luisa Frisa
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Biennale Arte 2024 - Giardini - National Pavilions
Catalogo delle Onde - A Catalogue of Waves
Wetlands - Multilingual - Italian - English
The A Catalogue of Waves is a hybrid and highly original operation: it is neither an illustrated text nor a photographic volume, but rather a book born from the contamination between the writing of Tiziano Scarpa and the photography of Anna Zemella. There are many types of waves that Scarpa recognizes - laminar, mechanical, mirroring, crumbling, but also hysterical and relational - and that Zemella interprets and suggests with her splendid images of the lagoon world and its vibrations. A book that fascinates and makes you think, the product of a time and a place where the waves are identified with the anxieties of our uncertain world.
Anna Zemella
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Palazzo Fortuny – The Bottega Cadorin - A Dynasty of Venetian Artists
Cristina Beltrami
La scultura alla Biennale di Venezia 1895-1914. Una presenza in ombra
Zel Edizioni - Italian
After over a decade of research, Cristina Beltrami has published a book dedicated to the sculptures featured in the first eleven editions of the Venice Biennale, spanning from 1895 to 1914, the eve of World War I—a turning point that profoundly altered society, artistic tastes, and the art market. Richly illustrated with vintage images, the book delves into previously unpublished aspects such as exhibition settings, awards, and a social dimension interwoven with political issues, including royal attendance, artist protests, the rise of women artists, and connections with other major exhibitions.
Cristina Beltrami
blog post
Cristina Beltrami Honorable Mentions
Come se niente fosse
Casa Editrice Lo Squero - Italian
Marina Giusti del Giardino, born into a noble Venetian family, embodies the refined elegance of a life steeped in heritage and intellect. A cosmopolitan aesthete, she studied Art History at the University of Geneva and enriched her worldview through residencies in Italy, France, Venezuela, India, and Switzerland. Her distinguished literary works—Pechino-Bassano del Grappa - 2010 - Vermeil - 2014 - and Snob come Proust - 2022 - are a testament to her ability to weave personal history with cultural critique, exploring themes of privilege, tradition, and inner turmoil. Now living in Verona, she continues to craft narratives that reflect her aristocratic lineage and a life devoted to art and refinement.
Marina Giusti del Giardino and Jean Blanchaert
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Bologna: People and Art - Arte Fiera Weekend
Maurizio Dassie
Vale La Pena Di Camminare - Itinerario interiore per Emmaus
Il Pozzo di Giacobbe - Italian
Our parish priest and friend, Maurizio Dassie, has written Vale La Pena di Camminare, an insightful and surprising exploration of the story of the disciples of Emmaus. Drawing on deep personal reflection, the book portrays life as a shared journey, where the "we" precedes the "I," and humanity is enriched through mutual belonging. Rooted in faith and the shared pursuit of love and happiness, it invites readers to see their lives intertwined with others and with Jesus, emphasizing that our individual stories are never truly separate.
Don Maurizio Dassie
N.B.
Books
All books, unless otherwise stated, can be bought through independent bookstores or through the Amazon websites
Photographs
All photographs of authors, unless otherwise stated, are by Nally Bellati and from
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