The Italian spoken in most of Tuscany is characterized by a number of peculiar pronunciations which for over half a century Romance scholars have explained by a theory of linguistic substratum influence. This theory postulates that present-day Tuscan pronunciation is a survival of the 'foreign accent' with which the ancient Etruscans must have spoken Latin when Rome first began to extend its power and language over the rest of Italy. Professor Izzo has undertaken a new and thorough investigation of modern Tuscan pronunciation, disproving this hypothesis and providing a definitive conclusion to the debate. He delineates clearly the errors in reasoning of those who trace the Tuscan pronunciation to an Etruscan influence, and presents his conclusions objectively. This study will interest Romance linguists, especially historians of the Italian language; but it will also interest historical linguists in general, for by disproving one of the most plausible and best-documented cases of alleged substratum influence, it casts doubt on many other cases where such influence has been claimed with little evidence.

"This book documents the influence of other contemporary civilizations on the Etruscans, and especially the role of the Romans, who absorbed many aspects of Etruscan culture but were ultimately responsible for its end. This is a book about the people of Etruria, their society, craft, art and beliefs."--Jacket.

"Between c. 900-400 BC the Etruscans were the innovative, powerful, wealthy, and sophisticated elite of Italy. Their archaeological record is both substantial and fascinating, including tomb paintings, sculpture, jewellery, and art."

Professor Izzo has undertaken a new and thorough investigation of modern Tuscan pronunciation, disproving this hypothesis and providing a definitive conclusion to the debate. He delineates clearly the errors in reasoning of those who trace the Tuscan pronunciation to an Etruscan influence, and presents his conclusions objectively

Searching for the elusive criminals who left her famous father comatose after a bomb blast, cultural arts historian and quasi-archeologist, Amanda Oliver stumbles into a world of thugs, tomb robbers, obsessed archeologists and greedy collectors seeking a priceless Etruscan sarcophagus. Putty Face's footsteps crunched on the gravel behind me. His erratic breathing, panting like a thirsty animal, paralyzed me. I opened my mouth to protest but no sound came. In a split second, the pressure of his hands on my back told his intentions. He shoved hard. I pitched forward and the ground under my feet disappeared. My arms flailed clumsily when I grabbed out for something to stop my fall but met only air. His fierce thrust sped my descent and I tumbled uncontrollably, bouncing off bare rock outcroppings, each slam increasing my dizziness, bruising and weakening me. Mercifully, I blacked out.

"Etruscan Places" is a historical and anthropological guide into the world of the Etruscans people. The Etruscans, as everyone knows, were the people who occupied the middle of Italy in early Roman days and whom the Romans, in their usual neighbourly fashion, wiped out entirely in order to make room for Rome with a very big R. They couldn't have wiped them all out, there were too many of them. But they did wipe out the Etruscan existence as a nation and a people. However, this seems to be the inevitable result of expansion with a big E, which is the sole raison d'étre of people like the Romans. The main source of information we have today about the Etruscan way of life is the artifacts found in their tombs, which forms the focus for this book.

Seven essays D. H. Lawrence wrote after visiting Etruscan cities in central Italy.