Americans in Tuscany ― Charity, Compassion, and Belonging

American women make up a substantial amount of the migrant community in Tuscany, Italy, however they often struggle to adapt to the new culture and often, at least initially, face social exclusion. Catherine Trundle argues that many women use charity and philanthropy as a way to bridge their differences and find belonging in Italy. Trundle explores different forms of charity and the ways in which they connect migrants to the social world. The book begins by examining the history of migration and charity and then discusses the formation of charitable communities and the moral work of charities. Annotation c2014 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)

Catherine Trundle gained her PhD from Cambridge University in social anthropology, and is a Lecturer in cultural anthropology at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. She is the co-editor, with Brigitte Bonisch-Brednich, of the book Local Lives: Migration and the Politics of Place (Ashgate 2010). Her research focuses on migration, charity and exchange, medical anthropology, and aging.