Rome, August Summary

74-year-old Alessandro makes his way through the streets of Rome in August of 1964. He wears a nice Italian suit that complements his head of white hair, and carries a cane that he uses to help navigate the streets. He boards a streetcar and strikes up a conversation with Nicolo Sambucca, a young man who works in a propeller factory. Alessandro tells Nicolo about his mountain hiking days, proclaiming he once walked several hundred kilometers through the mountains during World War I. He also gives him a brief summary of the modern history of Italy. They disembark the streetcar after a row with the driver about his speeding, and decide to hike the remaining 70 kilometers to their destination, Sant' Angelo and Monte Prato.

Alessandro tells Nicolo that before 1915, Italy was "just like everyone else" but its descent into fascism resulted from "the...