Giovanna Tassinari

The situations in these language-learning books reflect the time and its passing and in many cases are very funny. Take 'In the post office waiting room' (page 20): 'Sig.ra B. I see you have some picture postcards for sale...Can you tell me what the postage costs for a picture postcard abroad? The young lady. Seventy-five centimes if you write more than five words on it, including the greeting and signature, and twenty-five centimes inside the Kingdom'. I wasn't aware there was a charge per words on the back of postcards. Sig.ra B has forgotten her fountain pen and is asked 'to sit down at the table in the centre, she will find an ink-pot, pens and blotting-paper - all that she needs. We ask twenty centimes for the use of the writing-room'. No chance of this service today apart from plenty of ink on the tattooed neck and arms of the clerk.… (meer)