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REVIEWS
"On the cover of this delightful, witty book, Napoleon looks slyly at the viewer, as if to acknowledge a hidden truth: Napoleone Buonaparte, the Corsican who is Tuscan on both sides and grew up speaking Italian, is the greatest of the closet Italians. . . .My favorite is Georgia O'Keefe, named after her Italian grandfather, Giorgio Totto. The mother of the former president of Harvard is Italian . . . but why take away the pleasures of reading this engaging book, where each figure is given a brief biography together with the precise Italian connection."
ITALIAN AMERICANA (Review written by John Paul Russo)
"Some of the most influencial people in music, the art, politics and sports are Italian- American. This collection of "Illustrious Italians" do not have Italian last names either through marriage, a non-Italian father or because they changed their surnames to avoid discrimination . . . OSIA encourges its 700+ lodges as well as other Italian American organizations, clubs and individuals to choose one or more ot the books each quarter to read and donate copies to their local schools or public libraries."
ORDER OF SONS OF ITALY SPRING 2005 BOOK CLUB SELECTIONS (In ALSO WORTH READING catagory)
"Nick Mileti's got a nose for the Italians no one knows were Italians, and his "Closet Italians" will make you think that just about everyone must have some Italian in them. From Napoleon to Alicia Keys, from Jose Greco to Edith Piaf, Mileti tracks them down and gives you the details of how these Italians from the Renaissance to today have contributed to the world's culture. Fun stuff."
FRA NOI ( Review written by Fred L. Gardaphe)
"CLOSET ITALIANS highlights the contributions and accomplishments of Italians and Italian Americans and brings the stories behind the names of these illustrious individuals to the surface. It is a light and enjoyable read that educates while it informs."
NIAF NEWS (A PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL ITALIAN AMERICAN FOUNDATION)
“Everyone of the 175 biographies on over 350 pages in Nick J. Mileti’s recently published book CLOSET ITALIANS: A Dazzling Collection of Illustrious Italians with Non-Italian Names is eye-popping, educational and fun.”
ITALIAN TRIBUNE (NEWARK, NEW JERSEY)
“The book should be a hit in Trumbull County with its large population of Italian descendants . . . Some of those listed are obvious, at least to Italians . . . (but) it's one thing to know they're Italian, but quite another thing to read Mileti's skinnies on them. For example, he explains how Italian Regis Philbin got to host "Who Wants to be a Millionaire," how Italian Sophia Loren was orphaned, and how Italian Richard Celeste continued a triumphant political career after serving as Ohio governor . . . The best thing about the book is how fun it is to read.”
WARREN TRIBUNE CHRONICLE
"CLOSET ITALIANS: A Dazzling Collection of Illustrious Italians with Non-Italian Names, written by Nick J. Mileti, traces the last 2,000 years of history through the lives of 175 individuals whose names tend to hide their Italian ethnicity. The book highlights the contributions and accomplishments of Italians and Italian Americans, while bringing the stories behind their names to light."
THE ITALIAN VOICE (LA VOCE ITALIANA)
"Nick Mileti jokes that his name wouldn't be in his new book, "Closet Italians: (A Dazzling Collection of Illustrious Italians with Non-Italian Names)" if he didn't write it. The book . . . features more than 150 names that an average person would've never guessed were Italian. Alicia Keys, Matt LeBlanc and Brooke Shields are just a few of the famous names that Mileti, 73, uncovers."
SANDUSKY REGISTER
“CLOSET ITALIANS is fun to read, very entertaining, and the surprises are endless. It’s also worth the time to learn and, most importantly, come to appreciate how much Italians have contributed to civilization over the centuries. The list is endless.”
LA GAZZETTA ITALIANA
“Nick Mileti is Italian. This should come as no surprise; the former owner of the Cleveland Indians and developer of the Richfield Coliseum is proud of his ancestry. But did you know that Hulk Hogan was born Terrence Gene Bollea? Or that Broadway director Michael Bennett’s real name was Michael DiFiglia? . . . The title is a mouthful, but the bios are brief: None is more than a couple of pages, and the print is large, so CLOSET ITALIANS is a quick read.”
AKRON BEACON JOURNAL
"The 358-page book was researched for four years, and the table of contents organizes each section of the book chronologically, according to the year each person was born. The wide array of biographical entries ranges from philosophers to movie stars and athletes to politicians. For example, Vitruvius, the Roman architect and engineer, born circa 90 B.C., is the first entry, and the final entry is Alicia Keys, Grammy Award-winning singer and musician born in 1981."
ITALIAN-AMERICAN SOCIETY OF TULSA NEWSLETTER
“And all these years you thought that Jules Mazarin, a 17th Century mover and shaker and for many years the most influential person in France, was French. Actually he was born Giulio Mazzarini in Italy of Italian parents . . . (After being derided by his French friends) Mileti wondered how many other famous people in history are Italian but have non-Italian Names. He decided to research the question. Thus began a four-year process of research, writing, editing and publisher contacting. Mileti said ‘I did everything myself . . . from conception to the finish . . . all the writing, all research’.”
BOWLING GREEN SENTINAL-TRIBUNE
"You may not read his book in one sitting, but it's a fun read to just pick up, leaf through, read a chapter, start a dinner conversation. You will quickly learn Napoleon Bonaparte ruled France after the French Revolution, but he was also Italian. Hey, his picture is on the cover. Both his parents were Italian. With names like Carlo-Maria Buonaparte and Laetizia Ramolino, they weren't Germans. Speaking of the Bonapartes, Charles Joseph was the grandson of Napoleon's youngest brother and was a member of Teddy Roosevelt's cabinet (and founded the F.B.I.)."
ASHTABULA STAR BEACON
"Nick Mileti brought the NBA to Cleveland, saved the Tribe from a rumored move and put up millions to build Richfield Coliseum. More than 30 years later, the former local sports magnet is adding "author" to his accomplishments."
CLEVELAND MAGAZINE
"CLOSET ITALIANS: A Dazzling Collection of Illustrious Italians with Non-Italian Names is a highly entertaining book filled with interesting and amusing information, and you'll find yourself saying "I never knew that!" about many a familiar historical or cultural figure, from Napoleon Bonaparte to wrestler Hulk Hogan and Mickey Dolenz of the Monkees . . .For example, here's a real mind-blower: Iron Eyes Cody, who became well known as the American Indian whose single tear rolled down his anguished face in an anti-littering TV commercial in the 1970's, was an Italian actor, born Espera (Oscar) de Corti . . .The book never gets dull because each entry is only one or two pages long. So many artists are included in the book that if you only read it for the art history trivia, you'll have a trove of fascinating insights. There's even a Reading Group Guide in the back."
RAVENNA RECORD COURIER
CLOSET ITALIANS: A Dazzling Collection of Italians with Non-Italian Names is a FEATURED TITLE of the Bowling Green State University Book Store.
RAVES
"First, congradulations on your stimulating and informative book. I have enjoyed reading it and will definately have it reviewed. Your title is excellent and your cover superb. Of course I began looking for people you might have missed."
"The amount of research you did for "Closet Italians" is incredible. It is both entertaining and interesting to read. I think it should do well in the market. Not only does the text offer historical facts, the final chapters are very current with information about Italians that is sure to pique the interest of younger readers. They represent a demographic that all publishers are trying to attract."
"I enjoyed reading a number of the short biographies of these really interesting people. I will have it reviewed in one of the forthcoming issues."
"I have had the chance to read a number of the bios and find them to be informative and engaging. Congratulations. You have succeeded in sheding light on a much ignored topic, and all of us who love Italy and all things Italian are in your debt."
"I am enoying it (CLOSET ITALIANS) very much and find it very informative. I, too, was surprised by the number of Clevelanders. Congratulations on a job well done!"
"Thoroughly enjoyed "Closet Italians." You are absolutely right---many well-known idols of mine that I had no idea were Italian."
"What an accomplishment. I just asked (my assistant) to get a dozen that I want to give away at Christmas."
"It was a book of surprises. And I enjoyed it."
"I am in the process of reading the Closet Italians and its a book that I do not want to finish. I am enjoying it so much I do not want it to end."
"I already read parts of your book. I find it very informative and it has been a point of conversation with my friends."
"At last I have found the perfect gift for my Italian friends at Christmas and other occasions. Your book exactly fits that need. No more golf balls, pencils, pads and other less meaningful items. I will be ordering a quanty soon."
"I learned a ton as I persused the book and my very Italian parents and grandparents are looking forward to reading it."
"You are a great researcher and a good writer. An Academy Award performance."
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