Historian Scarpaci (Rutgers U., New Jersey) anchors this chronicle of the historical immigration of Italians to the US in the photographic record. Text tells the Italian-American story through the experience of the photograph's subjects: early 20th century immigrants and their progeny, more recent arrivals, migrant laborers, Italian-American soldiers, and other groups of Americans whose recent histories span the Atlantic. The nine chapters address the following topics: origins, maintaining ties to and traveling from Italy, finding a home, Italians at work, Italians and the land, religion and the rites of passage, becoming American, Italian-American issues, and the preservation of heritage by later generations of Italian-Americans. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)