Karen Haidová zdědila svou lásku k Itálii a jejím tradicím po rodičích, přičemž hluboce pronikla do italského jazyka a kultury. Absolvovala nejpokročilejší certifikaci Dante Alighieri Society a získala akreditaci k výuce italského jazyka a kultury z Univerzity pro cizince v Reggio Calabria. Její dílo, které vychází ze čtyřletého pobytu v Kalábrii, zkoumá úžasné lidi a místa této oblasti. Haidová se věnuje výuce, překladům a psaní o Itálii a dalších tématech, přičemž čtenářům nabízí autentický vhled do italského života.
Magnificent natural beauty, rich culture and longstanding traditions, Basilicata packs an incredible diversity into the unassuming instep of the Italian boot. From the renowned Sassi di Matera to the smallest village, this in-depth travel essay uncovers a land, its people, their past and present, sharing the joys and challenges of the experience.
Once the hub of the Mediterranean, Calabria now dangles, largely ignored, at the bottom of the Italian boot, struggling for survival, acceptance and a place in modern Italy and the world. Little-known even to Italians outside the nefarious activities of its 'Ndrangheta mafia organization, Calabria allures with its simplicity and rewards with an underlying complexity, as in savoring an artisanal cheese, appreciating an ancient Greek masterwork or interpreting a particularly expressive phrase in the local dialect. Calabria: The Other Italy paints a compelling picture of contemporary Calabria and Southern Italy, weaving observation, personal anecdote, salient historical information and social commentary into a nonfiction narrative that combines travelogue with an exploration of everyday life and culture. At times humorous, at others poignant, this engaging work portrays the joys and challenges of the "other Italy."