About the first

[Zuzzi]

Hi!
I don't understand the meaning of "about the first" in this sentence:

"It was the day on which I read in our weekly town paper about the first of what I would so blithely come to call the Crusades".

Does it mean "per la prima volta"?

Thanks

 

[fitter.happier]

Hi!
I don't understand the meaning of "about the first" in this sentence:

"It was the day on which I read in our weekly town paper about the first of (what I would so blithely come to call) the Crusades".

Does it mean "per la prima volta"?

Thanks

Ciao!

No, non vuol dire per la prima volta. Prova a leggere la frase ignorando la parte tra parentesi. Does it make more sense now?

...la prima di quelle che io avrei poi impropriamente chiamato crociate.

 

[Zuzzi]

Mmm... la prima delle Crociate?

 

[TimLA]

It was the day on which I read in our weekly town paper about the first of what I would so blithely come to call the Crusades".

You could also rewrite it:
I read in our weekly town paper about, what I would so blithely come to call, the first of the Crusades.

I read in our weekly town paper about, what I would so blithely come to call, the first Crusade.