Whole of Italy books performance (6)
I believe the answer is:
intact
'whole' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'italy books performance' is the wordplay.
'italy' becomes 'i'.
'books' becomes 'NT' (abbreviation for New Testament).
'performance' becomes 'act' (act is a kind of performance).
'i'+'nt'+'act'='INTACT'
'of' is the link.
(Other definitions for intact that I've seen before include "Complete - undamaged" , "Unbroken - sound" , "Inviolate" , "without flaw?" , "All in one piece" .)