An Italian Wife

Author: Ann Hood
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
ISBN: 0393245764
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 182

Book Description
From the best-selling author of The Obituary Writer, the stirring multigenerational story of an Italian-American family. An Italian Wife is the extraordinary story of Josephine Rimaldi—her joys, sorrows, and passions, spanning more than seven decades. The novel begins in turn-of-the-century Italy, when fourteen-year-old Josephine, sheltered and naïve, is forced into an arranged marriage to a man she doesn't know or love who is about to depart for America, where she later joins him. Bound by tradition, Josephine gives birth to seven children. The last, Valentina, is conceived in passion, born in secret, and given up for adoption. Josephine spends the rest of her life searching for her lost child, keeping her secret even as her other children go off to war, get married, and make their own mistakes. Her son suffers in World War One. One daughter struggles to assimilate in the new world of the 1950s American suburbs, while another, stranded in England, grieves for a lover lost in World War Two. Her granddaughters experiment with the sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll in the 1970s. Poignant, sensual, and deeply felt, An Italian Wife is a sweeping and evocative portrait of a family bound by love and heartbreak.

The Italian Wife

Author: Kate Furnivall
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 0698196333
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 433

Book Description
The New York Times bestselling author of The Russian Concubine returns with a stunning new novel set in Mussolini’s Italy. Isabella Berotti is an architect, helping to create showpieces that will reflect the glory of her country’s Fascist leaders. She is not a deeply political sort, but designing these buildings of grandiose beauty helps her forget about the pain she’s felt since her husband was murdered years ago. One of her greatest accomplishments is the clock tower in the town of Bellina, outside Rome. But as she is admiring it one day, a woman approaches her, asking her to watch her ten-year-old daughter. Minutes later, to Isabella’s horror, the woman leaps to her death from that very clock tower. There are photos of the woman right after the suicide, taken by Roberto Falco. A propaganda photographer for Il Duce, he is expected to show his nation in the most flattering light. But what Roberto and Isabella have seen reflects a more brutal reality, and in a place where everyone is watching and friends turn on friends to save themselves, their decision to take a closer look may be a dangerous mistake.

The Italian's Wife

Author: Lynne Graham
Publisher: Harlequin
ISBN: 1459200543
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 196

Book Description
An Italian billionaire rescues a homeless single mother in this classic contemporary romance by a USA Today–bestselling author. Abandoned by her boyfriend and family after the birth of her son, Holly Sansom collapses in the street. Rio Lombardi, MD, of Lombardi Industries, comes to her rescue. Rio insists that Holly stay at his luxurious home, and proceeds to lavish her and her baby with all that money can buy. But Rio’s emotions are caught off guard by Holly’s natural charm and indifference to his wealth. In fact, Holly would make a perfect wife . . . Originally published in 2001.

Italian Neighbors

Author: Tim Parks
Publisher: Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
ISBN: 0802191150
Category : Travel
Languages : en
Pages : 213

Book Description
A New York Times Notable Book of the Year: A deliciously entertaining account of expatriate life in a small village just outside Verona, Italy. Tim Parks is anything but a gentleman in Verona. So after ten years of living with his Italian wife, Rita, in a typical provincial Italian neighborhood, the novelist found that he had inadvertently collected a gallery full of splendid characters. In this wittily observed account, Parks introduces readers to his home town, with a statue of the Virgin at one end of the street, a derelict bottle factory at the other, and a wealth of exotic flora and fauna in between. Via Colombare, the village’s main street, offers an exemplary hodgepodge of all that is new and old in the bel paese, a point of collision between invading suburbia and diehard peasant tradition. It is a world of creeping vines, stuccoed walls, shotguns, security cameras, hypochondria, and expensive sports cars. More than a mere travelogue, Italian Neighbors is a vivid portrait of the real Italy and a compelling story of how even the most foreign people and places gradually assume the familiarity of home. “One of the most delightful travelogues imaginable . . . so vivid, so packed with delectable details.” —Los Angeles Times Book Review

Tony's Wife

Author: Adriana Trigiani
Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN: 0062319272
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 513

Book Description
New York Times Bestseller • People’s Book of the Week “A heartfelt tale of love too stubborn to surrender to human frailties." — Kirkus Reviews Set in the lush Big Band era of the 1940s, this spellbinding saga from beloved New York Times bestselling author Adriana Trigiani tells the story of two talented working class kids who marry and become a successful singing act, until time, temptation, and the responsibilities of home and family derail their dreams. Shortly before World War II, Chi Chi Donatelli and Saverio Armandonada meet one summer on the Jersey shore and fall in love. Both are talented, and dream of becoming singers for the legendary orchestras of the time: Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman. They’re soon married, and it isn’t long before Chiara and Tony find that their careers are on the way up as they navigate the glamorous worlds of night clubs, radio, and television. All goes well until it becomes clear that they must make a choice: Which of them will put their ambitions aside to raise a family and which will pursue a career? And how will they cope with the impact that decision has on their lives and their marriage? From the Jersey shore to Las Vegas to Hollywood, and the dance halls in between, this story is vivid with historical color and steeped in the popular music that serves as its score. Tony’s Wife is a magnificent epic of life in a traditional Italian family undergoing seismic change in a fast paced, modern world. Filled with vivid, funny, and unforgettable characters, this richly human story showcases Adriana Trigiani’s gifts as a storyteller and her deep understanding of family, love, and the pursuit of a dream.

The Italian's Suitable Wife

Author: Lucy Monroe
Publisher: Harlequin
ISBN: 1426871031
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 186

Book Description
A professor rushes to the side of her injured childhood crush in this classic contemporary romance by a USA Today–bestselling author. Enrico DiRinaldi wants a wife and children, even though an accident has left him unable to walk. So, he proposes marriage to Gianna Lakewood. Having secretly always loved Rico, Gianna can’t say no. . . . The passion Rico ignites in his innocent bride is explosive! But when she realizes that Rico’s full recovery is imminent, and his beautiful ex-fiancée is waiting in the wings, Gianna is sure he won’t want her anymore. However, Rico is still intent on keeping his convenient wife by his side. . . . Originally published in 2004.

The Italian's Rags-to-Riches Wife

Author: Julia James
Publisher: Harlequin
ISBN: 1426814917
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 187

Book Description
Allesandro di Vincenzo is a perfect male specimen. There's no woman he can't have—until Laura Stowe crosses his path. Laura is plain, poor and hides behind her homely appearance to avoid getting close to people. But Allesandro needs her family connections to open the door to ultimate corporate power. So he must woo the ugly duckling into his bed—where she will learn what it is to be a beautiful, desired swan.

Italian Prince, Wedlocked Wife

Author: Jennie Lucas
Publisher: Harlequin
ISBN: 1426826346
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 185

Book Description
A prince marries a woman for revenge, only to discover he still loves her in this sexy international romance from a USA Today–bestselling author. Single mom Lucy Abbott is working as many hours as she can, but still can barely afford to feed her baby daughter. Then Prince Maximo d’Aquilla offers her millions, and a way out of her desperate life. Max whisks her away to Italy—and soon she’s totally his! Max has seduced her completely. But is he driven by revenge, or desire? And is he ruthless enough to walk away from his captive bride?

The Italian Duke's Wife

Author: Penny Jordan
Publisher: HarperCollins Australia
ISBN: 1743698798
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 191

Book Description
'I will pay you one million pounds to become my wife for one year. The marriage will not be consummated...' Italian aristocrat Lorenzo, Duce di Montesavro, needs to marry, and English tourist Jodie Oliver seems the ideal candidate for this convenient arrangement - her vulnerability is especially appealing to Lorenzo. But when he unleashes a desire Jodie never knew she possessed, Lorenzo is soon regretting his no-consummation rule.... Originally published in 2006

The Book of Hidden Things

Author: Francesco Dimitri
Publisher: Titan Books (US, CA)
ISBN: 1785657089
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 316

Book Description
Four old friends confront their darkest secrets in this fantasy steeped in nostalgia, folklore, religion, and the seductive landscape of Southern Italy—by the Italian Neil Gaiman. “A tale of adventure, mystery, friendship and heart-wrenching beauty that will make you re-examine what is holy, what is true, and what is beyond the realm of possibility.” —BookPage Four old school friends have a pact: to meet up every year in the small town in Puglia they grew up in. Art, the charismatic leader of the group and creator of the pact, insists that the agreement must remain unshakable and enduring. But this year, he never shows up. A visit to his house increases the friends’ worry: Art is farming marijuana. In Southern Italy doing that kind of thing can be very dangerous. They can’t go to the Carabinieri so must make enquiries of their own. This is how they come across the rumors about Art—bizarre and unbelievable rumors that he miraculously cured the local mafia boss’ daughter of terminal leukemia. And among the chaos of his house, they find a document written by Art, “The Book of Hidden Things”, that promises to reveal dark secrets and wonders beyond anything previously known. Set in the beguiling and seductive world of Southern Italy, Francesco Dimitri’s first novel in English is a story friendship, landscape, love, betrayal, and mystery that will entrance fans of Elena Ferrante, Neil Gaiman, and Donna Tartt.