La Scrittore
A new book Sensation is here
Love, Scandal, Intrigue And Murder; It
Was All Happening in Newark’s First
Ward In Turn Of The Century America.
Maria loved her life in Italy. She had wonderful parents, Giovanni, her doting husband, a brand new baby, and a successful farm. But it was an idyllic life that wouldn’t last. Soon her parents were dead. High taxes and a poor return on their crops meant that they were unable to keep the land and farmhouse from foreclosure, so they decided they would move to America. He would go first, find a job and a home, and then he would send for her.
In the two and a half years that she was to wait for her husband’s call, Maria supports herself and young son by being La Scrittore (pron. “scree tor ay”); she would write and read letters for those who couldn’t. Finally after years of waiting, she gets the letter from her husband that she has long been dreaming of. She is going to America.
Maria, like many immigrants, came to America with big ideas full of hope for a new life with her family. What lay in store for her, however, was a life she could have never expected. With her husband getting deeper and deeper into the Mafia and extra marital affairs, Maria find herself more and more isolated in a land that was hostile to outsiders. Antonio, Giovanni’s roommate and best friend, helps her through, but she ends up getting much more than she bargained for. In a time of strict Christian piety and marriages that didn’t end, Maria would find hard choices to make. It takes a strong woman to survive in 19th century America!
Discover the real-life story of Maria, who immigrated to Newark, NJ’s First Ward at the turn-of-the century looking for a life. What she ended up with would be far different from the dreams she had back in her native Italy. Her determination and perseverance carry her through, and make the rest of the family stronger.
La Scrittore
Historical Fact Or Creative Fiction
This historical novel tells the tale of one woman’s journey from provincial life on a country farm in her native Italy to her turbulent new life as an immigrant in the fast growing and infamous First Ward of Newark, NJ (USA). The book is based on a true story and the author paints a colorful picture if what it was like growing up and living in an overcrowded and close-knit community. If you’ve ever wanted to see with a bird’s eye view the daily living of your ancestors, then this book is for you.
A Woman Scorned
Maria may be down, but she’s definitely not out. She’s seen her fair share of setbacks, and is not about to wilt in the face of tragedy now. Journey through her life and feel the ups and downs with her as she tries to survive in a land that is completely foreign to her.
A Man Manipulated
Giovanni thinks he’s helping his family with the extra income from a part-time job, but soon discovers that it comes with unexpected consequences. Can he get out while there’s still time, or will he be pulled into a world from which there is no escape?
A Helpful Friend
Antonio only wanted to be a good husband, father and friend. He worked hard for his family, building a business alone in America so they could travel from Italy with success assured. But something very unexpected happened along the way and although his family is taken care of, they end up losing the only thing important to them.
La Scrittore
Find out how these real life characters changed not only the course of their lives, but also those of the people around them. It’s an amazing story that is unbelievable and yet completely true. You simply couldn’t make this stuff up!
La Scrittore
Life In ‘The Ward’
The First Ward of Newark, NJ has been many things to many people over the years. But before the towering skyscrapers of today, before its people were displaced in the 1950’s to make room for New Jersey’s ‘urban renewal’ plan, before Frank Sinatra had his bread shipped to him from Giordano’s Bakery every week no matter where in the world he was, even before Joe DiMaggio took his entire baseball team to the famous restaurants in Newark for some ‘real Italian food’, there were the people of Newark’s ‘Little Italy’.
Peasants originally from Southern Italy wanting to make a better life for themselves, packed up everything they could carry with them and moved, not knowing what lay in store for them, for a better life in a country where ‘the streets were paved with gold’. Many did do well for themselves. They were industrious people who weren’t afraid of hard work or even harder living conditions. Many were men who went alone so that they could save enough money to get an apartment and send for their families. Oftentimes that took years.
Life in The Ward was very familiar for people. Everybody knew everybody. They all went to Sunday Mass at St. Lucy’s, played with their children at Branch Brook Park, and celebrated the many Italian festivals that ran throughout the year, culminating with the San Gerardo Festival in the fall. When someone in the neighborhood died, everyone came out in force, not only to pay their condolences, but also to give money to the bereaved to help them pay for the funeral. Everything was to be celebrated, mourned and lived together, as a community.
Life in The Ward was no different for Maria, Giovanni and Antonio. They have gone down anonymously in history, but at the time during their lives and even the lives of their children, they would be some of the most talked about and infamous people in the neighborhood.
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