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Summary and Reviews of Vita by Melania Mazzucco

Vita by Melania G. Mazzucco

Vita

by Melania G. Mazzucco
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  • First Published:
  • Sep 1, 2005, 448 pages
  • Paperback:
  • Sep 2006, 448 pages
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About This Book

Book Summary

The award-winning Italian author Melania G. Mazzucco weaves her own family history into a great American novel of the immigrant experience. A sweeping tale of discovery, love, and loss, Vita is a passionate blend of biography and autobiography, of fantasy and fiction.

In April 1903, the steamship Republic spills more than two thousand immigrants onto Ellis Island. Among them are Diamante, age twelve, and Vita, nine, sent by their poor families in southern Italy to make their way in America. Amid the chaos and splendor of New York, the misery and criminality of Little Italy, and the shady tenants of Vita's father's decrepit Prince Street boarding house, Diamante and Vita struggle to survive, to create a new life, and to become American. From journeys west in search of work to journeys back to Italy in search of their roots, to Vita's son's encounter with his mother's home town while serving as an army captain in World War II, Vita touches on every aspect of the heartbreaking and inspiring immigrant story.

The award-winning Italian author Melania G. Mazzucco weaves her own family history into a great American novel of the immigrant experience. A sweeping tale of discovery, love, and loss, Vita is a passionate blend of biography and autobiography, of fantasy and fiction.

Translated from Italian by Virginia Jewiss.

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Reviews

BookBrowse Review

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Four-time novelist Mazzucco weaves nonfiction chapters that relate to her own search for family members in Italy and the USA into her fictional account of Italian immigration to America in the early 20th century. Far more than a simple love story this award winning book provides a dramatic view of New York City a century ago from the immigrants point of view - showing the determination that was required in order rise above the poverty, bigotry and limited prospects that they so often found in the Land of Opportunity...continued

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(Reviewed by BookBrowse Review Team).

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Beyond the Book



Melania G. Mazzucco was born in Rome in 1966. She earned a degree in Italian literature from La Sapienza University and a degree in cinema from the Experimental Center for Cinematography. In addition to her four novels (of which, only Vita appears to have been translated into English) she has written award-winning works for the cinema, theater, and radio. Originally written in Italian and published in Italy, Vita won the 2003 Strega Prize, Italy's leading literary award. She currently lives in Italy.

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