The Inheritance tells the story of a family disintegrating from conflicting loyalties in Calabria, Italy. Set during the period 1897 to 1913, the region was subject to earthquakes and tsunamis; the land harsh and poverty the norm. Superstition clashed with religion and a class system ruled the people. Calabria is the perfect backdrop for the tragedy that unfolds in The Inheritance.
Caterina is an atypical woman, and The Inheritance chronicles her life from birth to young womanhood. Born with an inheritance of loss into a society that has predetermined what she can and cannot do, she vows to live a life of her choosing. Caterina refuses to allow the limits of her gender, the constraints of her class and the demands imposed by those in power to stand in her way. Caterina remains steadfast in her commitment to become the woman she imagines. Her decisions ignite conflicts and fuel a chain of events that result in dire consequences for all whose path she crosses.
Buy the book: Amazon Barnes & Noble Chapters/Indigo
Review:
Inspired by her family's history, author Marianne Perry has created a story based on true events that ties together two very different families in Calabria, Italy. The Marino family oversees the estate, with Santo at the head who received a large sum of money for marrying wife Anna. Together, they have three sons all destined to help their father with the family business that their father has now tied with the mob. Youngest son, Lorenzo was saved from the family business the longest, growing up side by side with Caterina, a daughter of a servant on the estate.
This was a sweeping tale of family dynamics and good versus evil. It was very interesting to see the different roles of each family member in early 1900's Italy. Each of the boys were trained for a specific role in the business and Anna was expected to run the household, look nice and give up her boys when it was time. I definitely got a good sense of the region at the time. Caterina and Lorenzo's growing relationship was the main focus of the story. I of course got the best feel for Caterina's character, loyal, strong, intelligent with a lot of spirit. I felt that some of the other characters weren't as developed, and there were many of them. At times the plot did feel like it dragged a little, but I did always enjoy when it came back to Caterina.
Caterina is an atypical woman, and The Inheritance chronicles her life from birth to young womanhood. Born with an inheritance of loss into a society that has predetermined what she can and cannot do, she vows to live a life of her choosing. Caterina refuses to allow the limits of her gender, the constraints of her class and the demands imposed by those in power to stand in her way. Caterina remains steadfast in her commitment to become the woman she imagines. Her decisions ignite conflicts and fuel a chain of events that result in dire consequences for all whose path she crosses.
Buy the book: Amazon Barnes & Noble Chapters/Indigo
Review:
Inspired by her family's history, author Marianne Perry has created a story based on true events that ties together two very different families in Calabria, Italy. The Marino family oversees the estate, with Santo at the head who received a large sum of money for marrying wife Anna. Together, they have three sons all destined to help their father with the family business that their father has now tied with the mob. Youngest son, Lorenzo was saved from the family business the longest, growing up side by side with Caterina, a daughter of a servant on the estate.
This was a sweeping tale of family dynamics and good versus evil. It was very interesting to see the different roles of each family member in early 1900's Italy. Each of the boys were trained for a specific role in the business and Anna was expected to run the household, look nice and give up her boys when it was time. I definitely got a good sense of the region at the time. Caterina and Lorenzo's growing relationship was the main focus of the story. I of course got the best feel for Caterina's character, loyal, strong, intelligent with a lot of spirit. I felt that some of the other characters weren't as developed, and there were many of them. At times the plot did feel like it dragged a little, but I did always enjoy when it came back to Caterina.
Family dynamics, genealogical research to solve ancestral mysteries and international travel are Marianne Perry’s priorities. A second-generation Canadian-Italian, she is the author of The Inheritance, a historical fiction set in Calabria, Italy from 1897 to 1913 inspired by her grandmother’s early life in Calabria. With a thirty-year career in education and communications, Marianne holds a Master of Education Degree from The University of Western Ontario (Canada).
A past member of the Board of Trustees, the Canadian National Arts Centre Corporation, she has also published non-fiction genealogical articles throughout North America. As a girl, Marianne fell in love with The National Geographic Magazine and dreamt of exploring the world. With her recent visit to Antarctica, she achieved her goal of stepping foot on every continent. The mother of two grown children, Marianne and her husband live on the shores of the St. Mary’s River, which drains Lake Superior on the outskirts of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. She continues to research family history and write non-fiction genealogical articles. In addition, she is working on her second novel and planning further adventures.
Marianne blogs about genealogy, travel, family and writing on her website. Visit her at http://www.marianneperry.ca. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Goodreads.
Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook
A past member of the Board of Trustees, the Canadian National Arts Centre Corporation, she has also published non-fiction genealogical articles throughout North America. As a girl, Marianne fell in love with The National Geographic Magazine and dreamt of exploring the world. With her recent visit to Antarctica, she achieved her goal of stepping foot on every continent. The mother of two grown children, Marianne and her husband live on the shores of the St. Mary’s River, which drains Lake Superior on the outskirts of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. She continues to research family history and write non-fiction genealogical articles. In addition, she is working on her second novel and planning further adventures.
Marianne blogs about genealogy, travel, family and writing on her website. Visit her at http://www.marianneperry.ca. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Goodreads.
Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook
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