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2007 Longlist

Vita

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ABOUT
THE BOOK

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.

ABOUT
THE AUTHOR Melania
G. Mazzucco

Melania G. Mazzucco has written nine novels, including Vita, which was awarded the prestigious Strega Prize and named a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice.

For Limbo, she was awarded the Premio Elsa Morante and the Premio Bottari Lattes Grinzane. Her many other honors include receiving the Viareggio Tobino Literary Award in 2011 (as writer of the year), the Premio Vittorio De Sica for fiction in 2012 and the Premio Ignazio Silone in 2013. She lives in Rome, Italy.

Photo Credit: Corine Veysselier

Melania G. Mazzucco has written nine novels, including Vita, which was awarded the prestigious Strega Prize and named a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice.

For Limbo, she was awarded the Premio Elsa Morante and the Premio Bottari Lattes Grinzane. Her many other honors include receiving the Viareggio Tobino Literary Award in 2011 (as writer of the year), the Premio Vittorio De Sica for fiction in 2012 and the Premio Ignazio Silone in 2013. She lives in Rome, Italy.

Photo Credit: Corine Veysselier

ABOUT
THE TRANSLATOR Virginia
Jewiss

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Country
Italy
Original Language
Italian
Publisher
Farrar
Translator
Virginia Jewiss

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