Once Upon a Time in Baltimore

De: Sally DiPaula

Narrado por: Maria McCann

As children in 1918 Baltimore, Annie, an Irish-American girl, and Vince, the son of Sicilian immigrants, both lose loved ones—Annie’s father and sister to the Spanish flu and Vince‘s brother to an auto accident. The tragedies change how each of them face the world and—after they meet and wed—how they relate to each other. Together and sometimes apart, they overcome discrimination, illness, a family rift, a son going off to war, and marital strains caused by Vince’s ambitions and marital infidelity and Annie’s passivity and fear of change.

With its focus on the children of immigrants in a major US city, Once Upon a Time in Baltimore presents a vivid and moving picture of family struggles and triumphs amid the ever-changing social mores, historical upheavals, and dark challenges of 20th century America.

©2023 Sally DiPaula (P)2023 Sally DiPaula

Echoes of the Past

"In 'Once Upon a Time in Baltimore,' the entwined tales of Vince and Annie transport readers to the heart of Charm City. The narrative's strength lies not just in its impeccable prose, but in its deep exploration of two souls navigating love, loss, and redemption. A masterful blend of history and emotion, this book is a must-read for anyone yearning for a beautifully crafted story."

Interesting portrait of a woman of a certain era

This book drew me in from the opening moments as we witness the terror of the 1918 Flu epidemic from the point of view of a young girl Annie. This book traces her life and the ups and downs of her marriage with Vince. I could readily imagine how it was to live through Depression and war and the upward mobility of the children of Italian-American and Irish-American immigrants. At heart it felt like an exploration of how it was for women to cope with the traditional roles they were trapped in. This book was fascinating and absorbing. I especially enjoyed the excellent reader for my audio version