Under the Light of the Italian Moon

By: Jennifer Anton

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

Length: 12 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

A promise keeps them apart until WWII threatens to destroy their love forever.

Fonzaso, Italy, between two wars.

Nina Argenta doesn’t want the traditional life of a rural Italian woman. The daughter of a strong-willed midwife, she is determined to define her own destiny. But when her brother emigrates to America, she promises her mother to never leave. When childhood friend Pietro Pante briefly returns to their mountain town, passion between them ignites while Mussolini forces political tensions to rise.

Just as their romance deepens, Pietro must leave again for work in the coal mines of America. Nina is torn between joining him and her commitment to Italy and her mother. As Mussolini’s Fascists throw the country into chaos and Hitler’s Nazis terrorize their town, each day becomes a struggle to survive greater atrocities. A future with Pietro seems impossible when they lose contact and Nina’s dreams of a life together are threatened by Nazi occupation and an enemy she must face alone.

©2022 Jennifer Anton (P)2022 Blackstone Publishing

Touching Humanity

I loved the sweet humanity in this story! All the history and moving details of a different time.. really brings perspective to where we are today and what we have.

Great story

Interesting, heartbreaking and beautiful. Really nice story highly recommend reading it. Also liked the reader’s Italian pronunciations.

A beautiful story

I loved listening to this book on Audible. It is a beautiful story. Definitely read or listen to it. You will not be disappointed.

Under the light

When you want the book to continue because you grew to love the characters. Nina and her family were easily loved, and I felt like I knew them. What a hard life they had during the war, but held onto their faith and love for each other.

A Story Which Parallels Our Own Family’s

My husband’s Nonna is from Feltre, which is next to Fonsazo and mentioned in the story. Nonna was always telling stories about her experience of Feltre in WWII. This gave me some background to the story, but it was Jennifer Anton who pulled me in. I listened to the audiobook during a few train rides here in Italy. We still have to wear masks on the train. I was happy to have it cover my face when I smiled or laughed along like a school girl, and grateful to have it a few times when I sat across from other passengers with tears streaming down my face.
We still go to Feltre to see family. The Festa della Uva in Fonzaso is one of our favorite festivals of the year. My husband and I have made the hike to San Michel several times, and the sanctuary is very personal to him. Next time we go, I will make a special stop in Fonzaso and light a candle for Adalasia at the altar.

Poignant family drama that spans WWI and WWII

I loved the strong female characters and their love and caring for the women of the Dolomites (Northern Italian alps). Their strength and what they were required to endure was beyond what many contemporary listeners can fathom.
I loved the descriptions of the scenery and the truthful description of what happens in a rural birthing room.
I only realized at the end that this is the Author’s family story. Brava, Jennifer Anton. Cassandra Campbell is an exemplary narrator and pronounced the Italian beautifully. Brava Cassandra.

Pleasant book

The story possibly could have gone more in depth, more vividly into some local cultures. At first I found the reader’s accent to be annoyingly wrong, but I eventually got used to it. I’m not sure about the boat leaving from Genoa, but many of the other boats came across with mostly people from the same region & country, rather than from many other countries.

brilliant

what a story. makes you realize how good we have it today. very inspiring

Beautiful story

I absolutely loved this book. I was emotionally carried through the ups and downs towards an amazing ending. Thank you for sharing your story. Wow!

Great historical fiction.

I enjoyed this book. The plot was feasible and characters were realistic and well-developed. The horrors of WW 2 described were a strong reminder that war is unconscionable at any time.