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The Shoemaker's Wife
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The Shoemaker's Wife (2012) (edit title/settings)

by Adriana Trigiani (Author) (edit contributors)

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The beloved New York Times bestselling author returns with the most epic and ambitious novel of her career--a breathtaking multigenerational love story that spans two continents, two world wars, and the quest of two star-crossed lovers to find each other again, replete with all the... read more

Summary edit see section history

The majestic and haunting beauty of the Italian Alps is the setting of the first meeting of Enza, a practical beauty, and Ciro, a strapping mountain boy, who meet as teenagers, despite growing up in villages just a few miles apart. At the turn of the last century, when Ciro catches the local... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

The majestic and haunting beauty of the Italian Alps is the setting of the first meeting of Enza, a practical beauty, and Ciro, a strapping mountain boy, who meet as teenagers, despite growing up in villages just a few miles apart. At the turn of the last century, when Ciro catches the local priest in a scandal, he is banished from his village and sent to hide in America as an apprentice to a shoemaker in Little Italy. Without explanation, he leaves a bereft Enza behind. Soon, Enza's family faces disaster and she, too, is forced to go to America with her father to secure their future.

Unbeknownst to one another, they both build fledgling lives in America, Ciro masters shoemaking and Enza takes a factory job in Hoboken until fate intervenes and reunites them. But it is too late: Ciro has volunteered to serve in World War I and Enza, determined to forge a life without him, begins her impressive career as a seamstress at the Metropolitan Opera House that will sweep her into the glamorous salons of Manhattan and into the life of the international singing sensation, Enrico Caruso.

From the stately mansions of Carnegie Hill, to the cobblestone streets of Little Italy, over the perilous cliffs of northern Italy, to the white-capped lakes of northern Minnesota, these star-crossed lovers meet and separate, until, finally, the power of their love changes both of their lives forever.

Lush and evocative, told in tantalizing detail and enriched with lovable, unforgettable characters, The Shoemaker's Wife is a portrait of the times, the places and the people who defined the immigrant experience, claiming their portion of the American dream with ambition and resolve, cutting it to fit their needs like the finest Italian silk.

Characters/People edit see section history

  • Stella Ravanelli: Youngest child of the Ravanellis.
  • Don Raphael Gregorio: village priest at the convent
  • Cipi: Carriage horse belonging to the Ravanellis
  • Vito Blazek: Works in publicity at the Metropolitan Opera
  • Kirk Johannsen: One of the young men that Ciro had made boots for; he had enlisted to fight in the war
  • Sister Teresa: Nun who worked in the kitchen at the convent
  • Antonio Lazzari: Son of Enza and Ciro born July 28, 1919
  • Gina Buffa: Daughter-in-law of Signora Anna Buffa where Enza was treated as an indentured servant
  • Betsy Madich: Her daughter Betsy went to school with Antonio Lazzari
  • Doc Graham: Family doctor of Enza, Ciro and Antonia in Minnesota
  • Geraldine Farrar: American soprano opera singer and film actress, noted for her beauty, acting ability, and "the intimate timbre of her voice." Often sang with Caruso
  • Alma Ravanelli: Younger child of Ravanelli; the restless one;
  • Marco Ravanelli: Coachman in Schilpario; In 1905 he was 33 and had a wife and six children; lived in Schilpario
  • Mother Anna Isabelle: Mother at the convent where Ciro lived; Vilminor di Scalve
  • Concetta Martocci: Ciiro first love interest when he was in school at the convent
  • Remo and Carla Zanetti: Shoemaker where Ciro was the apprentice
  • Eliana Ravanelli: Younger daughter of Marco Ravanelli; she was the one with courage; lived in Schilpario
  • Dora Buffa: Daughter-in-law of Signora Anna Buffa where Enza was treated as an indentured servent
  • Don Federico Martinelli: Local older priest in Schilpario
  • Miss Robin Homonoff: Piano teacher that Enza secured for Angela Latina
  • Signor Anderson: Man at Ellis Island that tried to get Ciro to change his surname; helped him move through the red tape
  • Emilio and Ida Uncini: Neighbors of Ciro and Enza in M
  • Colin Cooper Chapin: Laura's future husband; works in accounting at the Met
  • Eileen Parrelli: 18 year old piano prodigy
  • Dr. Pierre Brissot: Frenchman who was the physcian on the ship that Enzo and her father were on coming to America
  • John Latini: Son of Luigi and Peppina
  • Nerina: Mare that pulled their carriage
  • Antonio Scotti: Baritone opera singer
  • Ciro Augustus Lazzari: Youngest son of Caterina and Carlo Lazzari; born in 1895.
  • Sister Domenica: Older nun who first met with Catherina when her sons were left at the convent and cintinued to watch over them
  • Enza Ravanelli (Vincenza): The oldest child and daughter of Marco . She was 10 in 1905; The eldest daughter of a large family really never has a real childhood.
  • Helen Fay: She was in charge of James Burden mansion making sure things ran smoothly also helped Laura and Enza get established
  • Mel Butorac: A local businessman who leased properties to entrepreneurs and helped them establish credit with the local bank
  • Caroline DeCoursey: House mother at Millbank House
  • Jenny Madich: Her daughter Betsy went to school with Antonio
  • Caterina Lazzari: Widow of Carlo and mother of Edwardo and Ciro
  • John Cassidy: One of the young men that Ciro had made boots for; he had enlisted to fight in the war
  • Ignazio Farino: The grounds keeper at the convent Vilminor di Scalve
  • Sister Josephine: A nun who was the nurse at St.Vincent's Hospital in Queens where Enza was taken directly from the ship. She spoke Italian.
  • Spruzzo: A stray dog that Ciro adopted and gave to Sister Teresa
  • Carlo A. Lazzari: Husband off Caterina who died in a mining accident in America; father of Edwardo and Ciro
  • Henry Heery Chapin: Son of Laura and Colin
  • Robert Renna: Loan officer at Security State Bank
  • Frances Shapiro: Wonderful - beautiful description of Italian immigration, becoming an American soldier+citizen. The true love we always want!
  • Felicitá Cassio: First girlfriend Ciro had in NY
  • Emma Fogarty: Kitchen captain at the mansion
  • Luigi Latini: Worked in the boiler room with Ciro on the ship wh continued as friend and partner
  • Angela Latini: Daughter of Luigi and Peppina
  • Christie Benet: MOTHERHOOD, it's love & sacrifice. Unique descriptions, settings pique your interest !
  • Liliana Gandolfo: Add a description of this character.
  • Signora Braido: Women who was client of the dressmaker that Enza had worked for in Bergamo
  • Pappina Latini: Remo's girlfriend
  • Eduardo Lazzori: Older son of Carlo and Caterina Lazzori; born in 1895
  • Mrs. Selby: Librarian at the Chisolm library
  • Emilio Uncini: Stonemason and neighbor of Ciro and Enza; wife Ida
  • Signor Puccini: He was the entertainer at the mansion where Laura and Enza were working. Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini 22 December 1858 – 29 November 1924) was an Italian composer whose operas, including La bohème, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, and Turandot, are among the most frequently performed
  • Dr. Renfro: Oncologist at St. Mary's hospital at Mayo Clinic
  • Signor Enrico Caruso: Enrico Caruso (Italian pronunciation: (February 25, 1873 – August 2, 1921) was an Italian tenor. He sang to great acclaim at the major opera houses of Europe and North and South America, appearing in a wide variety of roles from the Italian and French repertoires that ranged from the lyric to the dramatic.
  • Signora Anna Buffa: Distant cousin that was suppose to sponsor Enza and Marco; she treated Enza like an indentured servant
  • Miss Serafina Ramunni: Piano teacher that Enza secured for Angela
  • Maria Arduini: Privileged daughter the Ravanelli's landlord
  • Vittorio: Son of the Ravanellis. The one with the ego
  • Signor Arduini: Wealthy landlord of the home where the Ravanellis rented; daughter Maria
  • Orlich: Ciro played cards in the barn with him the night of the Cerbian party
  • Signora Sabatino: Enza worked in her dress shop in Italy
  • Sister Ercolina: Nun who taught Latin at the convent
  • Elaina Ravanelli: Daughter of the Ravanelli; the helpful child
  • Batiste Ravanelli: The child of the Ravanelli who wanted to have fun
  • Giacomina Ravanelli: The wife of Marco and mother of their 6 children
  • Sister Anna Isabelle: Had family in America who sponsored Ciro
  • Pietra Buffa: Took his threee sons to Illinois to work on building tracks for the railroad; husband of Anna
  • Joe Neal: Nephew of the blouse company owner who took advantage of his position
  • Miss Laura Heery: Co-worker of Enza at the "Meta Walker" blouse factory
  • Knezovichs: Anna and Peter(Cerbians) lived across Longyear Lake from Ciro and Ena in old farm house
  • Alberta Patenza
  • Aunt Laura
  • Massimo Zito
  • Signor Zanetti: AKA Remo. Owner of the shoe shop where Ciro begins his training
  • Don Giovanni
  • Battista: one of Enza's brothers
  • Signora Zanetti: Wife of Remo, handles the money at the shoe shop
  • Juan Torres: fellow soldier Ciro meets during the war
  • Adriana Trigiani
  • Ana
  • Schiffer
  • Pietro Calva
Show all 86 characters
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Quotes edit see section history

  • “The first stage of widowhood is paperwork.”
  • “The eldest daughter in a family with many children never has a real childhood.”
    The narrator
  • “It occurred to Ciro that the men pretended to run the family but, in truth, the women were in charge.”
    Ciro

Setting & Locations edit see section history

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First Sentence edit see section history

The scalloped hem of Caterina Lazzari's blue velvet coat grazed the freshed-fallen snow, leaving a pale pink path on the bricks as she walked across the empty piazza.

Series & Lists edit see section history

This book is in 2012 Published Books. (community list)

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Adriana Trigiani (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: HarperCollins
Country: USA
Publication Date: 2012
ISBN: 9780061257094
Page Count: 494

Classification edit see section history

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