Such Hardworking People: Italian Immigrants in Postwar Toronto (Volume 12)

by Franca Iacovetta

Iacovetta examines the changes many had to face during the transition from peasant worker in an under-developed, rural economy to wage-earner in an urban, industrial society. Their experiences in Canada, she reveals, were shaped by class, gender, and ethnicity as well as familial responsibilities, government policies, and racism. In addition to conducting numerous interviews, Iacovetta has drawn on recent scholarship in immigration, family, labour studies, oral history, and women's history. Although both women and men struggled and were exploited, Iacovetta shows that they found innovative ways to recreate cherished rituals and customs from their homeland and managed to derive a sense of dignity and honour from the labours they performed.

328 pages, Paperback

First published March 24, 1992

Reviews

[Stefano Zek · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an Italian Canadian I genuinely enjoyed reading this book. It provided an incredibly detailed context on that first wave of Italian immigration. The further we get from that generation the harder it is to remember what it meant for those individuals to start a new life in this country. An outstanding and extensive work on research and compiling of first hard experiences that will continue to bring perspective and be valuable for many years to come.

[B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thorough history of one of the many waves of hard working immigrants in Canada.