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Nada
A young woman’s struggle to free herself from the manacles of fascism and the bigotry of faith.
Nada CoverSardinia, 1934. On her eighteenth birthday Eleanor Cardinale is relishing the warm embrace of local festivals, red wine, and her first lover. Her passion is set against the backdrop of the island’s crystal seas, mountain crags and ancient magical legends.
But her joy is fleeting, for dark forces gather as she openly challenges her suffocating religion and Mussolini’s twisted vision of a new fascist Italy. The Duce is at the height of his popularity and Eleanor finds herself dangerously alone in her dissent.
Eleanor’s simple Sardinian life is shattered by a series of hideous crimes against her loved ones; savage rape, atrocity and finally murder by masked dancers in the fire and shadows of a demonic festival.
Is Eleanor willing to pay the ultimate price for freedom and independence?
NADA is a story of love, murder and revenge set in a time of Italian fascist expansion and ending in the early days of the Spanish Civil war. A historical novel, for fans of Robert Harris and Louis de Bernieres Corelli’s Mandolin.
Nada CoverSardinia, 1934. On her eighteenth birthday Eleanor Cardinale is relishing the warm embrace of local festivals, red wine, and her first lover. Her passion is set against the backdrop of the island’s crystal seas, mountain crags and ancient magical legends.
But her joy is fleeting, for dark forces gather as she openly challenges her suffocating religion and Mussolini’s twisted vision of a new fascist Italy. The Duce is at the height of his popularity and Eleanor finds herself dangerously alone in her dissent.
Eleanor’s simple Sardinian life is shattered by a series of hideous crimes against her loved ones; savage rape, atrocity and finally murder by masked dancers in the fire and shadows of a demonic festival.
Is Eleanor willing to pay the ultimate price for freedom and independence?
NADA is a story of love, murder and revenge set in a time of Italian fascist expansion and ending in the early days of the Spanish Civil war. A historical novel, for fans of Robert Harris and Louis de Bernieres Corelli’s Mandolin.
328 pages, Paperback
First published October 18, 2013
2 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
About the author
Arthur J. Penn
2 books19 followersHi, I'm Arthur. I'm an artist and author, and my creative work over the years has spanned sculpture, painting, etching and drawing as well as illustration. I'm now focusing on lino-cutting and print-making.
I spent many years encouraging creativity in children and teachers through my work in schools in Britain and internationally. As a county art and design adviser, my art packs supported the study of artists across many cultures, and explored the stories and meaning in art. I've run art tours for teachers in Europe and published city art guides to accompany them.
I live in the Cotswolds, England with my wife, Kate, plus Louis the Labrador and two cats. My studio has a door to the garden, which is where I find much of my inspiration for the designs.
I spent many years encouraging creativity in children and teachers through my work in schools in Britain and internationally. As a county art and design adviser, my art packs supported the study of artists across many cultures, and explored the stories and meaning in art. I've run art tours for teachers in Europe and published city art guides to accompany them.
I live in the Cotswolds, England with my wife, Kate, plus Louis the Labrador and two cats. My studio has a door to the garden, which is where I find much of my inspiration for the designs.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 3, 2016
NADA is a twisting labyrinth with Eleanor Cardinale, an innocent and intelligent young woman, at its center and a finale that will shock you. The book’s title refers to a print by Goya from a series called The Disasters of War.
Eleanor loves her gypsy boyfriend, Edo, adores her Jewish foster-father, Vito, and worships her brother, Marco. But she lives in 1930s Italy, where Mussolini is everyone’s hero. Il Duce—grand orator, defender of The Faith, charismatic tyrant.
But few Italians see the latter and Eleanor’s doubts about Il Duce bring her closer and closer to danger. Pluralism such as Eleanor’s cannot be tolerated.
The first half of NADA reads like a travelogue, replete with gorgeous descriptions Sardinia’s food and countryside. Arthur J. Penn lavishly expresses his love for the island.
But small, nasty acts multiply and you know something will soon go murderously wrong.
After Marco joins Mussolini’s elite ranks, several tragedies propel Eleanor from Sardinia to Spain in the fight against fascism. Brother and sister are at odds.
Throughout the buildup to world war, Eleanor must find her voice, her courage, and her spirit. Her choices will astonish you, yet she ultimately remains true to her deepest convictions and humanity.
I found everything about NADA—its setting, its characters, its political era—intriguing.
Eleanor loves her gypsy boyfriend, Edo, adores her Jewish foster-father, Vito, and worships her brother, Marco. But she lives in 1930s Italy, where Mussolini is everyone’s hero. Il Duce—grand orator, defender of The Faith, charismatic tyrant.
But few Italians see the latter and Eleanor’s doubts about Il Duce bring her closer and closer to danger. Pluralism such as Eleanor’s cannot be tolerated.
The first half of NADA reads like a travelogue, replete with gorgeous descriptions Sardinia’s food and countryside. Arthur J. Penn lavishly expresses his love for the island.
But small, nasty acts multiply and you know something will soon go murderously wrong.
After Marco joins Mussolini’s elite ranks, several tragedies propel Eleanor from Sardinia to Spain in the fight against fascism. Brother and sister are at odds.
Throughout the buildup to world war, Eleanor must find her voice, her courage, and her spirit. Her choices will astonish you, yet she ultimately remains true to her deepest convictions and humanity.
I found everything about NADA—its setting, its characters, its political era—intriguing.
July 17, 2014
NADA is set in Sardinia, 1935-57, during the Mussolini years. Eleanor, a young girl, loves Edo, a gypsy youth. Eleanor's brother has completely embraced the Fascist dogma and is excited to set off to Abyssinia with the Black Flames. Before that happens, Eleanor's cat is tortured and killed, Edo is murdered and the library of Eleanor's benefactor Vito, a popular local Jewish doctor, is burned.
Readers may find themselves questioning everything along with Eleanor, from religion to politics to social issues to the very people one might love. Unlike some similar stories about wartime events, using a woman as protagonist raises the dramatic tension. We may feel ourselves, regardless of our own gender, or political/religious ideals, questioning along with Eleanor, questioning her faith in her brother, her country, her religion, her social experience, and in herself.
Many novels have been set during the years of WWII. Some deal with events in Manchuria, some with Germany or the Italian mainland. Some focus on major battles. A few depict lesser-known events of the war (like The MOnuments Men). Most of these novels feature male protagonists. NADA stands out because of its locale in Sardinia, but primarily and importantly, because of its use of a sympathetic and likeably endearing female central character.
Readers may find themselves questioning everything along with Eleanor, from religion to politics to social issues to the very people one might love. Unlike some similar stories about wartime events, using a woman as protagonist raises the dramatic tension. We may feel ourselves, regardless of our own gender, or political/religious ideals, questioning along with Eleanor, questioning her faith in her brother, her country, her religion, her social experience, and in herself.
Many novels have been set during the years of WWII. Some deal with events in Manchuria, some with Germany or the Italian mainland. Some focus on major battles. A few depict lesser-known events of the war (like The MOnuments Men). Most of these novels feature male protagonists. NADA stands out because of its locale in Sardinia, but primarily and importantly, because of its use of a sympathetic and likeably endearing female central character.
December 19, 2013
Nada. A historical thriller by Arthur J. Penn is perhaps the best debut novel I have read in a long time. Because I was unfamiliar with the "Mamuthones" and Sardinia, Mr Penn piqued my curiosity from the beginning—what were these creatures, what were they doing, who was Edo, and why was he killed?
The setting is Sardinia in the 1930s. Mussolini is coming into power. Few Italians can resist his call, and those that do are at risk. Can one person make a difference? Events in Eleanor Cardinale's life transform her from a young, obedient, church-going Italian teen into an enlightened woman involved in the resistance. I fully enjoyed watching this transformation, even though it came as a result of a series of cruel and atrocious events.
The story is complex, with many undercurrents: love and betrayal, the church and patriarchy, racism, feminism, coming of age, Fascism, the ugliness of war, the belief that nothing exists after death, and much more. Mr. Penn weaves the historical and geographical backdrops into a page-turning tale that I could not put down. I highly recommend this book.
The setting is Sardinia in the 1930s. Mussolini is coming into power. Few Italians can resist his call, and those that do are at risk. Can one person make a difference? Events in Eleanor Cardinale's life transform her from a young, obedient, church-going Italian teen into an enlightened woman involved in the resistance. I fully enjoyed watching this transformation, even though it came as a result of a series of cruel and atrocious events.
The story is complex, with many undercurrents: love and betrayal, the church and patriarchy, racism, feminism, coming of age, Fascism, the ugliness of war, the belief that nothing exists after death, and much more. Mr. Penn weaves the historical and geographical backdrops into a page-turning tale that I could not put down. I highly recommend this book.
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April 3, 2018I have read a lot of books on this subject, but this one got me thinking about another angle! Great job!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews