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Enrico G
From award-winning writer and producer Angela Page Conti comes a sweeping historical novel inspired by the author’s great-grandfather.
Enrico G is a powerful and often amusing story chronicling an immigrant's journey from Italy's Abruzzo region and the family’s centuries-old olive groves to New York, stretching from 1870s to the years following World War II. Shaped by extraordinary women, Enrico G is a compelling portrait of a man caught up in a web of ambition and love, prejudice and acceptance, identity and morality, where even a shared meal can turn deadly.
"Enrico G's family has their own unique way of getting rid of invaders, whether they're 19th century brigands or 20th century Nazis. The lusty chef Enrico's adventures in Abruzzo Italy and New York are engrossing reading with an oddball group of characters you'll want to meet. Shows how historical events roll over the lives of olive growers and their families. A lively page-turner with many humorous and surprising moments. Engrossing and compelling!" —RONNI SANDROFF, author of Party Party Girlfriends and Fighting Back
“Enrico G is a vivid saga of migration and survival which will resonate with many Italian-Americans. It’s also a reminder that if you’re tempted to sample Abruzzese cuisine, you’d better be on good terms with the chef!" —LARRY GURWIN, author of The Calvi Death of a Banker, co-author of False Profits and The Insiders.
"A stunning story that spans the late 19th century to both World Wars. Traveling from Italy to America to save himself and his family, Enrico G is heroic, calculating, loving and deadly. This is a historical novel about a complicated man who is willing to do whatever it takes to survive. If you loved The Godfather, be prepared for Enrico G, his friends, enemies and lovers to take you away.” —MEREDITH BERLIN, author of Friends With Issues, editor-in-chief of Soap Opera Digest and Seventeen Magazine, Emmy Awards nominee.
"Blunt and unapologetic, Enrico G leaps off the page as a force of nature. Angela Page Conti’s blend of true story with fiction brims in recounting a larger-than-life Italian ancestor, a chef by trade, whose frankness is worth an indulgent read into the whys and hows. Around characters navigating their lives in World War II Italy against an ever-expanding Nazi front, Conti’s pace is strong and her story-telling voice shines." —LORIE GREENSPAN, publishing director at TriMark Press, author and poet of forthcoming, What it is to grow a garden in the Age of Terror and Gardens of Einstein.
"With droll humor, Page delivers a spirited novel about Enrico G, a 20th century Italian immigrant who lives by his wits and 'buona fortuna,' moving back and forth between the new world and the old, to pursue his singular American Dream. I loved the quirky characters and fast pace." —DEBRA BANERJEE, winner of the Florida Magazine Association Charlie Award for The Boca Raton Observer, New York Press Association Best Arts Coverage Award, and Best Headlines for The Scarsdale Inquirer.
Enrico G is a powerful and often amusing story chronicling an immigrant's journey from Italy's Abruzzo region and the family’s centuries-old olive groves to New York, stretching from 1870s to the years following World War II. Shaped by extraordinary women, Enrico G is a compelling portrait of a man caught up in a web of ambition and love, prejudice and acceptance, identity and morality, where even a shared meal can turn deadly.
"Enrico G's family has their own unique way of getting rid of invaders, whether they're 19th century brigands or 20th century Nazis. The lusty chef Enrico's adventures in Abruzzo Italy and New York are engrossing reading with an oddball group of characters you'll want to meet. Shows how historical events roll over the lives of olive growers and their families. A lively page-turner with many humorous and surprising moments. Engrossing and compelling!" —RONNI SANDROFF, author of Party Party Girlfriends and Fighting Back
“Enrico G is a vivid saga of migration and survival which will resonate with many Italian-Americans. It’s also a reminder that if you’re tempted to sample Abruzzese cuisine, you’d better be on good terms with the chef!" —LARRY GURWIN, author of The Calvi Death of a Banker, co-author of False Profits and The Insiders.
"A stunning story that spans the late 19th century to both World Wars. Traveling from Italy to America to save himself and his family, Enrico G is heroic, calculating, loving and deadly. This is a historical novel about a complicated man who is willing to do whatever it takes to survive. If you loved The Godfather, be prepared for Enrico G, his friends, enemies and lovers to take you away.” —MEREDITH BERLIN, author of Friends With Issues, editor-in-chief of Soap Opera Digest and Seventeen Magazine, Emmy Awards nominee.
"Blunt and unapologetic, Enrico G leaps off the page as a force of nature. Angela Page Conti’s blend of true story with fiction brims in recounting a larger-than-life Italian ancestor, a chef by trade, whose frankness is worth an indulgent read into the whys and hows. Around characters navigating their lives in World War II Italy against an ever-expanding Nazi front, Conti’s pace is strong and her story-telling voice shines." —LORIE GREENSPAN, publishing director at TriMark Press, author and poet of forthcoming, What it is to grow a garden in the Age of Terror and Gardens of Einstein.
"With droll humor, Page delivers a spirited novel about Enrico G, a 20th century Italian immigrant who lives by his wits and 'buona fortuna,' moving back and forth between the new world and the old, to pursue his singular American Dream. I loved the quirky characters and fast pace." —DEBRA BANERJEE, winner of the Florida Magazine Association Charlie Award for The Boca Raton Observer, New York Press Association Best Arts Coverage Award, and Best Headlines for The Scarsdale Inquirer.
319 pages, Paperback
Published March 20, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 23, 2026
Looking for a little folklore and character close to my own Italian origins, I read Enrico G as an ARC from the Niche Reader. While I understand the author’s intentions around building a relatable, flawed and humorous character who is unapologetic in his ways, and who survives several global and personal conflicts, I thought Enrico as a main character, and the majority of the female key characters, were heavily caricatural instead.
The adventures he leads from childhood to old age are amusing and do raise some eyebrows and smirks, but appear overly exaggerated in my opinion, as does the overly sexualised flirtatious demeanour Enrico is described with. His one occasion of genuine feeling and love is connected to the two truly relatable and well-crafted female characters, Laura and Giuliana. While I truly wanted to enjoy the portrayal of so much Italian history and culture, I feel this was only done superficially in this novel.
The adventures he leads from childhood to old age are amusing and do raise some eyebrows and smirks, but appear overly exaggerated in my opinion, as does the overly sexualised flirtatious demeanour Enrico is described with. His one occasion of genuine feeling and love is connected to the two truly relatable and well-crafted female characters, Laura and Giuliana. While I truly wanted to enjoy the portrayal of so much Italian history and culture, I feel this was only done superficially in this novel.
June 11, 2026
I really enjoyed reading this novel and learnt a lot about the story of early 20th century Italian migrants in America as well as historical events in Italy. But I also found it really entertaining as there's plenty of humour in the book, so it's a very easy read. I believe it is loosely based on the exploits of the author's ancestor, and tells the story from his viewpoint. It's a whirlwind tale of bandits, family honour, pestilence and poisoning, sex, romance and adventure and all written with Italian American humour and fatalism. It reads fluently and I found I couldn't wait to discover what happens next so I read it really quickly.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants an entertaining and enlightening read.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants an entertaining and enlightening read.
April 16, 2026
I enjoy a novel written in first person and Angela Page Conti has done that well with this book. Enrico G is a terrific character and, being in his own words, the reader is drawn into his thoughts which often made me chuckle.
June 14, 2026
Fabulous family and immigration saga with a compelling complex character.
The story is told in amusing and entertaining vignettes. Wonderful integration of historic events stretching from end 19th century to the end of WW2.
The story is told in amusing and entertaining vignettes. Wonderful integration of historic events stretching from end 19th century to the end of WW2.
July 22, 2026
I loved reading this book. The story line was wonderful and the way the author reeled it out kept me hating stopping for work and sleep. Over 2 countries, multiple wars, sea crossings I grew to care about Enrico G and his whole family. Appreciate @betafide / #betafide for giving me the chance to read this ARC.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews