Casada: A History of an Italian Village and Its People

by Anna Comis, Isabel Comis Degenaars (Introduction)

Anna Comis was born in the ancient Italian village, Casada. For centuries, her ancestors had inhabited the "beautiful little country" surrounded by the Dolomite Mountains. After her family relocated, her parents' stories of their cherished native village continued to connect Anna with her birthplace. Years later, driven by a desire to preserve her heritage, Anna began collecting documents, anecdotes, articles, and old photographs. Casada: A History of an Italian Village and Its People contains the fruits of her exhaustive research. Half a world away, Isabel Comis Degenaars also grew up hearing stories of Casada shared by her father, whose parents immigrated to America in the 1920s in search of work and the chance to start a new life. A 2010 visit to her grandparents' ancestral home inspired her to translate her cousin Anna's book into English. She also relates her own family's challenging journey from the green mountains of Italy into the dark coal mines of Pennsylvania including research of early mining life in the coal patch of Francis Mine. From two cousins separated by distance and culture, comes a rich history of shared lineage set in a land that continues to inspire and haunt those drawn to its verdant hills and valleys. This is a book for those who have been drawn to their heritage -- to their history and their families and to the land in which they came from. It's a book for story-lovers, for Italian immigrants, for anyone who has ever felt pulled to his or her past for unknown reasons. Above all, Casada: A History of an Italian Village and Its People is a book for those who long for a return to a family that seems almost lost now. It is a book for those who wish to return home.

Genres: History

274 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2015

Reviews

[Katy Zignego · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book from a Goodreads giveaway. Since my husband has written a similar book about Italian immigrants in America (Milwaukee's Italian Heritage, by Anthony Zignego), I was expecting to read a fascinating family history placed in the context of the larger story of Italian immigration. The author's research is formidable, and it is obvious she has all the pertinent facts at her fingertips. Unfortunately, she was not able to rise above the facts themselves and show readers the forest beyond the trees. A collection of names, dates, and facts without accompanying interpretation is the mark of the antiquarian, not the true historian. A disappointment.

[Kerri · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received the book from a Goodreads giveaway. I was expecting more storytelling from the author's family. I was unable to connect with the people because it was like reading a list of names - you as the reader never learned anything about the people's personality or character. It was really informative in regards to learning about the development of the village but I think it is more suited for someone with historic roots to this area.