Angelina: From Stromboli to D'Urville Island - A Family's Story

by Gerard Hindmarsh

In 1906, at just 16 years of age, Angelina Criscillo left the tiny volcanic island of Stromboli off Sicily to travel to an even remoter island on the other side of the world. From the age of eight she had been betrothed to her cousin, Vincenzo Moleta, who was now twice her age and taking her to a new life on D'Urville Island in New Zealand. Facing the fierce tides and weather of this wild island on the edge of Cook Strait, and having to cope with loneliness, the incessant toil of a pioneer farm, and the bitterness of a developing family feud, Angelina found solace in an unlikely friendship with a high-born Maori woman, Wetekia Ruruku Elkington, who lived nearby. Together they shared their own struggles, their different cultures and lack of English language; a process that awakened Angelina to her own inner strengths. Angelina and Vincenzo finally left D'Urville Island in 1946, and both died within a few months of each other in Wellington in 1954. The part that the Moletas and Wetekia played in the history of D'Urville Island has since been acknowledged by having features on the island named after them. Recreated by Angelina and Vincenzo's grandson, Gerard Hindmarsh, Angelina is a remarkable story that movingly captures the struggles and triumphs of pioneering immigrant life in New Zealand.

227 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome insight into life in New Zealand during the late 1800’s early 1900’s. We owe so much to the immigrant families of this period and earlier. Grazie!

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. I loved the description of island life on Stramboli (Italy) before the young couple journeyed separately to NZ, the adventures of the journey over and the friendship and knowledge shared with local Maori on and around D'Urville island. But I put the book down for a week and didn't want to pick it up again when they described "breaking in" the land - burning hundreds of acres of native NZ bush to create their farm and casually noticing there didn't seem to be so many birds around any more. Heartbreaking. And, worse, describing finding charred skeletons of kiwi after big burn offs. I know our young country is based on agriculture - breaking in land is what people did in the early 1900's - but it was still hard to read. But, that's just my feelings about the content. Those things happened. The book was beautifully written and cleverly presented via the two very different viewpoints of these newly arrived Italian husband & wife, with great anecdotes and glimpses into early NZ life & farming & family, remote island life with its joys, challenges and tragedies and the deep and beautiful relationship Angelina enjoyed with an exceptional local Maori woman who taught her a bit about Maori life, lore, craft & custom.

[Del DW · Rating 4 out of 5]

Histoire d'une femme italienne qui quitte son île de Stromboli pour s'installer à D'Urville island. La vie est rude à cette époque et les rapports familiaux avec la famille de son beau-frère ne sont pas de son côté. Elle se lie d'amitié avec une puissante et libre femme maorie. Elle construit son propre mode de vie, inédit à cette période, et s'installe à Wellington. Empowering. Lu chez Ana et Kim à Gisborne.

[Aj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suggested to me by Cathy, one of the proprietors of the D’urville Island Wilderness Resort, this is an engrossing story of immigrants, family, whanau, and place. From Stromboli to D’Urville Island, and finally to the Italian settlements in Wellington, _Angelina_ is the story of the author’s grandparents, re-created from conversations and his mother’s memories.

[Brigida O’Donnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love the descriptive writing of this author Gerard Hindmarsh, and how he brings the characters in this book to life. I could imagine exactly how it would have been for Angelina to have left her family and come to a new land, and being with her new husband who she didn’t really know all that well. It is a really great read!

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing and inspiring story of a pioneering woman. Highly recommended.