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A Letter From Italy
Inspired by the life of the world's first woman war correspondent, Australia's Louise Mack, the most sweeping love story yet by Pamela Hart
1917, Italy. Australian journalist Rebecca Quinn is an unconventional woman. At the height of World War I, she has given up the safety of her Sydney home for the bloody battlefields of Europe, following her journalist husband to the frontline as a war correspondent in Italy.
Reporting the horrors of the Italian campaign, Rebecca finds herself thrown together with American-born Italian photographer Alessandro Panucci, and soon discovers another battleground every bit as dangerous and unpredictable: the human heart.
A passionate and poignant love story set on the beautiful Italian coast by the bestselling author of The Soldier's Wife and The War Bride.
1917, Italy. Australian journalist Rebecca Quinn is an unconventional woman. At the height of World War I, she has given up the safety of her Sydney home for the bloody battlefields of Europe, following her journalist husband to the frontline as a war correspondent in Italy.
Reporting the horrors of the Italian campaign, Rebecca finds herself thrown together with American-born Italian photographer Alessandro Panucci, and soon discovers another battleground every bit as dangerous and unpredictable: the human heart.
A passionate and poignant love story set on the beautiful Italian coast by the bestselling author of The Soldier's Wife and The War Bride.
412 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 14, 2017
21 people are currently reading
210 people want to read
About the author
Pamela Hart
31 books151 followersPamela is a best-selling, award-winning author of more than 40 books.
As Pamela Hart, she writes the Poppy McGowan Mysteries and historical fiction, including Regency romance.
As Pamela Freeman, she writes children's fiction and non-fiction, and is well known for her fantasy novels for adults, the CASTINGS TRILOGY and her Aurealis Award winning novel EMBER AND ASH.
Pamela lives in Sydney with her husband and their son, and teaches at the Australian Writers' Centre.
She has a Doctorate of Creative Arts from the University of Technology, Sydney, where she has also lectured in creative writing.
Also published under Pamela Freeman - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
As Pamela Hart, she writes the Poppy McGowan Mysteries and historical fiction, including Regency romance.
As Pamela Freeman, she writes children's fiction and non-fiction, and is well known for her fantasy novels for adults, the CASTINGS TRILOGY and her Aurealis Award winning novel EMBER AND ASH.
Pamela lives in Sydney with her husband and their son, and teaches at the Australian Writers' Centre.
She has a Doctorate of Creative Arts from the University of Technology, Sydney, where she has also lectured in creative writing.
Also published under Pamela Freeman - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
March 6, 2017
When Australian journalist Rebecca Quinn’s husband Jack announced he was leaving – in an hour no less – to sail with the smugglers while chasing a good story, she was shocked. She had arrived in Italy with Jack as a war correspondent, supplying letters to newspapers in Britain and Australia – she certainly hadn’t expected to be left alone in a city where she knew no one and hardly spoke the language. But Rebecca was a strong and independent young woman – she wasn’t prepared to head back to Australia with her tail between her legs; she would be the correspondent she had always wanted to be.
Unexpectedly teaming up with American/Italian photographer Alessandro Panucci, she found herself joining the other journalists at Nonna Rosa’s café on a regular basis. Nonna Rosa was Sandro’s grandmother and he had joined her from America at the beginning of the war. Sandro was an excellent photographer and together they reported the important war news. But Jack still had not returned and Rebecca was concerned, angry, frustrated – why wouldn’t he let her know he was alright? Still, she continued doing her job…
As Rebecca and Sandro were thrust closer to the front lines, danger loomed all around them. Would they make it through? The adrenalin and excitement of getting a good story was foremost in their minds – what would be the outcome for two people who knew the future wasn’t theirs?
A Letter from Italy by Aussie author Pamela Hart was utterly brilliant! Fast paced, original, heart breaking and real, the beauty of the Italian coastline was marred by war, but when viewed through Sandro’s camera lens it came to life. Captivating and poignant, I loved Nonna Rosa’s acerbic tongue which covered a heart of gold – also the children who were so eager to help for a coin. Pamela Hart is fast becoming one of my favourite historical fiction writers. Highly recommended.
With thanks to Hachette Australia for my ARC to read and review.
Unexpectedly teaming up with American/Italian photographer Alessandro Panucci, she found herself joining the other journalists at Nonna Rosa’s café on a regular basis. Nonna Rosa was Sandro’s grandmother and he had joined her from America at the beginning of the war. Sandro was an excellent photographer and together they reported the important war news. But Jack still had not returned and Rebecca was concerned, angry, frustrated – why wouldn’t he let her know he was alright? Still, she continued doing her job…
As Rebecca and Sandro were thrust closer to the front lines, danger loomed all around them. Would they make it through? The adrenalin and excitement of getting a good story was foremost in their minds – what would be the outcome for two people who knew the future wasn’t theirs?
A Letter from Italy by Aussie author Pamela Hart was utterly brilliant! Fast paced, original, heart breaking and real, the beauty of the Italian coastline was marred by war, but when viewed through Sandro’s camera lens it came to life. Captivating and poignant, I loved Nonna Rosa’s acerbic tongue which covered a heart of gold – also the children who were so eager to help for a coin. Pamela Hart is fast becoming one of my favourite historical fiction writers. Highly recommended.
With thanks to Hachette Australia for my ARC to read and review.
August 23, 2018
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
4.5 stars
Pamela Hart is a force to be reckoned with the Australian historical fiction genre. After devouring her previous two titles, The Soldier’s Wife and The War Bride, it is no wonder that A Letter from Italy captured my heart. Hart’s latest novel is another fine Australian fiction title combining war, love and personal aspirations.
A Letter from Italy is inspired by the life of real life figure, Louise Mack. Mack was one of the world’s first female war correspondents. Hart carefully models her chief protagonist, Rebecca Quinn, on Louise. The book opens in the thick of the First World War. Rebecca Quinn decides to follow her husband, a decorated war journalist on the frontline as he covers the war raging through Europe. While covering the battlefield in Italy, Rebecca crosses paths with Alessandro Panucci, who works as a war photographer. Together, the two work to report back the terrible reality of the Italian based war campaign. Matters of the heart play a significant role in the lives of these two characters, as the war rages on in Italy and in many other parts of the world.
I can never get enough of the writing of talented Australian storyteller Pamela Hart. Her latest offering, A Letter from Italy, is another impressive read, combining an inspiring real life figure’s story together with a moving story on love in the midst of war.
Rebecca Quinn, the primary protagonist in A Letter from Italy, is a character who is bursting with life. Rebecca immediately gained my interest and admiration. I felt every step of her battle in the gender stakes to establish herself as a respected war correspondent. I thought Hart did an excellent job of portraying Rebecca’s battle, which is a battle many ambitious women in this man’s world faced. Where Hart particularly shines is in her ability to show how hard it was for Rebecca to step out of her husband’s shadow and be respected for her work as an individual. It made for an absorbing read.
Romance plays a part in A Letter from Italy, but it never overshadows the narrative’s main focus, which is of Rebecca’s fight to be recognised as a war correspondent. Hart is adept at conveying the high emotion attached to relationships during war times. We feel every beat of Rebecca’s heart as she struggles to reconcile her growing feelings for Sandro, while remaining true to her husband. When Rebecca begins to realise her husband Jack is the obstacle in her path to career success it is an enlightening moment in the novel.
War is the central backdrop of this novel, with the events in the book taking place during the height of the war, in the year 1917. Hart draws our attention to various battles, especially naval battles that defined this time and place. I found these segments to be historically informative, reflecting Hart’s dedication to her research.
A highlight of A Letter from Italy is the main setting, which is based around coastal Italy. It could almost be considered as a character in its own right. Hart’s descriptions of this part of the world are beautifully rendered and incredibly vivid. The natural beauty of this region comes across the pages of this book with ease, thanks to Hart’s measured prose.
A Letter from Italy is a memorable love story. This novel provides the reader with an essential insight into the plight women faced in the early 1900’s, through Rebecca Quinn’s poignant struggle. I wouldn’t hesitate to put A Letter from Italy on your reading agenda, this one comes highly recommended.
A Letter from Italy, is book #103 of the Australian Women Writers Challenge
4.5 stars
Pamela Hart is a force to be reckoned with the Australian historical fiction genre. After devouring her previous two titles, The Soldier’s Wife and The War Bride, it is no wonder that A Letter from Italy captured my heart. Hart’s latest novel is another fine Australian fiction title combining war, love and personal aspirations.
A Letter from Italy is inspired by the life of real life figure, Louise Mack. Mack was one of the world’s first female war correspondents. Hart carefully models her chief protagonist, Rebecca Quinn, on Louise. The book opens in the thick of the First World War. Rebecca Quinn decides to follow her husband, a decorated war journalist on the frontline as he covers the war raging through Europe. While covering the battlefield in Italy, Rebecca crosses paths with Alessandro Panucci, who works as a war photographer. Together, the two work to report back the terrible reality of the Italian based war campaign. Matters of the heart play a significant role in the lives of these two characters, as the war rages on in Italy and in many other parts of the world.
I can never get enough of the writing of talented Australian storyteller Pamela Hart. Her latest offering, A Letter from Italy, is another impressive read, combining an inspiring real life figure’s story together with a moving story on love in the midst of war.
Rebecca Quinn, the primary protagonist in A Letter from Italy, is a character who is bursting with life. Rebecca immediately gained my interest and admiration. I felt every step of her battle in the gender stakes to establish herself as a respected war correspondent. I thought Hart did an excellent job of portraying Rebecca’s battle, which is a battle many ambitious women in this man’s world faced. Where Hart particularly shines is in her ability to show how hard it was for Rebecca to step out of her husband’s shadow and be respected for her work as an individual. It made for an absorbing read.
Romance plays a part in A Letter from Italy, but it never overshadows the narrative’s main focus, which is of Rebecca’s fight to be recognised as a war correspondent. Hart is adept at conveying the high emotion attached to relationships during war times. We feel every beat of Rebecca’s heart as she struggles to reconcile her growing feelings for Sandro, while remaining true to her husband. When Rebecca begins to realise her husband Jack is the obstacle in her path to career success it is an enlightening moment in the novel.
War is the central backdrop of this novel, with the events in the book taking place during the height of the war, in the year 1917. Hart draws our attention to various battles, especially naval battles that defined this time and place. I found these segments to be historically informative, reflecting Hart’s dedication to her research.
A highlight of A Letter from Italy is the main setting, which is based around coastal Italy. It could almost be considered as a character in its own right. Hart’s descriptions of this part of the world are beautifully rendered and incredibly vivid. The natural beauty of this region comes across the pages of this book with ease, thanks to Hart’s measured prose.
A Letter from Italy is a memorable love story. This novel provides the reader with an essential insight into the plight women faced in the early 1900’s, through Rebecca Quinn’s poignant struggle. I wouldn’t hesitate to put A Letter from Italy on your reading agenda, this one comes highly recommended.
A Letter from Italy, is book #103 of the Australian Women Writers Challenge
March 24, 2017
This is a moving story, a story of courage and strength the story of an Australian female journalist who arrives in Italy during World War 1 with her journalist husband and takes on the men and makes a mark in the world for herself and for females it shows how love can grow to such strength during times of intrigue and espionage of rations and hurt and heartbreak.
When journalist Rebecca Quinn is left alone in an Italian village while her husband is off chasing a story she now sees her chance to get off the woman’s pages of the paper and become a war correspondent, this takes a lot of courage to stand up to the men and the ways of the world. Rebecca is alone but knows the other journalists there and having meals at Nonna Rosa’s Trattoria brings her into contact with photographer Alessandro Panucci which starts a journey through some very rough paths and feelings that must be kept close to her heart.
Alessandro Panucci is an American born Italian he has come to Italy to try and do his bit for the war seeing as he can’t enlist in either countries he does what he knows best photographs and with a little push from his Nonna and Rebecca they join together as a team to make a couple of war correspondents who become very close in so many ways friends first but love grows as well, but this is a forbidden love.
This is my first story by MS Hart and won’t be my last beautifully written it pulled me in from the first page so much happening the setting is gorgeous the hardships of wartime and the tragedies that people go through and the descriptions of Sandro’s photos were so real it was like I was looking at them. And of course the moving love story that bought me to tears and then tears of joy at the end wartime brings so much heartache but there is always a shining light. Thank you for a fabulous story.
When journalist Rebecca Quinn is left alone in an Italian village while her husband is off chasing a story she now sees her chance to get off the woman’s pages of the paper and become a war correspondent, this takes a lot of courage to stand up to the men and the ways of the world. Rebecca is alone but knows the other journalists there and having meals at Nonna Rosa’s Trattoria brings her into contact with photographer Alessandro Panucci which starts a journey through some very rough paths and feelings that must be kept close to her heart.
Alessandro Panucci is an American born Italian he has come to Italy to try and do his bit for the war seeing as he can’t enlist in either countries he does what he knows best photographs and with a little push from his Nonna and Rebecca they join together as a team to make a couple of war correspondents who become very close in so many ways friends first but love grows as well, but this is a forbidden love.
This is my first story by MS Hart and won’t be my last beautifully written it pulled me in from the first page so much happening the setting is gorgeous the hardships of wartime and the tragedies that people go through and the descriptions of Sandro’s photos were so real it was like I was looking at them. And of course the moving love story that bought me to tears and then tears of joy at the end wartime brings so much heartache but there is always a shining light. Thank you for a fabulous story.
February 2, 2019
A Letter From Italy is the third novel from Australian historical fiction author, Pamela Hart. I have enjoyed Hart's previous novels and this one was no exception as it is set in one of my favourite periods, the Great War, and my favourite destination, Italy. Beginning in 1917, readers follow the protagonist, Aussie Rebecca Quinn, as she embarks on the journey of a lifetime in Brindisi, Italy. The character of Rebecca is based on Louise Mack, an Australian who was the first female war correspondent in active service. Louise herself has a cameo in A Letter From Italy as Rebecca's boss, which I thought was a fun move on Hart's behalf!
Like Louise, Rebecca is a journalist and war correspondent. She is also a sister to brothers fighting in the war and wife to Jack, a fellow journalist. It was with Jack's support and encouragement that Rebecca followed her dreams into a male dominated field. When the opportunity arises for Jack to follow a story to Italy, the couple embark on the journey together. Rebecca hopes to continue working with her husband overseas but things do not work out as they planned. Jack leaves Rebecca in Brindisi to follow his story independently. Alone in a foreign country, Rebecca has to find an inner strength to carry on.
Being the daughter of a suffragette has made Rebecca stronger then she believes. Rebecca gets herself accommodation and she is determined to learn the language to enable her to communicate with the locals. She makes a deal with a local woman to help in her café in return for learning the lingo. When Rebecca sees other women being treated badly by their family, she steps in. In one instance, Rebecca helps a young woman escape violence by sending her to Australia. The aftermath of Rebecca helping other women is shocking and I admired Rebecca for standing up for herself because she believed that she, and all women, are equal to men.
Showing her passion for her work, Rebecca continues to write for the Australian and English newspaper, titling her work A Letter From Italy. Sexism is rampant in these times and Rebecca discovers that women do not have access to informative press conferences. Fate lends a hand when she meets photographer Alessandro Pancucci, an Italian American. Working together has its benefits when Alessandro attends the press conferences in place of Rebecca to gather information. From the start this couple had chemistry and I admired Rebecca for standing by her marriage vows in the face of temptation. Here is a passionate woman who remains loyal to her husband under difficult circumstances. Whether Rebecca’s loyalty is misplaced is another matter….
With themes of women's rights, war and love this is the perfect read to immerse yourself in history.
#AWWC5#
Like Louise, Rebecca is a journalist and war correspondent. She is also a sister to brothers fighting in the war and wife to Jack, a fellow journalist. It was with Jack's support and encouragement that Rebecca followed her dreams into a male dominated field. When the opportunity arises for Jack to follow a story to Italy, the couple embark on the journey together. Rebecca hopes to continue working with her husband overseas but things do not work out as they planned. Jack leaves Rebecca in Brindisi to follow his story independently. Alone in a foreign country, Rebecca has to find an inner strength to carry on.
Being the daughter of a suffragette has made Rebecca stronger then she believes. Rebecca gets herself accommodation and she is determined to learn the language to enable her to communicate with the locals. She makes a deal with a local woman to help in her café in return for learning the lingo. When Rebecca sees other women being treated badly by their family, she steps in. In one instance, Rebecca helps a young woman escape violence by sending her to Australia. The aftermath of Rebecca helping other women is shocking and I admired Rebecca for standing up for herself because she believed that she, and all women, are equal to men.
Showing her passion for her work, Rebecca continues to write for the Australian and English newspaper, titling her work A Letter From Italy. Sexism is rampant in these times and Rebecca discovers that women do not have access to informative press conferences. Fate lends a hand when she meets photographer Alessandro Pancucci, an Italian American. Working together has its benefits when Alessandro attends the press conferences in place of Rebecca to gather information. From the start this couple had chemistry and I admired Rebecca for standing by her marriage vows in the face of temptation. Here is a passionate woman who remains loyal to her husband under difficult circumstances. Whether Rebecca’s loyalty is misplaced is another matter….
With themes of women's rights, war and love this is the perfect read to immerse yourself in history.
#AWWC5#
September 26, 2017
Australian journalist Rebecca Quinn is in Italy with her husband Jack, when he suddenly departs to chase a story about Albanian smugglers. Left alone in a place where she only knows a smattering of the language, Rebecca decides there is no way she can’t send stories back to Australia and England as she has been doing with Jack. But being a woman is not easy, given the expectations of a woman’s role in Italy in 1917. Not easy either when women are not allowed in the press conferences. Undeterred, Rebecca finds a way around that as she teams up with Sandro Panucci, a photographer. But this collaboration with the American born Italian photographer brings a whole other set of problems Rebecca had not expected and leads them into dangerous territory.
I picked up this book because I had loved the earlier book The Soldier’s Wife by this author. This one, for some reason took me a bit longer to warm to but I did after a while. Rebeca is a determined, independent and upright woman and Sandro is a lovely, strong character with firm convictions. The reader cannot help but hope that things will develop between them. But the problem is Rebecca is already married to Jack. I really liked both Rebecca and Sandro and also Nonna Rosa, Sandro’s Italian grandmother who in many ways does not fit the mould of sweet older lady. The Italian setting is also well described and the horror of war and the pain and sorrow it brings come across. Well worth reading, especially if you like historical novels with with a touch of romance.
I picked up this book because I had loved the earlier book The Soldier’s Wife by this author. This one, for some reason took me a bit longer to warm to but I did after a while. Rebeca is a determined, independent and upright woman and Sandro is a lovely, strong character with firm convictions. The reader cannot help but hope that things will develop between them. But the problem is Rebecca is already married to Jack. I really liked both Rebecca and Sandro and also Nonna Rosa, Sandro’s Italian grandmother who in many ways does not fit the mould of sweet older lady. The Italian setting is also well described and the horror of war and the pain and sorrow it brings come across. Well worth reading, especially if you like historical novels with with a touch of romance.
May 1, 2017
A Letter From Italy is set in Italy during World War 1. Rebecca an Australian, has arrived with her husband Jack Quinn to report the war to an English and Australian newspaper. It is still a time when women news correspondents were really not in existence or not accepted. Rebecca comes from a family where women's rights were strong, her mother an active suffragette. The Italian attitude to women comes as both a bit of a shock and a challenge to Rebecca.
Rebecca is a strong woman, with flaws, but passionate about her work. She is determined to prove herself and report what she sees and hears about. She is relentless in her pursuit of what might make a news story and report to those at home what is going on. And she does so with a woman's heart and compassion. Along the way she learns how her husband Jack is not all that she first thought, which brings out actually the best in her.
Along with Rebecca we meet Sandro, or Al as he is known back in New York. He is helping out his Nonna, Nonna Rosa a woman with a story of her own I am sure. Sandro has been unable to join the war efforts and up until now has struggled with it. But alongside Rebecca he finds something that he can accomplish and so participate in the war effort.
The story is really well told, small details make it feel like a factual, real account. We meet some of the actual heroes in that war and witness the pain and loss of the young men that went off to fight that war.
As well Italy is brought to life, the countryside, the food, the people and their way of life at that time.
Well worth the read. Once begun hard to put down.
Rebecca is a strong woman, with flaws, but passionate about her work. She is determined to prove herself and report what she sees and hears about. She is relentless in her pursuit of what might make a news story and report to those at home what is going on. And she does so with a woman's heart and compassion. Along the way she learns how her husband Jack is not all that she first thought, which brings out actually the best in her.
Along with Rebecca we meet Sandro, or Al as he is known back in New York. He is helping out his Nonna, Nonna Rosa a woman with a story of her own I am sure. Sandro has been unable to join the war efforts and up until now has struggled with it. But alongside Rebecca he finds something that he can accomplish and so participate in the war effort.
The story is really well told, small details make it feel like a factual, real account. We meet some of the actual heroes in that war and witness the pain and loss of the young men that went off to fight that war.
As well Italy is brought to life, the countryside, the food, the people and their way of life at that time.
Well worth the read. Once begun hard to put down.
November 11, 2018
A passionate and poignant love story set on the beautiful Italian coast by the bestselling author of The Soldier's Wife and The War Bride. Pamela Hart has been making a name for herself by writing vivid, compelling and gorgeously romantic historical fiction novels about the lives of Australian women during the First World War. Her first two – The Soldier’s Wife and The War Bride – were set in Sydney during and just after the war years. Her latest, however, is set in Italy, and was inspired by the true story of Louise Mack, an Australian journalist who became the world’s first female war correspondent.
The heroine is a strong-willed Australian journalist named Rebecca Quinn who has followed Jack, her war correspondent husband, to the frontline of the war in Italy. He goes undercover in Albania, leaving Rebecca alone in Brindisi, an Italian port town about halfway down Italy’s boot-heel. She is determined not to be sent home, but women journalists are not welcome and so she must prove herself even while struggling to stay safe. She begins to work with a talented Italian-American photographer named Sandro, racing to get scoops before any other journalist and finding herself in the heart of the action. Meanwhile, Jack goes missing and Rebecca finds her emotions in turmoil
The pages seemed to turn themselves, and I found myself sneaking off to read when I was meant to be working. A really thoughtful and subtle historical romance with lots of brains and lots of heart.
The heroine is a strong-willed Australian journalist named Rebecca Quinn who has followed Jack, her war correspondent husband, to the frontline of the war in Italy. He goes undercover in Albania, leaving Rebecca alone in Brindisi, an Italian port town about halfway down Italy’s boot-heel. She is determined not to be sent home, but women journalists are not welcome and so she must prove herself even while struggling to stay safe. She begins to work with a talented Italian-American photographer named Sandro, racing to get scoops before any other journalist and finding herself in the heart of the action. Meanwhile, Jack goes missing and Rebecca finds her emotions in turmoil
The pages seemed to turn themselves, and I found myself sneaking off to read when I was meant to be working. A really thoughtful and subtle historical romance with lots of brains and lots of heart.
March 12, 2017
Just when I thought I couldn’t love Pamela Hart’s books any more, A Letter from Italy arrives. With every book, the stories and emotion become more enjoyable, bringing to life a section of history forgotten about. In A Letter from Italy, Pamela Hart is inspired by the first woman war correspondent, Louise Mack, and weaves a story that is passionate, action packed and fascinating down to the last detail.
Australian Rebecca Quinn has always wanted to move away from the boredom of the women’s pages in the newspaper and report real news. When she and journalist husband Jack move to Italy to report on World War I, it’s possible that she might get that chance, helping Jack with a scoop or two. But when Jack takes off chasing an exclusive, Rebecca is left by herself in Brindisi. She decides to continue to report on the war, but she’s blocked at every turn for her gender. It’s then suggested that she team up with Alessandro Panucci (also known as Al Baker), an Italian-American who wants to make his name as a war photographer. With Sandro, Rebecca can hear about the press conferences and add photos to her story. Together they report on stories big and small, culminating in a story that has them thinking way outside the square and risking their lives. They know they work well as a team, but is there something more?
Rebecca is a modern character for her time, espousing women’s rights (her mother was a suffragette – now there’s a story I’d like to read). She believes in equality and won’t take no for an answer when she is barred from something just due to her sex. The young Italian women are fascinated that she has voted back in Australia, but Rebecca’s simple descriptions get her in big trouble with their husbands and fathers. As Rebecca remarks, it’s a lot more difficult to strip away the centuries of tradition in Italy compared to a young country in Australia. Yet she’s still a product of her time, with her conflicted feelings involving her husband Jack. Divorce is still scandalous, no matter what his crime is. She’s determined, but not willing to break out of the mould entirely.
Sandro is just lovely. His inner conflict as to who he is and where he fits – America? Italy? – is well done and wanting to be an artist via the relatively new medium of photography adds another interesting layer to his character. He comes up against the traditions of Italy, struggles with them, but makes graceful choices. I couldn’t help but cheer him on as much as I did Rebecca. And as for his Nonna Rosa…she has a fascinating history, told briefly but it’s her blunt observations that add a layer of wisdom and humour to the story.
A Letter from Italy also just flows beautifully. The characters are well crafted and the plot contains enough threads to make ‘one more chapter’ a must. The descriptions of Italy and its people are evocative, particularly those of Venice and the gondolas. It’s a great story which is captivating from the very beginning. If you want great Australian historical fiction, look no further than Pamela Hart.
Thank you to Hachette for the copy of this book. My review is honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
Australian Rebecca Quinn has always wanted to move away from the boredom of the women’s pages in the newspaper and report real news. When she and journalist husband Jack move to Italy to report on World War I, it’s possible that she might get that chance, helping Jack with a scoop or two. But when Jack takes off chasing an exclusive, Rebecca is left by herself in Brindisi. She decides to continue to report on the war, but she’s blocked at every turn for her gender. It’s then suggested that she team up with Alessandro Panucci (also known as Al Baker), an Italian-American who wants to make his name as a war photographer. With Sandro, Rebecca can hear about the press conferences and add photos to her story. Together they report on stories big and small, culminating in a story that has them thinking way outside the square and risking their lives. They know they work well as a team, but is there something more?
Rebecca is a modern character for her time, espousing women’s rights (her mother was a suffragette – now there’s a story I’d like to read). She believes in equality and won’t take no for an answer when she is barred from something just due to her sex. The young Italian women are fascinated that she has voted back in Australia, but Rebecca’s simple descriptions get her in big trouble with their husbands and fathers. As Rebecca remarks, it’s a lot more difficult to strip away the centuries of tradition in Italy compared to a young country in Australia. Yet she’s still a product of her time, with her conflicted feelings involving her husband Jack. Divorce is still scandalous, no matter what his crime is. She’s determined, but not willing to break out of the mould entirely.
Sandro is just lovely. His inner conflict as to who he is and where he fits – America? Italy? – is well done and wanting to be an artist via the relatively new medium of photography adds another interesting layer to his character. He comes up against the traditions of Italy, struggles with them, but makes graceful choices. I couldn’t help but cheer him on as much as I did Rebecca. And as for his Nonna Rosa…she has a fascinating history, told briefly but it’s her blunt observations that add a layer of wisdom and humour to the story.
A Letter from Italy also just flows beautifully. The characters are well crafted and the plot contains enough threads to make ‘one more chapter’ a must. The descriptions of Italy and its people are evocative, particularly those of Venice and the gondolas. It’s a great story which is captivating from the very beginning. If you want great Australian historical fiction, look no further than Pamela Hart.
Thank you to Hachette for the copy of this book. My review is honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
February 7, 2017
Hart has such a way with words! It’s not so much that she makes me visualize something I’ve never seen (which she does brilliantly), it’s more like I’m blind and she’s reminding me what vision used to be like.
Picture this, for example: you’re in Italy, staying alone in a quaint pensione in a small village by the seaside, and someone tells you:-
Did that not put you in mind of Leonardo’s self-portrait right before Hart actually mentioned the artist by name?
But it’s not just the imagery that made me love this book. Being a love story, certain emotions are a given: love, lust, abstinence, trepidation. But the way these feelings develop, unfold, and mature is subtle and real. Not once did I roll my eyes or become a cynical unbeliever.
The premise is equally relatable: to be a female war correspondent in WWI, when women had few rights and were literally treated as property under law, would have required the utmost of courage and determination. Hart conveys this beautifully, and in a particularly evocative scene of an Italian winter on the land, she throws in some insightful observations that help me understand why some parts of the world still don’t fully respect women today.
On top of all that, I *adore* the way Hart has mastered the art of skipping-the-boring-bits-but-then-flashing-back-to-a-key-bit-anyway (there must be a better name for this device! If there isn’t, I will call it a Hartism from now on): switching perspective, backtracking in time, and jumping forward again seamlessly and without the slightest hint of the twin sins of confusion-and-boredom.
An absolutely stunning story, well-written and gripping. I simply must read everything she’s written!
Due for release in March 2017 - review based on uncorrected proof copy
Picture this, for example: you’re in Italy, staying alone in a quaint pensione in a small village by the seaside, and someone tells you:-
An old man stood in the doorway, with bushy eyebrows and a long white beard that caught the light like spiderwebs caught dew. Sandro itched to photograph him; he looked a lot like Leonardo da Vinci’s self-portrait.
Did that not put you in mind of Leonardo’s self-portrait right before Hart actually mentioned the artist by name?
But it’s not just the imagery that made me love this book. Being a love story, certain emotions are a given: love, lust, abstinence, trepidation. But the way these feelings develop, unfold, and mature is subtle and real. Not once did I roll my eyes or become a cynical unbeliever.
The premise is equally relatable: to be a female war correspondent in WWI, when women had few rights and were literally treated as property under law, would have required the utmost of courage and determination. Hart conveys this beautifully, and in a particularly evocative scene of an Italian winter on the land, she throws in some insightful observations that help me understand why some parts of the world still don’t fully respect women today.
On top of all that, I *adore* the way Hart has mastered the art of skipping-the-boring-bits-but-then-flashing-back-to-a-key-bit-anyway (there must be a better name for this device! If there isn’t, I will call it a Hartism from now on): switching perspective, backtracking in time, and jumping forward again seamlessly and without the slightest hint of the twin sins of confusion-and-boredom.
An absolutely stunning story, well-written and gripping. I simply must read everything she’s written!
Due for release in March 2017 - review based on uncorrected proof copy
February 22, 2017
Ok, word of warning: do not expect to get anything done while reading this book. Trust me, once you open this book, the real world slips away and nothing is more important than returning to Rebecca Quinn's story. If you do ignore my warning (and please, I strongly recommend that you do!) you're in for an absolute treat.
It must be noted that A Letter from Italy is inspired by the world's first female war correspondent, Australia's Louise Mack whose life-story is certainly worth perusing.
Hart has brilliantly captured the WWI setting presenting it with an urgency that offered a reliable and steady pacing for the story. Furthermore, Hart's presentation of heroine Rebecca's difficulties during a time when women simply didn't have the benefit of basic rights was an important and well-explored aspect of the story. Overall, the development and manner in which Hart delivers the characters, romance, and emotions were beautifully nuanced and added an exceptional level of depth to the story.
Hart dedicated this novel to her Aunty Pauline who she says, "showed us what an independent woman could do" which is a lovely sentiment. Similarly, Hart herself through the strength and compelling nature of her storytelling is doing exactly that for the scores of men and women who will read her novels.
This is a must-read story from one of Australia's finest storytellers.
It must be noted that A Letter from Italy is inspired by the world's first female war correspondent, Australia's Louise Mack whose life-story is certainly worth perusing.
Hart has brilliantly captured the WWI setting presenting it with an urgency that offered a reliable and steady pacing for the story. Furthermore, Hart's presentation of heroine Rebecca's difficulties during a time when women simply didn't have the benefit of basic rights was an important and well-explored aspect of the story. Overall, the development and manner in which Hart delivers the characters, romance, and emotions were beautifully nuanced and added an exceptional level of depth to the story.
Hart dedicated this novel to her Aunty Pauline who she says, "showed us what an independent woman could do" which is a lovely sentiment. Similarly, Hart herself through the strength and compelling nature of her storytelling is doing exactly that for the scores of men and women who will read her novels.
This is a must-read story from one of Australia's finest storytellers.
April 3, 2017
Every now and then there comes a novel that is so utterly irresistible that you instantly devour it in one sitting. A narrative where the characters capture your heart immediately and whisk you a way within a heartbeat of opening the book. One where time passes you by without you knowing it. Where the content challenges the way you think and opens your eyes to a whole new world of understanding. Where you are left feeling blissfully content at the end of the book, and yet the characters and the story remains in the back of your mind for long after the final page. A Letter From Italy by Pamela Hart is one of those books.
A Letter From Italy is an eye opening and totally mesmerising read. The book’s I’ve read this year have been so far removed from the realm of this book, that is was not only a refreshing read, but an educational one. For you see, I’m a lover of history, but I don’t recall ever learning about Louise Mack, the first female war correspondent, and the troubles she encountered. Although I know that societies perceptions of women were completely different and constantly being challenged during the wars, I’d never really considered what it would be like to be a female war correspondent. I’m ashamed to even admit that in the back of mind I probably just even assumed they were all male. Needless to say this narrative blew my perceptions of journalists of the time out of the water and opened my eyes to a whole new understanding of what it would have been like to be a woman fighting for her place in a man’s world.
Inspired by the strength and determination of the first female war correspondent, Louise Mack, A Letter From Italy is a testimony to the courage and persistence of women during that period of time. Hart’s heroine Rebecca Quinn is a young Australian journalist who has followed her husband Jack to Italy to report back on the war. When Jack runs off foolhardy into a story leaving Rebecca behind she learns just how hard it is to a be a women alone in a world where women are still believed to be inferior and delicate creatures to be protected at all costs. Butting heads at every turn against societies perceptions of women and the industries restrictions (women were not allowed in press conferences), Rebecca is forced think outside of the box to gain information and to earn her own stripes on the front. These unconventional means lead her to Alessandro Panucci, an American-Italian photographer with a baggage of confused identities. Together the pair develop the most unlikely of alliance as they pursue what is perhaps the story of a lifetime
Hart has a real talent for writing strong female leads who reflect the nature of their time in such a honest and breathtaking way. Rebecca Quinn is no exception, in fact in many ways I think she is pretty much perfect. Here is a women who believes she is equal to men, who knows she has what it takes to do a ‘man’s’ job and she defies anyone to tell her that she is not worthy. She will not be held down. And yet behind this strong and capable exterior is a women battling with her own perceptions of what she should be and what she wants to be. The depth of character that we glimpse over the course of the novel is astounding, and I loved the way Hart balanced the two sides of her character. Especially the way in which Rebecca remained true to her own morals and convictions despite everything that was thrown her way.
With the focus well and truly on women’s involvement in the war and their fight for equal rights, the subtle hints of romance crafted throughout the story was like a cherry being placed on top of the most divine and intricate of desserts. When the book opened with Jack literally running off the page, I was confused. I couldn’t comprehend why our hero was running away and I read the first few chapters eagerly awaiting his return. And then Alessandro appeared and I became even more confused … until it all made sense. The true partnership between Rebecca and Alessandro was inspiring, and the slow burn of the romance was unexpected and so gratifying because of that. Here is a book with so much heart without even trying.
A Letter From Italy is not only an inspiring and uplifting read, but it’s so eloquently written. From very early on in the narrative it’s evident just how much research Hart has put into the story; so much so that the words simply dissolve on the page as 1917 Italy becomes alive before your very eyes. What’s more the entire book was so eloquently written that I found myself returning to passages time and time again, not because I missed something, but because I wanted to relive those moments again.
A Letter From Italy is not only an inspiring and uplifting read, but it’s so eloquently written. From very early on in the narrative it’s evident just how much research Hart has put into the story; so much so that the words simply dissolve on the page as 1917 Italy becomes alive before your very eyes. What’s more the entire book was so eloquently written that I found myself returning to passages time and time again, not because I missed something, but because I wanted to relive those moments again.
This review was originally posted at The Never Ending Bookshelf on 14th march 2017 and can be found here: http://wp.me/p3yY1u-17y
A Letter From Italy is an eye opening and totally mesmerising read. The book’s I’ve read this year have been so far removed from the realm of this book, that is was not only a refreshing read, but an educational one. For you see, I’m a lover of history, but I don’t recall ever learning about Louise Mack, the first female war correspondent, and the troubles she encountered. Although I know that societies perceptions of women were completely different and constantly being challenged during the wars, I’d never really considered what it would be like to be a female war correspondent. I’m ashamed to even admit that in the back of mind I probably just even assumed they were all male. Needless to say this narrative blew my perceptions of journalists of the time out of the water and opened my eyes to a whole new understanding of what it would have been like to be a woman fighting for her place in a man’s world.
Inspired by the strength and determination of the first female war correspondent, Louise Mack, A Letter From Italy is a testimony to the courage and persistence of women during that period of time. Hart’s heroine Rebecca Quinn is a young Australian journalist who has followed her husband Jack to Italy to report back on the war. When Jack runs off foolhardy into a story leaving Rebecca behind she learns just how hard it is to a be a women alone in a world where women are still believed to be inferior and delicate creatures to be protected at all costs. Butting heads at every turn against societies perceptions of women and the industries restrictions (women were not allowed in press conferences), Rebecca is forced think outside of the box to gain information and to earn her own stripes on the front. These unconventional means lead her to Alessandro Panucci, an American-Italian photographer with a baggage of confused identities. Together the pair develop the most unlikely of alliance as they pursue what is perhaps the story of a lifetime
Hart has a real talent for writing strong female leads who reflect the nature of their time in such a honest and breathtaking way. Rebecca Quinn is no exception, in fact in many ways I think she is pretty much perfect. Here is a women who believes she is equal to men, who knows she has what it takes to do a ‘man’s’ job and she defies anyone to tell her that she is not worthy. She will not be held down. And yet behind this strong and capable exterior is a women battling with her own perceptions of what she should be and what she wants to be. The depth of character that we glimpse over the course of the novel is astounding, and I loved the way Hart balanced the two sides of her character. Especially the way in which Rebecca remained true to her own morals and convictions despite everything that was thrown her way.
With the focus well and truly on women’s involvement in the war and their fight for equal rights, the subtle hints of romance crafted throughout the story was like a cherry being placed on top of the most divine and intricate of desserts. When the book opened with Jack literally running off the page, I was confused. I couldn’t comprehend why our hero was running away and I read the first few chapters eagerly awaiting his return. And then Alessandro appeared and I became even more confused … until it all made sense. The true partnership between Rebecca and Alessandro was inspiring, and the slow burn of the romance was unexpected and so gratifying because of that. Here is a book with so much heart without even trying.
A Letter From Italy is not only an inspiring and uplifting read, but it’s so eloquently written. From very early on in the narrative it’s evident just how much research Hart has put into the story; so much so that the words simply dissolve on the page as 1917 Italy becomes alive before your very eyes. What’s more the entire book was so eloquently written that I found myself returning to passages time and time again, not because I missed something, but because I wanted to relive those moments again.
A Letter From Italy is not only an inspiring and uplifting read, but it’s so eloquently written. From very early on in the narrative it’s evident just how much research Hart has put into the story; so much so that the words simply dissolve on the page as 1917 Italy becomes alive before your very eyes. What’s more the entire book was so eloquently written that I found myself returning to passages time and time again, not because I missed something, but because I wanted to relive those moments again.
This review was originally posted at The Never Ending Bookshelf on 14th march 2017 and can be found here: http://wp.me/p3yY1u-17y
April 14, 2017
http://greatreadsandtealeaves.blogspo...
‘What was a girl from Sydney doing standing on a barbed-wired beach in Italy in the darkness of night with a Venetian smuggler and a photographer from New York?’
I was ecstatic when I received this book to review and now having turned the last page, my sigh is a contented one. Having read Pamela Hart books before, my expectations were high and she did not let me down. A Letter from Italy is historical fiction at its best.
Inspired by the world's first woman war correspondent, this tale is real and heart breaking, a moving tribute to her courage and strength. A Letter from Italy tells the story of Rebecca Quinn, abandoned by her husband, choosing to remain in Italy to continue corresponding war news, overcoming many an obstacle in the process. This truly is a testimony to the courage and persistence of many women during these challenging times. When women had little to no rights (especially in Italy at the time), she stands her ground taking on men and inspiring those around her.
‘For the sake of every girl in the world who might like to be a journalist, of every woman who wanted to stop writing about fashion and hairstyles, and engage with meatier stories, she had to succeed. She had to.’
However, there is much more to this story (as if that wasn’t enough) and it’s fast pace will keep you turning the pages. There is the stunning Italian coastline brought to life under an armada of warships. There is the war itself and the bravery undertaken by those both at the front and left behind. Read along as a traditional way of living is questioned and challenged and ultimately, must learn to evolve. And then there are the array of remarkable characters, adding real substance to the entire tale - from Nonna Rosa down to villagers escaping the bombing.
‘Did they have the right to expect women here to speak up, to agitate, to join the cause when they were part of a civilisation which had stayed unchanged for so long, and endured so successfully?’
Now I must take a moment to talk about the lovely Sandro/Al Baker. He is just wonderful in so many ways. Ineligible to fight, he learns to face the fallout both in America and Italy - but where exactly does he fit in? Is he Al or Sandro? Is he American or Italian? As he struggles to find his place both in society and within himself, he will take you on a photographic journey of these troubling times. Throughout it all you cannot help but admire and hope that his well deserved happy ending might indeed come.
‘He was so dependable. Solid and real and human, always calm. She could rely on him.’
A Letter from Italy just flows so beautifully. The characters are rich and engaging; the plot involves many intricately woven threads throughout; the descriptions of Italy and its people are memorable. This is such a great story which captivated me from the beginning and did not let go until the fitting conclusion. If you want great Australian historical fiction, then Pamela Hart is your ‘go to’.
‘What was a girl from Sydney doing standing on a barbed-wired beach in Italy in the darkness of night with a Venetian smuggler and a photographer from New York?’
I was ecstatic when I received this book to review and now having turned the last page, my sigh is a contented one. Having read Pamela Hart books before, my expectations were high and she did not let me down. A Letter from Italy is historical fiction at its best.
Inspired by the world's first woman war correspondent, this tale is real and heart breaking, a moving tribute to her courage and strength. A Letter from Italy tells the story of Rebecca Quinn, abandoned by her husband, choosing to remain in Italy to continue corresponding war news, overcoming many an obstacle in the process. This truly is a testimony to the courage and persistence of many women during these challenging times. When women had little to no rights (especially in Italy at the time), she stands her ground taking on men and inspiring those around her.
‘For the sake of every girl in the world who might like to be a journalist, of every woman who wanted to stop writing about fashion and hairstyles, and engage with meatier stories, she had to succeed. She had to.’
However, there is much more to this story (as if that wasn’t enough) and it’s fast pace will keep you turning the pages. There is the stunning Italian coastline brought to life under an armada of warships. There is the war itself and the bravery undertaken by those both at the front and left behind. Read along as a traditional way of living is questioned and challenged and ultimately, must learn to evolve. And then there are the array of remarkable characters, adding real substance to the entire tale - from Nonna Rosa down to villagers escaping the bombing.
‘Did they have the right to expect women here to speak up, to agitate, to join the cause when they were part of a civilisation which had stayed unchanged for so long, and endured so successfully?’
Now I must take a moment to talk about the lovely Sandro/Al Baker. He is just wonderful in so many ways. Ineligible to fight, he learns to face the fallout both in America and Italy - but where exactly does he fit in? Is he Al or Sandro? Is he American or Italian? As he struggles to find his place both in society and within himself, he will take you on a photographic journey of these troubling times. Throughout it all you cannot help but admire and hope that his well deserved happy ending might indeed come.
‘He was so dependable. Solid and real and human, always calm. She could rely on him.’
A Letter from Italy just flows so beautifully. The characters are rich and engaging; the plot involves many intricately woven threads throughout; the descriptions of Italy and its people are memorable. This is such a great story which captivated me from the beginning and did not let go until the fitting conclusion. If you want great Australian historical fiction, then Pamela Hart is your ‘go to’.
July 19, 2018
Thoroughly enjoyed this story of an Australian journalist in Italy in WWI who teams up with an American-born photographer of Italian descent to fight her way through a male-dominated environment to become one of the world's first female war correspondents. Based on the story of Louise Mack. Hart has captured the setting, mood, excitement and danger of the time with skill.
January 13, 2018
Loved this one
February 7, 2017
Inspired by the life of the world's first female war correspondent, Australian Louise Mack.
Australian journalist Rebecca Quinn has left her life in Sydney behind to join her journalist husband on the front lines of the war. As an educated woman and a daughter of a suffragette, Rebecca is all too familiar with men's opinions of how women should behave. With a supportive husband and family, 1917 Italy and its treatment of her still comes as a bit of a shock. Desperate to prove herself, Rebecca reluctantly teams up with Italian-American photographer Sandro and a surprising partnership is born.
I absolutely loved this book. I couldn't put it down.
Pamela Hart has done a fantastic job with this book. The characters are flawed and relatable given the 1917 setting, Both Rebecca and Sandro radiate emotion and strength. With a great array of diverse minor characters there is someone for everyone in this book. Not only do you fall in love with these character but you grow with them. As you journey through this book you learn more and more about these amazing character, what makes them tick, what makes them laugh. There was not information dump at the beginning of the story, it was a natural progression throughout the entire novel.
The WWI setting was a perfect backdrop for this story. The honesty and urgency of war was so brilliantly captured, giving an extra dimension to the plot and characters. 1917 war-torn Italy through Pamela Hart's eyes gives you genuinely funny moments and truly heartbreaking situations.
Pamela Hart is a brilliant writer. Her descriptions are fantastic, they have an almost cinematic quality about them. Her ability to fill each sentence with emotion is absolutely remarkable. Her characters draw you in, Her descriptions put you in the story and Her impactful, emotive plot keeps you turning the pages and leaves you wanting more.
This is one of those books that will stay with me for a very long time. I'm already talking people's ears off about it. This is a must read for everyone.
A Letter From Italy by Pamela Hart is available 14/3/17. Go and pre-order it now, believe me you want to get your hands on this book the moment it is released.
Written by Geramie Kate Barker
https://gemsbooknook.wordpress.com
Australian journalist Rebecca Quinn has left her life in Sydney behind to join her journalist husband on the front lines of the war. As an educated woman and a daughter of a suffragette, Rebecca is all too familiar with men's opinions of how women should behave. With a supportive husband and family, 1917 Italy and its treatment of her still comes as a bit of a shock. Desperate to prove herself, Rebecca reluctantly teams up with Italian-American photographer Sandro and a surprising partnership is born.
I absolutely loved this book. I couldn't put it down.
Pamela Hart has done a fantastic job with this book. The characters are flawed and relatable given the 1917 setting, Both Rebecca and Sandro radiate emotion and strength. With a great array of diverse minor characters there is someone for everyone in this book. Not only do you fall in love with these character but you grow with them. As you journey through this book you learn more and more about these amazing character, what makes them tick, what makes them laugh. There was not information dump at the beginning of the story, it was a natural progression throughout the entire novel.
The WWI setting was a perfect backdrop for this story. The honesty and urgency of war was so brilliantly captured, giving an extra dimension to the plot and characters. 1917 war-torn Italy through Pamela Hart's eyes gives you genuinely funny moments and truly heartbreaking situations.
Pamela Hart is a brilliant writer. Her descriptions are fantastic, they have an almost cinematic quality about them. Her ability to fill each sentence with emotion is absolutely remarkable. Her characters draw you in, Her descriptions put you in the story and Her impactful, emotive plot keeps you turning the pages and leaves you wanting more.
This is one of those books that will stay with me for a very long time. I'm already talking people's ears off about it. This is a must read for everyone.
A Letter From Italy by Pamela Hart is available 14/3/17. Go and pre-order it now, believe me you want to get your hands on this book the moment it is released.
Written by Geramie Kate Barker
https://gemsbooknook.wordpress.com
April 6, 2017
A Letter from Italy was a lovely novel. It tells the story of a young female journalist, Rebecca, who is based in a small village serving as a naval base in Italy during WWI and her struggles to be taken seriously in a male dominated profession. Further issues of feminism are explored through the context of her daily life and conversations, giving the reader much food for thought in terms of just how much of a struggle it was for women on so many levels to live an equal life a hundred years ago. The story being told alongside Rebecca's, about the naval missions and battles, was quite interesting as well as I was not previously aware of any of this aspect of WWI.
Pamela Hart has such a wonderful writing style. Her words are so engaging, moving along at an even pace so that the story neither lags in places nor becomes so rapid you're unable to follow what's going on. There was a lot to take in during the last eighty pages of this novel but I found the pace satisfactory and the build up towards the ending quite enthralling. The epilogue was a nice touch to finish with.
Inspired by Louise Mack, Australia's first female war correspondent, A Letter from Italy is the perfect book for fans of both WWI stories, and those containing strong female characters working to establish themselves independently. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it highly. #aww2017
Pamela Hart has such a wonderful writing style. Her words are so engaging, moving along at an even pace so that the story neither lags in places nor becomes so rapid you're unable to follow what's going on. There was a lot to take in during the last eighty pages of this novel but I found the pace satisfactory and the build up towards the ending quite enthralling. The epilogue was a nice touch to finish with.
Inspired by Louise Mack, Australia's first female war correspondent, A Letter from Italy is the perfect book for fans of both WWI stories, and those containing strong female characters working to establish themselves independently. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it highly. #aww2017
April 20, 2017
A Letter from Italy by Pamela Hart portrays the life of journalist and war correspondent, Rebecca Quinn during World War I.
Rebecca follows her journalist husband, Jack to the frontline reporting on the horrors of the Italian campaign.
Rebecca is a strong, resilient woman of her own mind and very independent. Her mind is set on writing stories and becoming the best journalist and war correspondent she can possibly be.
There is no-stopping her on being successful and no-one, no man or husband can let anything get in her way.
It is in Italy after leaving the safety of her home in Sydney while pursuing her career alone that Rebecca falls in love and is thrown into the arms of American-born Italian war photographer, Alessandro Panucci.
From Sicily to Venice this story moves through the hard times of the war to the battlefields on the front.
On a lighter note, the author, Pamela Hart lets the scent of lemons from an Italian lemon-grove waft through the book as do the aromas from the ovens of Nonna Rosa's Italian trattoria, capture you throughout most of the story and towards the end of the book you can picture yourself on a gondola in Venice or walking along the foggy, cobblestoned streets in a time of war.
This is a love story with a difference set on the Italian coast, inspired by the life of the world's first woman war correspondent, Australia's Louise Mack.
A Letter from Italy by Pamela Hart.
Read and enjoy.
Rebecca follows her journalist husband, Jack to the frontline reporting on the horrors of the Italian campaign.
Rebecca is a strong, resilient woman of her own mind and very independent. Her mind is set on writing stories and becoming the best journalist and war correspondent she can possibly be.
There is no-stopping her on being successful and no-one, no man or husband can let anything get in her way.
It is in Italy after leaving the safety of her home in Sydney while pursuing her career alone that Rebecca falls in love and is thrown into the arms of American-born Italian war photographer, Alessandro Panucci.
From Sicily to Venice this story moves through the hard times of the war to the battlefields on the front.
On a lighter note, the author, Pamela Hart lets the scent of lemons from an Italian lemon-grove waft through the book as do the aromas from the ovens of Nonna Rosa's Italian trattoria, capture you throughout most of the story and towards the end of the book you can picture yourself on a gondola in Venice or walking along the foggy, cobblestoned streets in a time of war.
This is a love story with a difference set on the Italian coast, inspired by the life of the world's first woman war correspondent, Australia's Louise Mack.
A Letter from Italy by Pamela Hart.
Read and enjoy.
September 26, 2018
I'd probably give this 3.5 stars - it didn't totally blow me away but I did enjoy it - especially being set in WW1 Italy. An enjoyable adventure romance.
July 7, 2021
My first audio book. A great listen.
December 7, 2017
I loved this book! Gorgeous imagery, impeccable research and a strong heroine. All my faves. Plus Italy. What more could you want?
February 25, 2025
Despite it being set in Italy during the First World War, this is a gentle story that pulls you into the lives and struggles of three young foreigners who come to Italy to report on the conflict as Austria invades northern Italy.
Rebecca Quinn and her husband are Australian war correspondents sent to the seaside village of Brindisi on the Adriatic Sea to report on the war for newspapers back home. When Jack is assigned to sail with Albanian smugglers who are part of the resistant movement out to destroy the Austrian army, she is left alone in this strange land trying to make a name for herself as the first ever woman war correspondent writing about the Australian, French, British and Italian soldiers fighting to defend the Italian coastline and beyond. With obstacles to overcome trying to prove her worth in this male dominated field, she eventually teams up with an American-Italian photographer whose grandmother owns the trattoria where Rebecca dines each night.
At first the new duo are cautious with one another, but as the war progresses and their reputations increase, they find themselves in dangerous situations and needing to rely on one other more than would be usual due to the period of time and the circumstances they find themselves in.
The novel’s title is Rebecca’s column heading for her stories sent back home, and the setting and underlying storyline kept me turning the pages late into the night.
I really enjoyed her writing style and several descriptive nuggets peppering so many pages, like this one…
‘The church was small, whitewashed, dazzling with sunshine so that the dust motes glowed golden in the air like small blessings. She genuflected, head bowed to the Tabernacle and its red lamp; the swish of her skirts sent a sussuration around the high ceiling, as though the rafters were whispering back to her, bringing her into a partnership with the walls, the ceiling, the golden dust. Into a kind of peace, where she could leave worry behind for just a moment. She turned her face up to the Cross above the tabernacle and prayed for Jack’s safety, but the act of praying for him brought all the worry back. For a moment she felt so alone, so abandoned, the tears fell onto her cheeks and trailed down. “Our father, who are in heaven…“
…
A woman, praying before the altar, standing straight and tall. Sunlight from a rose window above the tabernacle caught her face, so that she was standing in a nimbus of light, her profile pure and clear. She looked like an angel, but angels didn’t cry, and the shaft of light caught the tears on her cheek. Sandro was struck by that curling in his gut that happened whenever he was presented with real beauty – not of the woman, but of the whole scene. Some perfect balance of elements that called out to him like the note from a bugle, which grabbed him by the throat and demanded to be immortalised.’
That delightful word-picture took me back to a thrilling two-week driving holiday my husband and I took around central and northern Italy back in 2009, and now many of our adventures have ended up on the pages of my first series, albeit happening to fictional characters in a tender love-story that began on the stage of a dusty old theatre in Brisbane.
And two little personal gems was firstly a reference to Rapallo, a gorgeous little town on the Mediterranean Sea near Genoa, where my husband and I spent two perfect nights looking out to a small stone fortress on the bay. ‘It was built in 1550 for defensive purposes after the plundering and destruction of the settlement by the corsair Dragut, who enslaved many inhabitants. Used for a long time as a prison, it has been restored and is now a prestigious venue for exhibitions and conferences.’ (Ref: Hello Rapallo)
The other was her descriptive prose about the backstreets and canals of Venice. I was back there again, staring in fascination just like Rebecca does, picturing all over again the rows of crumbling palazzos with water lapping at their brightly painted plasterwork and latticed windows and small balconies lining the upper stories; the rabbit-warren of cobbled lanes lined with multi-story homes; tiny trattorias tucked away down alleyways offering meals to tourists and locals alike; the breathtaking spectacle of miniature arched stone bridges fording a myriad of canals; and the shiny curved shape of polished black gondolas ferrying passengers back and forth on the Grand Canal.
One other reference that drew my eye as a keen ‘The Sound of Music’ fan is that Captain Von Trap is mentioned as a famous Austrian U-Boat Lieutenant during WWI - something I knew from the movie, but hadn’t really thought about as far as reality was concerned.
This was a delightful story and I give it a thoroughly deserved 4.5 🌟 out of 5.
Rebecca Quinn and her husband are Australian war correspondents sent to the seaside village of Brindisi on the Adriatic Sea to report on the war for newspapers back home. When Jack is assigned to sail with Albanian smugglers who are part of the resistant movement out to destroy the Austrian army, she is left alone in this strange land trying to make a name for herself as the first ever woman war correspondent writing about the Australian, French, British and Italian soldiers fighting to defend the Italian coastline and beyond. With obstacles to overcome trying to prove her worth in this male dominated field, she eventually teams up with an American-Italian photographer whose grandmother owns the trattoria where Rebecca dines each night.
At first the new duo are cautious with one another, but as the war progresses and their reputations increase, they find themselves in dangerous situations and needing to rely on one other more than would be usual due to the period of time and the circumstances they find themselves in.
The novel’s title is Rebecca’s column heading for her stories sent back home, and the setting and underlying storyline kept me turning the pages late into the night.
I really enjoyed her writing style and several descriptive nuggets peppering so many pages, like this one…
‘The church was small, whitewashed, dazzling with sunshine so that the dust motes glowed golden in the air like small blessings. She genuflected, head bowed to the Tabernacle and its red lamp; the swish of her skirts sent a sussuration around the high ceiling, as though the rafters were whispering back to her, bringing her into a partnership with the walls, the ceiling, the golden dust. Into a kind of peace, where she could leave worry behind for just a moment. She turned her face up to the Cross above the tabernacle and prayed for Jack’s safety, but the act of praying for him brought all the worry back. For a moment she felt so alone, so abandoned, the tears fell onto her cheeks and trailed down. “Our father, who are in heaven…“
…
A woman, praying before the altar, standing straight and tall. Sunlight from a rose window above the tabernacle caught her face, so that she was standing in a nimbus of light, her profile pure and clear. She looked like an angel, but angels didn’t cry, and the shaft of light caught the tears on her cheek. Sandro was struck by that curling in his gut that happened whenever he was presented with real beauty – not of the woman, but of the whole scene. Some perfect balance of elements that called out to him like the note from a bugle, which grabbed him by the throat and demanded to be immortalised.’
That delightful word-picture took me back to a thrilling two-week driving holiday my husband and I took around central and northern Italy back in 2009, and now many of our adventures have ended up on the pages of my first series, albeit happening to fictional characters in a tender love-story that began on the stage of a dusty old theatre in Brisbane.
And two little personal gems was firstly a reference to Rapallo, a gorgeous little town on the Mediterranean Sea near Genoa, where my husband and I spent two perfect nights looking out to a small stone fortress on the bay. ‘It was built in 1550 for defensive purposes after the plundering and destruction of the settlement by the corsair Dragut, who enslaved many inhabitants. Used for a long time as a prison, it has been restored and is now a prestigious venue for exhibitions and conferences.’ (Ref: Hello Rapallo)
The other was her descriptive prose about the backstreets and canals of Venice. I was back there again, staring in fascination just like Rebecca does, picturing all over again the rows of crumbling palazzos with water lapping at their brightly painted plasterwork and latticed windows and small balconies lining the upper stories; the rabbit-warren of cobbled lanes lined with multi-story homes; tiny trattorias tucked away down alleyways offering meals to tourists and locals alike; the breathtaking spectacle of miniature arched stone bridges fording a myriad of canals; and the shiny curved shape of polished black gondolas ferrying passengers back and forth on the Grand Canal.
One other reference that drew my eye as a keen ‘The Sound of Music’ fan is that Captain Von Trap is mentioned as a famous Austrian U-Boat Lieutenant during WWI - something I knew from the movie, but hadn’t really thought about as far as reality was concerned.
This was a delightful story and I give it a thoroughly deserved 4.5 🌟 out of 5.
October 5, 2020
Italy,1917. Australian journalist Rebecca Quinn is an unconventional woman. At the height of WWI, she has given up the safety of her Sydney home for the bloody battlefields of Europe, following her journalist husband,Jack, to the frontline as a war correspondent. Reporting on the horrors of the Italian campaign, Rebecca finds herself thrown together with American born Italian photographer Alessandro Panucci, and soon discovers another battleground every bit as dangerous and unpredictable: the human heart. The Otranto Barrage was an Allied naval blockade of the Otranto Straits between Brindisi in Italy and Corfu on the Greek side of the Adriatic sea in WWI.The blockade was intended to prevent the Austro-Hungarian Navy from escaping into the Mediterranean and threatening Allied operations there.War reporting was still in its formative stages as a profession well into WWI. During this time the explosion of print media-books, newspapers and magazines-combined with the rise of the independent "New Woman"-women who eschewed the domestic sphere and insisted on financial self sufficiency and meaningful work. The military,used the accreditation process as its first line of control over war correspondents, and the War Department refused outright to accredit women. Many women were sent to cover "the women's side of war" in hospitals and homes.The cold reality was that professional standards in war reporting were measured by industry defined yardstick of being where the action was.These women generally were privileged, and had established careers in journalism, literature, photography.Often they were politically active as suffragists and social reformers.Hence,the success or failure of female war reporters depended largely on their social background and prewar professional standing;reputation and personal connections.Even though entry for women to the fighting zones was often severely restricted, women were determined to cover all war aspects, the fighting, wounded sufferings, cities destruction, impact on civilians. They covered the war from many different perspectives,thus complementing and widening the war images provided by their male counterparts.
March 13, 2017
ARC received from Hachette Australia for an honest review
A Letter From Italy was the perfect way for me to pop my Pamela Hart cherry!
This book was inspired by the first female war correspondent, and what a story it is.
It is a sweeping, beautiful, emotional story that does wonderful justice for a part of history that for the most part has been swept under the carpet (I am not ashamed to admit that I did not know of Louise Mack and what she did).
Rebecca's story is one that I am sure could be told hundreds of times over - the loving and supportive wife following the husband wherever he goes, keeping quiet and doing as he expects.
Instead she is vocal on her career, her marriage, her expectations in life - and I loved her for it. This story shows how far we have come in the past century, but also highlights how far we still need to go.
The story is intriguing, enlightening, action packed and full of passion.
I really think that A Letter From Italy would make a wonderful movie or mini series - someone needs to get onto that pronto!
Now I am going to go back and read Ms Hart's other works, and look forward to what she brings us next.
A Letter From Italy was the perfect way for me to pop my Pamela Hart cherry!
This book was inspired by the first female war correspondent, and what a story it is.
It is a sweeping, beautiful, emotional story that does wonderful justice for a part of history that for the most part has been swept under the carpet (I am not ashamed to admit that I did not know of Louise Mack and what she did).
Rebecca's story is one that I am sure could be told hundreds of times over - the loving and supportive wife following the husband wherever he goes, keeping quiet and doing as he expects.
Instead she is vocal on her career, her marriage, her expectations in life - and I loved her for it. This story shows how far we have come in the past century, but also highlights how far we still need to go.
The story is intriguing, enlightening, action packed and full of passion.
I really think that A Letter From Italy would make a wonderful movie or mini series - someone needs to get onto that pronto!
Now I am going to go back and read Ms Hart's other works, and look forward to what she brings us next.
October 27, 2018
A beautiful heartbreaking story about the heroes of the war, the men and women who supported behind the scenes and the brave who reported it.
During a time when women’s rights were still a foreign concept in Italy Rebecca Quinn faced it all and all without her husband (who left her with little to no notice to go off chasing a story). I felt for her and cringed while she faced judgement from the men who still believed that women should just go tend their houses, my heart cried out for Sandro who I loved right until the final pages, my anger at Jack for leaving Rebecca to become so incredibly independent in a world that rejected such independence didn’t sit well with me and his betrayal of her trust was just the last straw. Rebecca showed that despite the fear and rejection she faced that she could still hold it together when it counted and could be courageous in the face of dangers that most women today wouldn’t imagine leaving themselves in a position to experience.
An incredibly inspiring character and a story that melted my heart and gave me a new opinion of war themed books.
Many thanks to Hachette Publishers for the opportunity to read this Advanced Review Copy.
- Crystal
During a time when women’s rights were still a foreign concept in Italy Rebecca Quinn faced it all and all without her husband (who left her with little to no notice to go off chasing a story). I felt for her and cringed while she faced judgement from the men who still believed that women should just go tend their houses, my heart cried out for Sandro who I loved right until the final pages, my anger at Jack for leaving Rebecca to become so incredibly independent in a world that rejected such independence didn’t sit well with me and his betrayal of her trust was just the last straw. Rebecca showed that despite the fear and rejection she faced that she could still hold it together when it counted and could be courageous in the face of dangers that most women today wouldn’t imagine leaving themselves in a position to experience.
An incredibly inspiring character and a story that melted my heart and gave me a new opinion of war themed books.
Many thanks to Hachette Publishers for the opportunity to read this Advanced Review Copy.
- Crystal
January 13, 2018
Italy, 1917, Australian journalist Rebecca Quinn is an unconventional woman.
At the height of World War I, she has given up the safety of her Sydney home for the bloody battlefields of Europe, following her husband, Jack Quinn, to the frontline as a war correspondent.
Requiring the horrors of the Italian campaign, Rebecca finds herself thrown together with American born Italian photographer Alessandro Panucci, and soon discovers another battleground every bit as dangerous and unpredictable: the human heart.
Inspired by the life of the world's first woman war correspondent, Australian Louise Mack.
It was an eye opener for me as I had no idea that that the Royal Australian Navy had been in Italy in WWI - but what a story it was!!!
At the height of World War I, she has given up the safety of her Sydney home for the bloody battlefields of Europe, following her husband, Jack Quinn, to the frontline as a war correspondent.
Requiring the horrors of the Italian campaign, Rebecca finds herself thrown together with American born Italian photographer Alessandro Panucci, and soon discovers another battleground every bit as dangerous and unpredictable: the human heart.
Inspired by the life of the world's first woman war correspondent, Australian Louise Mack.
It was an eye opener for me as I had no idea that that the Royal Australian Navy had been in Italy in WWI - but what a story it was!!!
January 1, 2021
The main character in this book turns up in some of Hart's other books so I decided to get her story. I'm so glad I did. This book is wonderful. Primarily about the difficulties of having your career ambitions taken seriously, alongside the actual barriers to pursing your career, as a woman. The romance is focused on love as a partnership of equals, another tough thing. The setting is Italy near the end of World War I, mostly Brindisi the staging post for a major naval defence mission involving Italy, France, Britain, and Australia. There is a sub-plot about migration (from Italy to America and back) and how it affects your sense of identity and home. Well told. Characters are well developed.
August 23, 2018
This was an enjoyable historical romance set in Italy in the latter stages of WWI. The main character, Rebecca Quinn, is based on Australia’s Louise Mack, the world’s first female war correspondent. Rebecca travels to Italy to work with her war correspondent husband but is left to fare on her own when he sets off with smugglers on the trail of a hot story. Often thwarted in her determination to continue doing her job by the bias of traditional Italian men, she strikes up a friendship with an American/Italian photographer. This becomes a successful professional, and eventual personal partnership.
September 1, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed A Soldier's Wife, and was looking forward to another book by Pamela Hart, but I felt that the plot of this novel was just a rehashing of the other book, set in a different country. Married woman separated from her husband due to wartime duties meets a handsome man and wrestles with thoughts of infidelity. The endings were different, but the premise was the same.
I also felt that this book should have been more carefully edited before it went to print. The words "smile," "grin," and "gaze" were repeated far too often, and use of the "as he/as she/as the/as they" sentence construction was overused.
I also felt that this book should have been more carefully edited before it went to print. The words "smile," "grin," and "gaze" were repeated far too often, and use of the "as he/as she/as the/as they" sentence construction was overused.
May 4, 2017
It didn't take me three weeks to read this book - it's just that some of my favourite authors had books come out in the middle of my reading and they won my attention.
This was a pleasant read. There was no burn to keep going back, but when I did I found the characters in the same place.
The time in history was interesting, the village in Italy was a nice insight and the ringside view of women finding their place among men during war - that's always interesting to read about.
An easy read, okay (but blah) characters and too slow (for me).
This was a pleasant read. There was no burn to keep going back, but when I did I found the characters in the same place.
The time in history was interesting, the village in Italy was a nice insight and the ringside view of women finding their place among men during war - that's always interesting to read about.
An easy read, okay (but blah) characters and too slow (for me).
February 14, 2018
A gritty story about married Australian journalist Rebecca Quinn in Italy, 1917, struggling to file war reports while battling blatant sexism, age old ‘tradition’ and abhorrent misogyny, even as her journalist husband Jack is off chasing other juicy stories. She eventually teams up with an American-Italian photographer, Alessandro Panucci, and they risk everything as they report back their ground-breaking news. Quite an incredible story. I felt the ending a little rushed, but it was still An Ending.
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