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Mussolini's Island
SHORTLISTED FOR THE BETTY TRASK AWARDSHORTLISTED FOR THE HWA DEBUT CROWNLONGLISTED FOR THE POLARI FIRST NOVEL PRIZESarah Day's MUSSOLINI'S ISLAND is a novel of sexuality and desire, of hidden passions and the secrets we keep locked within us. Based on the true story of the rounding up of a group of Sicilian gay men in 1939, this book is sure to appeal to readers of the Elena Ferrante novels, Anthony Doerr's ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE or Virginia Baily's EARLY ONE MORNING.'A fascinating debut...the setting and characters are strong and the story is written with verve. Day is a talent to watch' - The Times Francesco has a memory of his father from early childhood, a night when life for his family changed. From that night, he has vowed to protect his mother and to follow the words of his Non mollare. Never give up.As Francesco is herded into a camp on the island of San Domino, he realises that someone must have handed a list of names to the fascist police. Locked in spartan dormitories, resentment and bitterness between the men grows each day.Elena, an illiterate island girl, is drawn to the handsome Francesco. Sometimes, she is given a message to pass on. She's not sure who they are from; she knows simply that Francesco is hiding something. When Elena discovers the truth about the group of prisoners, the fine line between love and hate pulls her towards an act that can only have terrible consequences for all.
404 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 23, 2017
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January 29, 2018A powerful, tough book - well-written, although I did rather wish for some escape from the relentless awfulness of the situation. I know the laughs were in rather short supply in Mussolini's Italy, but even so, it might have helped relieve the grimness overload. All the same, a story that needed to be told, delivered in clear, bleak, lovely prose.
September 14, 2025
It’s 1938 and Mussolini is in power in Italy. Under the Fascists, homosexuality is viewed as a contagion, a disease that is weakening the manhood of the Italian nation. Like other gay men – or femminella in the local slang – Francesco is in danger of arrest and ‘confino’ (internment) by the authorities. But he has another secret. Because of his father’s political views, Francesco and his mother were forced to leave their home and adopt a new identity and Francesco has vowed to do whatever it takes to protect her and their true identity. When Francesco and other femminella, including his lover Emilio, are rounded up by the authorities and confined on the island of San Domino, it creates an atmosphere of mutual suspicion within the group as they search for the source of the betrayal.
In telling the story of Francesco and the other internees (a story based on actual events), the novel explores what people will do in order to survive and to protect the ones they love. As the novel progresses, the actions Francesco is forced to take and the insidious message that his sexuality is a ‘contagion’, make him begin to question his own nature:
“It was something within himself, something weak, something of women that should never have been there, so close to his heart, to the core of what he was. Something that made him a coward.”
The internment of the femminella on the island also brings consequences for the inhabitants of San Domino. The story is partly told through the eyes of Elena, a young island girl, who is drawn to the handsome Francesco but cannot understand why her family try to keep her away from him and the other internees. Ironically, internment on the island enables the femminella to more openly express their sexuality than they could before.
Mussolini’s Island is a fascinating insight into a little known period of Italian history but it is also the story of the love between Francesco and Emilio. Although their relationship is clearly sexual, it is the romantic love and deep friendship between them that is the focus. I really enjoyed the book – like the best historical fiction it brought to life actual events in an engaging and entertaining way. I thought this was an impressive debut.
I received an advance review copy courtesy of NetGalley and publishers, Headline/Tinder Press, in return for an honest review.
To read this and other book reviews, visit my blog: https://whatcathyreadnext.wordpress.com
In telling the story of Francesco and the other internees (a story based on actual events), the novel explores what people will do in order to survive and to protect the ones they love. As the novel progresses, the actions Francesco is forced to take and the insidious message that his sexuality is a ‘contagion’, make him begin to question his own nature:
“It was something within himself, something weak, something of women that should never have been there, so close to his heart, to the core of what he was. Something that made him a coward.”
The internment of the femminella on the island also brings consequences for the inhabitants of San Domino. The story is partly told through the eyes of Elena, a young island girl, who is drawn to the handsome Francesco but cannot understand why her family try to keep her away from him and the other internees. Ironically, internment on the island enables the femminella to more openly express their sexuality than they could before.
Mussolini’s Island is a fascinating insight into a little known period of Italian history but it is also the story of the love between Francesco and Emilio. Although their relationship is clearly sexual, it is the romantic love and deep friendship between them that is the focus. I really enjoyed the book – like the best historical fiction it brought to life actual events in an engaging and entertaining way. I thought this was an impressive debut.
I received an advance review copy courtesy of NetGalley and publishers, Headline/Tinder Press, in return for an honest review.
To read this and other book reviews, visit my blog: https://whatcathyreadnext.wordpress.com
January 13, 2018
Somewhere in what is in the end little more than an unpolished draft, there is a good book, with a strong plotline and an interesting cast of characters, waiting to be revealed to the struggling reader. This text should not have been published without some further rewriting; quite a lot of it.
The author shows an odd lack of mastery of the language (What, for example, is a “vaulted dome”? Why systematically use the offensive term "arrusi" to describe the characters? Why is there so much “dust” everywhere, particularly when it rains, when there shouldn’t be any?) and a lazy propensity to repeat elements of description (the hero’s level of knowledge of certain streets as opposed to others, the same few recurring memories of times spent with his father).
The whole endeavour feels constricted, confused, and lacking in excitment and passion (despite its main themes), due, I think in part, to the author's insistance in dragging on elements of mystery for much longer than needed.
I also found the violent and sudden homophobia of one of the characters troubling, since the way it is presented implies that it is not something learned but something instinctive.
I really wanted to like this book. It tells a story that needs to be told. But, although it’s not bad, I found myself oddly turned off by it and had to push myself to get back to it after each interruption.
Approach gingerly.
The author shows an odd lack of mastery of the language (What, for example, is a “vaulted dome”? Why systematically use the offensive term "arrusi" to describe the characters? Why is there so much “dust” everywhere, particularly when it rains, when there shouldn’t be any?) and a lazy propensity to repeat elements of description (the hero’s level of knowledge of certain streets as opposed to others, the same few recurring memories of times spent with his father).
The whole endeavour feels constricted, confused, and lacking in excitment and passion (despite its main themes), due, I think in part, to the author's insistance in dragging on elements of mystery for much longer than needed.
I also found the violent and sudden homophobia of one of the characters troubling, since the way it is presented implies that it is not something learned but something instinctive.
I really wanted to like this book. It tells a story that needs to be told. But, although it’s not bad, I found myself oddly turned off by it and had to push myself to get back to it after each interruption.
Approach gingerly.
March 3, 2017
‘The plague of pederasty in this province’s capital is worsening and spreading because youths so far unsuspected are now so taken by this form of sexual degeneracy…In the absence of a particular law, we must resort, in the case of the most obstinate offenders, to the use of confino.’
Alfonso Molina, Chief of Police, Catania, Sicily 1939
Mussolini’s Island is the unforgettable debut novel from Sarah Day, just published by Tinder Press in hardback.
This is a heartbreaking story about a time in history I knew nothing about. Please read on for my thoughts…
Mussolini’s Island is a novel that completely took me by surprise. I was initially attracted by the striking cover but as I read the ‘blurb’ I immediately knew that this was a book I would savour and take my time with.
Now, I make no secret about the fact that I love Italy. Having spent many a holiday there over the years, it is a country that I hold dear to my heart. The scenery, the food, the people, all truly wonderful. Everyone of us has a history, as does every country and Italy’s is one that many of us are familiar with. But Sarah Day has delved into a little piece of Italian history that many of us were oblivious to.
Mussolini’s Island takes us to Sicily, in the 1930’s. Fascism is taking hold in the minds and souls of many citizens. Mussolini is leading a campaign to rid society of unwanted degenerates that degrade the Italian culture ‘Fascism is now clearly defined not only as a regime but as a doctrine’
One such group that ‘needed’ to be confined were gay and bisexual men. Unmarried men were forced to pay high taxes and others were rounded up and sent to the island of San Domino.
Writer Isabel Costello has a wonderful post on her blog The Literary Sofa which gives you a powerful insight into Sarah’s visits to the island.
‘In the end, I tried to write the island exactly as it is. Beautiful, forbidding and remote. A paradise, and a prison – depending on who you are, and the time in which you live.’ Sarah Day with Isabel Costello
Mussolini’s Island focuses on the story of one young man, Francesco.
Originally from Naples, Francesco and his mother fled their home, in fear, to start a new life in Sicily. Under the cover of new identities, they live a very different life in Catania. Francesco is a very confused individual with regard to his sexuality and it isn’t long before he falls in with a group of boys, known as the ‘arvulo rossu' boys ~ ‘the name was for the tree the younger arrusi sometimes met beneath on the corner of a street by the docks in Catania…young men in their twenties without the luxury of their own homes’
As Francesco himself thinks..'he has learned to be quiet, to guard what he says and who he talks to. It is what drew him to the arrusi in the first place, perhaps, that acquired art of silence.’
With the new Fascist regime in place, life for the arrusi becomes very dangerous. Meeting in low key places and dance halls, these boys flit along the back streets of Catania, having clandestine meetings with lovers in the shadows of the night.
Francesco soon realises his life has moved beyond his control and it isn’t long before he is swept up by Molino’s madness and exiled with the arussi to the secluded island of San Domino. There, the lives of these boys are no longer their own. Imprisoned in dormitories, alongside the primogeniti – the more wealthy arrusi – all are stripped of their independence and forced to live side by side.
Sarah Day has intertwined the historical facts of this time with the story of one young man who is trying to protect the ones he loves, while also trying to live his life with his head held high, looking at the stars.
Francesco constantly strives to follow his father’s advice of Non Mollare ~ Never Give Up but with a society always fighting against him, it is a fierce battle to fight.
I adored Mussolini’s Island.
A wonderful book covering such deplorable true events, yet beautifully handled by Sarah Day. The quality of the research is evident throughout the novel, with various quotes from historically noted facts, interspersed with a fictional story.
This is an unbelievable debut from a writer. I have no idea where Sarah Day will travel to next but I do hope I get to share the journey.
Alfonso Molina, Chief of Police, Catania, Sicily 1939
Mussolini’s Island is the unforgettable debut novel from Sarah Day, just published by Tinder Press in hardback.
This is a heartbreaking story about a time in history I knew nothing about. Please read on for my thoughts…
Mussolini’s Island is a novel that completely took me by surprise. I was initially attracted by the striking cover but as I read the ‘blurb’ I immediately knew that this was a book I would savour and take my time with.
Now, I make no secret about the fact that I love Italy. Having spent many a holiday there over the years, it is a country that I hold dear to my heart. The scenery, the food, the people, all truly wonderful. Everyone of us has a history, as does every country and Italy’s is one that many of us are familiar with. But Sarah Day has delved into a little piece of Italian history that many of us were oblivious to.
Mussolini’s Island takes us to Sicily, in the 1930’s. Fascism is taking hold in the minds and souls of many citizens. Mussolini is leading a campaign to rid society of unwanted degenerates that degrade the Italian culture ‘Fascism is now clearly defined not only as a regime but as a doctrine’
One such group that ‘needed’ to be confined were gay and bisexual men. Unmarried men were forced to pay high taxes and others were rounded up and sent to the island of San Domino.
Writer Isabel Costello has a wonderful post on her blog The Literary Sofa which gives you a powerful insight into Sarah’s visits to the island.
‘In the end, I tried to write the island exactly as it is. Beautiful, forbidding and remote. A paradise, and a prison – depending on who you are, and the time in which you live.’ Sarah Day with Isabel Costello
Mussolini’s Island focuses on the story of one young man, Francesco.
Originally from Naples, Francesco and his mother fled their home, in fear, to start a new life in Sicily. Under the cover of new identities, they live a very different life in Catania. Francesco is a very confused individual with regard to his sexuality and it isn’t long before he falls in with a group of boys, known as the ‘arvulo rossu' boys ~ ‘the name was for the tree the younger arrusi sometimes met beneath on the corner of a street by the docks in Catania…young men in their twenties without the luxury of their own homes’
As Francesco himself thinks..'he has learned to be quiet, to guard what he says and who he talks to. It is what drew him to the arrusi in the first place, perhaps, that acquired art of silence.’
With the new Fascist regime in place, life for the arrusi becomes very dangerous. Meeting in low key places and dance halls, these boys flit along the back streets of Catania, having clandestine meetings with lovers in the shadows of the night.
Francesco soon realises his life has moved beyond his control and it isn’t long before he is swept up by Molino’s madness and exiled with the arussi to the secluded island of San Domino. There, the lives of these boys are no longer their own. Imprisoned in dormitories, alongside the primogeniti – the more wealthy arrusi – all are stripped of their independence and forced to live side by side.
Sarah Day has intertwined the historical facts of this time with the story of one young man who is trying to protect the ones he loves, while also trying to live his life with his head held high, looking at the stars.
Francesco constantly strives to follow his father’s advice of Non Mollare ~ Never Give Up but with a society always fighting against him, it is a fierce battle to fight.
I adored Mussolini’s Island.
A wonderful book covering such deplorable true events, yet beautifully handled by Sarah Day. The quality of the research is evident throughout the novel, with various quotes from historically noted facts, interspersed with a fictional story.
This is an unbelievable debut from a writer. I have no idea where Sarah Day will travel to next but I do hope I get to share the journey.
March 18, 2018
Disappointing. The story if the internment of Italian homosexuals just before the war is not without interest but I didn’t particularly enjoy it. The story flits back and forth between the days of their dance halls and their time in the camp on the island, but it’s occasionally difficult to be sure which is which. To begin with I found it difficult to distinguish some of the characters and almost gave up on the book altogether.
In the end I persevered and found the authors notes at the end. These outline the process of the book’s creation and the true story of the island during the war. This was more enjoyable than the book, suggesting that while the story is worth writing a book about, it may not be this one.
In the end I persevered and found the authors notes at the end. These outline the process of the book’s creation and the true story of the island during the war. This was more enjoyable than the book, suggesting that while the story is worth writing a book about, it may not be this one.
August 1, 2019
A good novel telling the tale of a relatively unknown part of Italian history under the regime of Mussolini. Despite the difficult subject matter, Day's book is written with care and compassion and is not that difficult to read.
October 6, 2017
A tension filled literary historical novel with depth and a revealing look at fascism.
The compelling and raw subject matter of this new work of historical literary fiction by author Sarah Day is extremely topical as we celebrate 50 years since the end to outlawing of homosexuality.
However this book takes us back to the 1930s and is set in Fascist Sicily where prejudice is still rife and homosexuality enough of a crime to warrant many young gay men being rounded up and imprisoned on a small island San Domino to be kept away from mainstream Italy.
They are treated more like prisoners of war than actual criminals and have a certain amount of freedom to roam on the tiny island they all end up on, but their freedom is curtailed and resentment and anger simmers amongst these passionate and volatile young men ensuring a tense and exciting setting for this captivating debut novel.
Am I cynical, or is the very last thing you'd imagine doing with a group of young men who’s homosexual tendencies you are trying to stamp out, is send them all to a small island to live in one large room together with nobody else for company? but the tensions arise not just from physical attractions but volatile situations of political unrest.
Apparently this is exactly what happened, as the book is based very much on factual events. It’s a bold subject for a young, debut novelist to tackle and the author does a great job, it’s well written and makes for compelling and convincing reading.
But, Oh boy, did I have to step outside my comfort zone for this when what I imagined was going to be an easy summer read was for me, rather difficult.
Not because of any prejudice, nor because of any graphic sex, as there isn't any (In fact the book is very circumspect given its edgy subject matter and themes of sexuality) but because I have no prior knowledge of Fascism or of Sicily and there were many, many unfamiliar words and terms, names and places I’ve never before come across that I kept having to look up and this interrupted the flow somewhat. In fact the very first sentence threw me, throwing ‘pederasty’ and ‘confino’ into my list of “what I wouldn’t give for a glossary” terms.
There are a lot of characters introduced in the first few chapters, all young men with complicated names, most with nicknames and nom de plumes which they are also referred to as - so I didn’t know who was who or what was what for quite some time but it falls into place and the tension and pace builds as the story unfolds.
The lead characters are Francesco a young man whose past keeps trying to catch up with him and Elena a naïve local island girl, who longs for escape and freedom. She takes a shine to Francesco and is unable to work out why he is not as she would expect a young man to be. She becomes a go between, risking a lot to carry messages, without her brutish father discovering her duality. But her ignorance might become her undoing.
The story builds towards a cruel deception and betrayal and though never an easy read it’s certainly different, informative and sympathetically written and will enthrall readers with a love of Italy or an interest in the rise of fascism.
The compelling and raw subject matter of this new work of historical literary fiction by author Sarah Day is extremely topical as we celebrate 50 years since the end to outlawing of homosexuality.
However this book takes us back to the 1930s and is set in Fascist Sicily where prejudice is still rife and homosexuality enough of a crime to warrant many young gay men being rounded up and imprisoned on a small island San Domino to be kept away from mainstream Italy.
They are treated more like prisoners of war than actual criminals and have a certain amount of freedom to roam on the tiny island they all end up on, but their freedom is curtailed and resentment and anger simmers amongst these passionate and volatile young men ensuring a tense and exciting setting for this captivating debut novel.
Am I cynical, or is the very last thing you'd imagine doing with a group of young men who’s homosexual tendencies you are trying to stamp out, is send them all to a small island to live in one large room together with nobody else for company? but the tensions arise not just from physical attractions but volatile situations of political unrest.
Apparently this is exactly what happened, as the book is based very much on factual events. It’s a bold subject for a young, debut novelist to tackle and the author does a great job, it’s well written and makes for compelling and convincing reading.
But, Oh boy, did I have to step outside my comfort zone for this when what I imagined was going to be an easy summer read was for me, rather difficult.
Not because of any prejudice, nor because of any graphic sex, as there isn't any (In fact the book is very circumspect given its edgy subject matter and themes of sexuality) but because I have no prior knowledge of Fascism or of Sicily and there were many, many unfamiliar words and terms, names and places I’ve never before come across that I kept having to look up and this interrupted the flow somewhat. In fact the very first sentence threw me, throwing ‘pederasty’ and ‘confino’ into my list of “what I wouldn’t give for a glossary” terms.
There are a lot of characters introduced in the first few chapters, all young men with complicated names, most with nicknames and nom de plumes which they are also referred to as - so I didn’t know who was who or what was what for quite some time but it falls into place and the tension and pace builds as the story unfolds.
The lead characters are Francesco a young man whose past keeps trying to catch up with him and Elena a naïve local island girl, who longs for escape and freedom. She takes a shine to Francesco and is unable to work out why he is not as she would expect a young man to be. She becomes a go between, risking a lot to carry messages, without her brutish father discovering her duality. But her ignorance might become her undoing.
The story builds towards a cruel deception and betrayal and though never an easy read it’s certainly different, informative and sympathetically written and will enthrall readers with a love of Italy or an interest in the rise of fascism.
November 7, 2017
Set in 1940’s Italy, Mussolini’s Island explores an area of history rarely looked at. Along with many other men like him, Francesco finds himself being imprisoned and sent to the island of San Domino for confino (confinement), for the crime of being gay. With suspicions about who gave their names to the police, fear over what will happen to them, and the pressure of an impending war, life on the island is far from easy.
Elena, a young local girl, is drawn to Francesco but can’t understand why he and the other men have been made prisoners on her island. When she finds out the truth about the prisoners, she is left with a decision that could have terrible consequences.
There are a lot of layers to this book. I found the historical aspects very interesting, and I really enjoyed the inclusion of some Italian terms (confino, arrusi, etc). Homosexuality in Italy during the 1940s isn’t an area I’ve read about before and I was eager to learn more. Although the story is fictional, a large amount of research obviously went into writing this book and I have a lot of respect for the author for that.
Unfortunately, I also had some big problems reading Mussolini’s Island and didn’t particularly enjoy the story. Mainly, the plot was very, very slow. There is a large mystery element (what happened to Francesco’s father; who turned the arrusi’s names over; and who killed Rapetti) but these questions aren’t answered until near the end. The rest of the book mainly consists of Francesco either reminiscing about the past or fawning over Emilio. Overall, it was kind of boring. If it weren’t for the general intrigue and interesting historical elements, I wouldn’t have made it all the way through.
As it was, I did reach the end and I did enjoy the book to some extent. What it really lacked was a stronger level of romance and excitement. Sadly, a well-written but decidedly average book.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Bookbridgr in exchange for an honest review.
Elena, a young local girl, is drawn to Francesco but can’t understand why he and the other men have been made prisoners on her island. When she finds out the truth about the prisoners, she is left with a decision that could have terrible consequences.
There are a lot of layers to this book. I found the historical aspects very interesting, and I really enjoyed the inclusion of some Italian terms (confino, arrusi, etc). Homosexuality in Italy during the 1940s isn’t an area I’ve read about before and I was eager to learn more. Although the story is fictional, a large amount of research obviously went into writing this book and I have a lot of respect for the author for that.
Unfortunately, I also had some big problems reading Mussolini’s Island and didn’t particularly enjoy the story. Mainly, the plot was very, very slow. There is a large mystery element (what happened to Francesco’s father; who turned the arrusi’s names over; and who killed Rapetti) but these questions aren’t answered until near the end. The rest of the book mainly consists of Francesco either reminiscing about the past or fawning over Emilio. Overall, it was kind of boring. If it weren’t for the general intrigue and interesting historical elements, I wouldn’t have made it all the way through.
As it was, I did reach the end and I did enjoy the book to some extent. What it really lacked was a stronger level of romance and excitement. Sadly, a well-written but decidedly average book.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Bookbridgr in exchange for an honest review.
February 27, 2017
Mussolini's Island tells the story of a little known part of Italy's history in the late 1930's when a number of gay men from Catania in Sciliy were rounded up and sent to an internment camp on the island of San Domino. They were seen to be a dangerous contagion - too feminised to fight and kill, weak with a tendency to betray. In the novel, it is feared that they could cause another Caporetto - Italy's worst defeat in WWI, where many troops simply ran away (understandably, as they knew their masks would only protect them for a maximum of two hours against the gas attacks that were launched against them). However, contrary to these opinions, in their ranks hides a murderer (as well as an informant) and the novel alternates between the present at the camp and the time just prior to the men being taken, slowly revealing the background to the arrests. The story centres on Francesco, who has his more than one reason for remaining in the shadows and Elena, a young woman who feels every bit as trapped by life on the island as the prisoners.
Strangely there is no real feeling of fear or threat through the narrative, but it seems that this was probably the case - see this report from the BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22.... Although conditions were far from comfortable, the men could actually live openly as themselves for the first time ever, and as Italy was heading for conflict with WWII just around the corner, for some it must have felt like a brief escape from the grim realities of their lives.
It's an enjoyable and informative read and does an excellent job of bringing history to life sensitively without becoming overly sentimental. There were a couple of places where the plot seemed slightly unbelievable, but overall it is an accomplished debut.
I received a copy for review from the publisher.
Strangely there is no real feeling of fear or threat through the narrative, but it seems that this was probably the case - see this report from the BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22.... Although conditions were far from comfortable, the men could actually live openly as themselves for the first time ever, and as Italy was heading for conflict with WWII just around the corner, for some it must have felt like a brief escape from the grim realities of their lives.
It's an enjoyable and informative read and does an excellent job of bringing history to life sensitively without becoming overly sentimental. There were a couple of places where the plot seemed slightly unbelievable, but overall it is an accomplished debut.
I received a copy for review from the publisher.
August 16, 2017
I was surprised by Mussolini's Island. I'm not sure what I was expecting but found it to be a real glimpse into a period of history that I knew little about- Italy during the rise of Fascism under Mussolini. Shifts in time were dealt with seamlessly and I soon found myself immersed in Francesco's plight and the complicated web of secrets and lies he had been forced to weave. Little by little, you learn more about his parents and his boyhood but I still wasn't ready for the final reveal.
Catania Cathedral c. Books, Life & Everything
Based on true events in Italy in 1938-9 when homosexuality was regarded as a 'contagion' by Mussolini's fascist regime, we follow the story of Francesco who is imprisoned on the island of San Domino along with the other 'arrusi' who have lived in the shadows of Catania by night. His sexuality has not been his only secret. He came to Catania with his mother from Naples because of the actions of his father. Unable to acknowledge who he really is, he has tried to eradicate all details about his father.
Roman Amphitheatre in Catania c. Books, Life & Everything
Fear and intimidation underlies life in Catania and San Domino, with War looming in Europe. It extends to the inhabitants of San Domino and its effect is seen in the behaviour of Elena's father. Treachery, loyalty, hope and despair sit side by side throughout. Despite its horrific treatment of the 'arrusi', Francesco tries to uphold his father's advice to never give up- 'non mollare'. It is an impressive debut novel.
In short: a book to be enjoyed on many levels - I loved it.
Thanks to the publisher for the book
Catania Cathedral c. Books, Life & Everything
Based on true events in Italy in 1938-9 when homosexuality was regarded as a 'contagion' by Mussolini's fascist regime, we follow the story of Francesco who is imprisoned on the island of San Domino along with the other 'arrusi' who have lived in the shadows of Catania by night. His sexuality has not been his only secret. He came to Catania with his mother from Naples because of the actions of his father. Unable to acknowledge who he really is, he has tried to eradicate all details about his father.
Roman Amphitheatre in Catania c. Books, Life & Everything
Fear and intimidation underlies life in Catania and San Domino, with War looming in Europe. It extends to the inhabitants of San Domino and its effect is seen in the behaviour of Elena's father. Treachery, loyalty, hope and despair sit side by side throughout. Despite its horrific treatment of the 'arrusi', Francesco tries to uphold his father's advice to never give up- 'non mollare'. It is an impressive debut novel.
In short: a book to be enjoyed on many levels - I loved it.
Thanks to the publisher for the book
September 7, 2017
I knew nothing about this book but was beguiled by the title, and then saw Patrick Gale's recommendation. And what a lovely, accomplished novel it is. An event I didn't know anything about but not a surprising one. I liked the awful Fascist directives that start each chapter. It manages to evoke period and place well without getting caught in cod-Italian, and knowing Catania a little gave it another layer for me. Although it's about the confinement of gay men on an Adriatic island it isn't a 'gay book' as such, and I'm still wondering about that - I feel sure that most 20 year olds are more sex-focussed than appears here but that isn't the story, I suppose. The plot is quite teasing, giving little glimpses of backstory that keep you reading on, and things don't go where you think they will. My only niggle is editorial - the use of the word 'curved' - it crops up all the time, from curved writing, curved cheeks, curved walls. Made me laugh every time I read it. Looking forward to her next novel.
March 5, 2017
I loved Mussolini's Island. Beautifully written prose that is easy to follow while discovering a little known piece of Italian history. It is a worthy 5* book.
It is 1938 and Mussolini rules Italy where his fascist party view homosexuality as unmanly. Orders are given to round up a group of known gays, known as feminella, in Catania, Sicily, and intern them on San Domino, a small island off the coast. Francesco, the main character, and his mother have a secret they must keep from the regime while hs relationship with his lover, Emilio, is a main thread of the novel.
Mussolini's Island is historical fiction at its best with well drawn and empathetic characters whose lives the readers want to be invested in. Sarah Day's moving literary debut is one I recommend to all readers and is already one of my books of 2017. Many thanks to Netgalley and Tinder for the opportunity to read and review it.
It is 1938 and Mussolini rules Italy where his fascist party view homosexuality as unmanly. Orders are given to round up a group of known gays, known as feminella, in Catania, Sicily, and intern them on San Domino, a small island off the coast. Francesco, the main character, and his mother have a secret they must keep from the regime while hs relationship with his lover, Emilio, is a main thread of the novel.
Mussolini's Island is historical fiction at its best with well drawn and empathetic characters whose lives the readers want to be invested in. Sarah Day's moving literary debut is one I recommend to all readers and is already one of my books of 2017. Many thanks to Netgalley and Tinder for the opportunity to read and review it.
July 4, 2022
I was really disappointed with this book - a very interesting bit of history I had thought (which i didnt know about - Mussolini's rounding up and imprisoning of gay and bisexual men before WW2 on an island to the South East of Italy).
However, I found it deadly dull - to me the characters were confusing and not well-defined one from the other; the issue with Emilio and his 'secret past' quickly became something I really couldnt be bothered to find out. The backwards and forwards telling of the story really didnt work to illuminate, more just to confuse.
And I was not really able to work out why either the young girl Elena or Francesco's father's disappearance were erssential to the plot.
It was a classic case of 'tell not show' and suffered for that. It felt it was like a history essay with some names included.
Sorry for this poor review - having just had Covid might have had something to do with my lack of interest .... but i very rarely dislike something this much!
However, I found it deadly dull - to me the characters were confusing and not well-defined one from the other; the issue with Emilio and his 'secret past' quickly became something I really couldnt be bothered to find out. The backwards and forwards telling of the story really didnt work to illuminate, more just to confuse.
And I was not really able to work out why either the young girl Elena or Francesco's father's disappearance were erssential to the plot.
It was a classic case of 'tell not show' and suffered for that. It felt it was like a history essay with some names included.
Sorry for this poor review - having just had Covid might have had something to do with my lack of interest .... but i very rarely dislike something this much!
August 16, 2017
A superb debut novel that tells the story of a young gay man caught up in the homophobic environment of late 1930s Fascist Italy, where homosexuals were demonised and even imprisoned. The gripping story unfolds piece by piece as we learn more of Francesco's own history and the past actions and motivations of all the men incarcerated on the remote island. The story is deeply moving without becoming over-sentimental and the writing assured – the deft weaving of present and past in gradually revealing Francesco’s story is exceptional for a first-time novelist. There are also interesting themes relevant to today’s world to do with charismatic leaders and how they can shape society through fear, and how much we as citizens would be willing to tolerate.
August 25, 2017
This is the story of a group of gay boys & men, living on the outside of society in Sicily just prior to WW2 and their deportation to a remote island. It's based around a true incident although the characters are fictional. Told in two time frames we learn about life before the island and life on the island in alternating chapters. I felt the book started well and I had empathy for the characters as we saw the way society viewed them them for being different to the accepted norm. It is interesting to see this taking place in Italy with the hindsight of knowing how LGBT were treated later by the Nazis during the war. The pace of the story slowed in the middle however, and I had to push myself to keep going. I'm glad I finished it and rate it a solid 3.5 stars.
August 24, 2017
A really great read. I found the characters very well written. I've seen reviews that mention that there we too many, but of course with this subject there were a lot of men involved. All of the characters, even those with the smallest of roles, added to the novel and were easy to like/dislike. They were surprising and real and I enjoyed reading about them.
There wasn't a great deal of tension but I'm not sure whether Sarah Day intended there to be. It was perfect as it was and the skips in time were done well with no confusion. I loved the surprises and how well they were revealed throughout.
A very good story, one I'd recommend.
There wasn't a great deal of tension but I'm not sure whether Sarah Day intended there to be. It was perfect as it was and the skips in time were done well with no confusion. I loved the surprises and how well they were revealed throughout.
A very good story, one I'd recommend.
February 11, 2020
This really isn't something I normally read, I think I've said that before. The book follows Francesco a gay man in Catania in the 1930s and his confinement on an island called San Domino. The book moves between Francesco as a child in Naples, the time before he is arrested and his confinement on the island. The book can be read as a thriller, who killed Rapetti, what will happen to the men confined to the island. With some of the book looking at a young woman on the island, Elena, you can read it as a story of how people try to "escape" a fascist regime, or just the way people, men and women are expected to live by society.
Very worth reading.
Very worth reading.
July 3, 2025
I was very disappointed in this book. I felt like it had a lot of potential but was very predictable and underwhelming. The entire book felt like a slow buildup to a major event or revelation. Characters, timelines, memories and breaking points kept slowly growing and building and I kept wondering when will it all come together? I feel as if all the buildup led to nothing. There were so many different plots happening at once, a lot of which were just left hanging, introduced for no reason, or didn’t tie everything together. I was left with more questions than understanding or contentment when I finished this book.
December 27, 2020
Not only was the writing in this book good, but it is a little-known, yet important, story that needed to be told. I had guessed by reading the inside book flap that it was about internment, but what I did not realize was the specific group of people who were targeted here. I appreciated the author's treatment of the prisoners with dignity and compassion, something the prisoners could not get from the people who lived around them. More importantly, this book is timely and relevant in the discourse of current events, despite being a page from history.
July 20, 2024
A surprising historical tale based on a true story illuminating the experience of gay men in Italy during their facist regime. Heartwarming and heart wrenching it puts Into perspective the privilege I have and what I have to be grateful for. It also brings to mind the lives that still today are impacted by the political systems they were born into and can’t escape. This is a great book but my oh my did it take an emotional toll.
November 3, 2017
The plot for this book sounded interesting and different. I did enjoy the book but found it poorly constructed in places. Ideas would be introduced and then forgotten or not referred to again. I also felt some characters quite thinly drawn. I read it to the end as wanted to know the outcome but I did find this brilliant idea a bit lacking in substance.
April 23, 2018
You’d like to think that in a book this long, you might understand the character’s motivations more. In truth, if you removed all the rhetorical questions and italicised paragraphs recalling earlier parts of the text, it would be a third shorter anyway. The remaining two-thirds take what should be a fascinating story and make it dry, repetitive and inconsistent.
February 28, 2018
A great story of actual events just prior to World War 2. The imprisonment of 45 men on a tiny island in Italy, just because they were gay. A shocking period in Italy's modern history, and the lengths these men went to to stay alive and keep their sanity. Well done to Sarah Day.
December 30, 2018
and 1/2 1 The rise of right wing populist parties makes this book a reminder of what can transpire...the State “ ..the dark uniforms of the cabinieri … there was nowhere the regime could not reach”. It was interesting if not sad read.
March 14, 2017
It took me a while to get into this book as it is not something I normally read. But as soon as I was at the half way point I was addicted and could not put it down.
February 16, 2019
It feels like going in circles: again and again you returns to starting point.
August 23, 2019
As I was reading this, I kept waiting for it to draw me in and then, finally, I reached the end.
December 28, 2023
Why is this book not popular!!? Yes could use a bit of work but so poignant and i feel like an underrepresented part of history! Also now I wanna go to San Morino… gaycation!!
February 27, 2018
Based on historical fact, this unusually situated novel describes the fates of a small group of men incarcerated on a small barren island off the coast of Sicily in 1939/40. These young men, all homosexuals, have been rounded up by the fascists and exiled for five years on the bleak San Domino. All except for Francesco, whose sentence is only for two years: why? What has he done to deserve a lesser sentence? His parents are anti-fascists, and Francesco lives with his mother in a small town keeping a low profile. His father, an academic is assumed to have been eliminated. The book explores themes of love, loss, desire and betrayal, the stock ingredients of your standard romance. This book is the antithesis of that genre. Cooped up together, suspicions bloom, emotions heighten, and the men regularly turn on one another. For a debut, Day has written a novel of impressive assurance.
February 15, 2017
I was intrigued by this novel.
It is written in an engaging style and the fictional characters are steadily developed and created.
For me, this is a book which me reaching for the atlas and the history sections on the Internet. I became fascinated by an aspect of fascism in the lead up to the Second World War about which I was barely aware.
If you enjoy historical fiction which has a close grip on real events, you will probably enjoy this book.
I give thanks to Netgalley and Tinder Press for a copy in exchange for this review.
It is written in an engaging style and the fictional characters are steadily developed and created.
For me, this is a book which me reaching for the atlas and the history sections on the Internet. I became fascinated by an aspect of fascism in the lead up to the Second World War about which I was barely aware.
If you enjoy historical fiction which has a close grip on real events, you will probably enjoy this book.
I give thanks to Netgalley and Tinder Press for a copy in exchange for this review.
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