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From These Broken Streets
Roland Merullo, bestselling author of Once Night Falls, returns with a galvanizing historical novel of Nazi-occupied Naples and the rage and resistance of a people under siege.
Italy, 1943. The Nazi occupation has cemented its grip on the devastated city of Naples.
Giuseppe DiPietra, a curator in the National Archives, has a subversive plan to aid the Allies. If he’s discovered, forced labor or swift execution. Lucia Pastone, secretary for the Italian Fascist government, is risking her own life in secret defiance of orders. And Lucia’s father, Aldo, is a black marketeer who draws Giuseppe and Lucia into the underworld—for their protection and to help plant the seeds of resistance. Their fates are soon intertwined with those of Aldo’s devoted lover and a boy of the streets who’ll do anything to live another day. And all of Naples is about to join forces to overcome impossible odds and repel the Nazi occupiers.
Inspired by a true historic uprising, From These Broken Streets is a richly layered novel of the extraordinary daring of ordinary people whose bonds of love, family, and unfaltering courage could not be broken.
Italy, 1943. The Nazi occupation has cemented its grip on the devastated city of Naples.
Giuseppe DiPietra, a curator in the National Archives, has a subversive plan to aid the Allies. If he’s discovered, forced labor or swift execution. Lucia Pastone, secretary for the Italian Fascist government, is risking her own life in secret defiance of orders. And Lucia’s father, Aldo, is a black marketeer who draws Giuseppe and Lucia into the underworld—for their protection and to help plant the seeds of resistance. Their fates are soon intertwined with those of Aldo’s devoted lover and a boy of the streets who’ll do anything to live another day. And all of Naples is about to join forces to overcome impossible odds and repel the Nazi occupiers.
Inspired by a true historic uprising, From These Broken Streets is a richly layered novel of the extraordinary daring of ordinary people whose bonds of love, family, and unfaltering courage could not be broken.
364 pages, Paperback
First published November 3, 2020
1455 people are currently reading
3468 people want to read
About the author
Roland Merullo
39 books684 followersROLAND MERULLO is an awarding-winning author of 24 books including 17 works of fiction: Breakfast with Buddha, a nominee for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, now in its 20th printing; The Talk-Funny Girl, a 2012 ALEX Award Winner and named a "Must Read" by the Massachusetts Library Association and the Massachusetts Center for the Book; Vatican Waltz named one of the Best Books of 2013 by Publishers Weekly; Lunch with Buddha selected as one of the Best Books of 2013 by Kirkus Reviews; Revere Beach Boulevard named one of the "Top 100 Essential Books of New England" by the Boston Globe; A Little Love Story chosen as one of "Ten Wonderful Romance Novels" by Good Housekeeping, Revere Beach Elegy winner of the Massachusetts Book Award for nonfiction, and Once Night Falls, selected as a "First Read" by Amazon Editors.
A former writer in residence at North Shore Community College and Miami Dade Colleges, and professor of Creative Writing at Bennington, Amherst and Lesley Colleges, Merullo has been a guest speaker at many literary events and venues and a faculty member at MFA programs and several writers’ conferences. His essays have appeared in numerous publications including the New York Times, Outside Magazine, Yankee Magazine, Newsweek, the Boston Globe, the Philadelphia Inquirer, Boston Magazine, Reader's Digest, Good Housekeeping, and the Chronicle of Higher Education. Merullo's books have been translated into Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, German, Chinese, Turkish, Bulgarian, Croatian, Slovenian, and Czech.
A former writer in residence at North Shore Community College and Miami Dade Colleges, and professor of Creative Writing at Bennington, Amherst and Lesley Colleges, Merullo has been a guest speaker at many literary events and venues and a faculty member at MFA programs and several writers’ conferences. His essays have appeared in numerous publications including the New York Times, Outside Magazine, Yankee Magazine, Newsweek, the Boston Globe, the Philadelphia Inquirer, Boston Magazine, Reader's Digest, Good Housekeeping, and the Chronicle of Higher Education. Merullo's books have been translated into Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, German, Chinese, Turkish, Bulgarian, Croatian, Slovenian, and Czech.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 196 reviews
November 30, 2022
While most wartime novels focus on other parts of Europe, Roland Murullo’s novel, "From These Broken Streets" places Naples, Italy under the microscope. Literally. Set in 1943, the Neapolitans, having already suffered heavily under Allied bombing raids following Italy’s dictator, Benito Mussolini siding with the Nazis, now had to contend with the German army occupation of this already devastated city. Following the armistice of 8 September, episodes of intolerance and armed resistance against the Germans intensified. Two days later, Colonel Walter Schöll assumed command, declared a curfew and state of siege and ordered the execution of anyone responsible for hostile actions against the German troops. Against this background, the author has set his novel. Giuseppe DiPietra, a curator in the National Archives, has a plan to aid the Allies, who are heading north following their landing in Sicily. Lucia Pastone is a secretary for the Italian Fascist government and she and Giuseppe, spurred on by Lucia’s father, Aldo, a black marketeer, agree to risk their lives for the resistance. Very soon, the lives of the characters are intertwined with that of Armando, a street urchin who wants his life – as miserable as it was on the rough streets – back to normal. Against impossible odds and hopelessly outnumbered by 20,000 German troops, the motley crew of Neapolitan misfits enter the fight of their lives.
It is clear that Roland Murullo has undertaken extensive research for "From These Broken Streets". He has meticulously woven real characters – such as Colonel Walter Schöll – in with the fictitious ones to create this richly layered story of extraordinary courage by ordinary people who just wanted to get their lives back. The novel is well written with descriptions so detailed it is easy to picture the scenes unfolding as each page is turned. The story is a little slow in the beginning but the pace soon picks up and culminates in an explosive ending. It is both educational and dramatic with likeable characters – even those who, in normal times, live outside the law. "From These Broken Streets" is highly recommended for those interested in slightly different war stories.
It is clear that Roland Murullo has undertaken extensive research for "From These Broken Streets". He has meticulously woven real characters – such as Colonel Walter Schöll – in with the fictitious ones to create this richly layered story of extraordinary courage by ordinary people who just wanted to get their lives back. The novel is well written with descriptions so detailed it is easy to picture the scenes unfolding as each page is turned. The story is a little slow in the beginning but the pace soon picks up and culminates in an explosive ending. It is both educational and dramatic with likeable characters – even those who, in normal times, live outside the law. "From These Broken Streets" is highly recommended for those interested in slightly different war stories.
March 26, 2022
From These Broken Streets is a historical fiction story set in Naples over four days and during the Second World War in 1943. The allies are getting closer, the Germans want to round up as many Jewish people as they can and all Italian men in the city between the ages of eighteen to thirty three are to be sent to work in Germany.
Giuseppe DiPietra is a curator at the National Archives, he has been creating his own map of the area and where he thinks the Germans are storing ammunition. After his parents are murdered by the Nazi’s Giuseppe is determined to avenge their deaths, he doesn’t want to leave his girlfriend Lucia Pastone and be sent to Germany. Lucia’s father Aldo is involved with the mob and in the final four days of occupation, his lover Rita Rossamadre, Lucia, Giuseppe and Armando a boy who lives on the streets join the fight for Naples.
Colonel Walter Scholl has been transferred to war damaged Naples to impose the new restrictions, a selfish and entitled man who couldn’t comprehend the people would fight back, have their own strategies and outsmart him and his troops.
I received a copy of From These Broken Streets by Roland Merullo from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Inspired by true events and thoroughly researched by the author, the story is about war, courage, sacrifice, bravery, overcoming impossible odds and never giving up. I really liked the interaction between the characters of Lucia, Giuseppe and Aldo and Rita was so caring and brave and four stars from me.
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Giuseppe DiPietra is a curator at the National Archives, he has been creating his own map of the area and where he thinks the Germans are storing ammunition. After his parents are murdered by the Nazi’s Giuseppe is determined to avenge their deaths, he doesn’t want to leave his girlfriend Lucia Pastone and be sent to Germany. Lucia’s father Aldo is involved with the mob and in the final four days of occupation, his lover Rita Rossamadre, Lucia, Giuseppe and Armando a boy who lives on the streets join the fight for Naples.
Colonel Walter Scholl has been transferred to war damaged Naples to impose the new restrictions, a selfish and entitled man who couldn’t comprehend the people would fight back, have their own strategies and outsmart him and his troops.
I received a copy of From These Broken Streets by Roland Merullo from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Inspired by true events and thoroughly researched by the author, the story is about war, courage, sacrifice, bravery, overcoming impossible odds and never giving up. I really liked the interaction between the characters of Lucia, Giuseppe and Aldo and Rita was so caring and brave and four stars from me.
https://karrenreadsbooks.blogspot.com/
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November 20, 2020
📚 Hello Book Friends! FROM THESE BROKEN STREETS by Roland Merullo was an intense, edge-of-your-seat historical account of the Four Days of Naples which took place in 1943. It is a story of courage, bravery, and victory. It recounts how the people of Naples fought and took their city back from the Nazis. The characters are vivid and extraordinary. The author does not hide the ugliness of the war but also depicts the courage of the Neapolitans in a true and splendid rawness. If you love WWII books based on true events, this one is for you. I recommend it wholeheartedly.
🙋🏼♀️ Thank you, AMAZON PUBLISHING for sending me a finished copy for review. FROM THESE BROKEN STREETS by Roland Merullo is available at your favourite bookstore.
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January 6, 2021
This novel didn’t really grab me. It’s about the end of the German occupation of Naples and the fight back by the locals so the subject matter is interesting. The writing was good but the story line for me wasn’t totally compelling. Given that it is published by Lake Union, an Amazon company, I thought the editing could have been better.
February 10, 2025
This historical fiction skillfully portrays The Four Days of Naples in September of 1943 wherein the Neapolitans rose up against the Nazi’s. My favorite narrator, the late Angelo De Loreto, read the book and really brought it to life. The author’s characters are robust and wonderful. I recommend listening to this edition of the book.
October 10, 2020
Roland Merullo's From These Broken Streets offers a novelization of an interesting episode during WWII. After the execution of Mussolini, the figurehead king from those years negotiated the surrender of Italy to the allies. The Germans occupied much of Italy at the time, so this move to the other side wasn't simple. Germany was determined to hold Italy and increased the pace of its extradition of Jews to death camps and of healthy men to labor camps—and also planned to destroy cities as it was forced to leave them. From These Broken Streets is set in Naples, one of those occupied cities, and recounts Italian resistance to the Germans, which came together piecemeal through the efforts of individuals with some coordination from a local mafia boss.
The novel starts a bit slowly, but the characters are well drawn, so as one gets to know them the narrative becomes increasingly engaging. I move steadily through the first two-thirds of From These Broken Streets, then stayed up late to finish the last third in a single sitting. The central characters have complicated relationships with one another, and almost all wrestle constantly with self-doubt, so watching them find the courage to act as they did was a very satisfying experience. The fact that the author leaves loose ends at the novel's close is one of the book's strengths. Readers are left having to ponder the probable end of story elements that remain unresolved—and with the war not yet over and years of recovery to follow, the "story" most certainly wasn't finished after the German exit from Naples.
Of course, this is fiction, not history, so I appreciated Merullo's provision a thoughtful, thorough afterward in which he describes his research into Neapolitan resistance and explains the ways he's compressed the timeline to present events in fiction. This is a title that will appeal to a wide range of readers—WWII enthusiasts, readers of character-driven novels, readers of action novels, and readers of historical fiction. If you know anyone who falls into one of these categories, this book would make a wonderful birthday or holiday gift.
I received an electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley for review purposes. The opinions are my own.
The novel starts a bit slowly, but the characters are well drawn, so as one gets to know them the narrative becomes increasingly engaging. I move steadily through the first two-thirds of From These Broken Streets, then stayed up late to finish the last third in a single sitting. The central characters have complicated relationships with one another, and almost all wrestle constantly with self-doubt, so watching them find the courage to act as they did was a very satisfying experience. The fact that the author leaves loose ends at the novel's close is one of the book's strengths. Readers are left having to ponder the probable end of story elements that remain unresolved—and with the war not yet over and years of recovery to follow, the "story" most certainly wasn't finished after the German exit from Naples.
Of course, this is fiction, not history, so I appreciated Merullo's provision a thoughtful, thorough afterward in which he describes his research into Neapolitan resistance and explains the ways he's compressed the timeline to present events in fiction. This is a title that will appeal to a wide range of readers—WWII enthusiasts, readers of character-driven novels, readers of action novels, and readers of historical fiction. If you know anyone who falls into one of these categories, this book would make a wonderful birthday or holiday gift.
I received an electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley for review purposes. The opinions are my own.
November 12, 2020
Set in World War II Naples, an archivist (Giuseppe) comes up with a plan to aid the Allies. He and Lucia, a secretary, go underground with the aid of of her father, risking much, to help overthrown Fascist and Nazi regimes. Unfortunately the novel started far too slowly and failed to draw me until the last 50 to 75 pages. I'd hoped for a more engaging read set in a the Italian theater of the war about which I knew little.
February 26, 2021
This author is definitely not for me. It’s the second book Ive read by the author and I should have known after the first to not try again. The summary looked interesting - I love historical fiction, especially WWII and thought I would give this a try. First of all, I was into the book 150 pages, and truly NOTHING happened. It was just a bunch of back story and the characters going about their business in occupied Naples. I really tried to get into it, but when I started to not care about what happens to the characters, I knew it was time for me to pack it in. I didn’t feel any connection to any of them, and it read more like a chronically of several people than a story.
May 3, 2023
This vivid story expertly entwines a gruelling historical event with fictional characters who are entirely credible. I was completely swept back in time to the streets of Naples witnessing the passionate and stoic determination of the people to survive. Totally immersive reading!
November 3, 2020
A fictional account of the Four Days of Naples, From These Broken Streets intertwines the stories of five (fictional) Neapolitan citizens who each played a significant role in the success of the uprising.
Giuseppe DiPietra is a government archivist, intellectual but strong, and motivated by the recent horrific murder of his parents by the Nazi occupiers. Facing imminent risk of being picked up and sent to the work camps, Giuseppe puts the final touches on a map he has been working on for some time --a map that details where the Germans are storing weapons within the city. Giuseppe knows the Allies are near and hopes his map can aid them. As his girlfriend urges him to go into hiding to avoid being sent away, Giuseppe realizes with a fierceness that he wants to fight back against the Nazi occupiers, and that he cannot allow his parents' murder to go unavenged.
With a robust cast of characters ranging from a young boy living on the streets to a woman who trades sex for money and wishes only to have a child of her own to a cold and distant father sucked into mafia life long ago, Giuseppe and his girlfriend Lucia (herself a government employee) find themselves in good company as soon as they find themselves at the center of the uprising.
Truth be told, the wealth of characters made the first half of this book difficult for me to follow. It was very hard to track who was who. For me, a further complication was the extensive work that Merullo has done to situate his characters geographically within the city. I got lost in a maze of turn-by-turn directions, but suspect that if I had any familiarity with Naples at all, I would feel this aspect expertly accomplished. For these reasons, the first half felt like a real slog to me. After that, the stories come together more and the reader gets a better sense of how the characters play into the storyline. The ending is very action-packed, but I just found that I hadn't really started caring about the characters until just before that point, so I wasn't all that invested.
It was a decent book overall, but not a favorite. Appreciation to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC.
Giuseppe DiPietra is a government archivist, intellectual but strong, and motivated by the recent horrific murder of his parents by the Nazi occupiers. Facing imminent risk of being picked up and sent to the work camps, Giuseppe puts the final touches on a map he has been working on for some time --a map that details where the Germans are storing weapons within the city. Giuseppe knows the Allies are near and hopes his map can aid them. As his girlfriend urges him to go into hiding to avoid being sent away, Giuseppe realizes with a fierceness that he wants to fight back against the Nazi occupiers, and that he cannot allow his parents' murder to go unavenged.
With a robust cast of characters ranging from a young boy living on the streets to a woman who trades sex for money and wishes only to have a child of her own to a cold and distant father sucked into mafia life long ago, Giuseppe and his girlfriend Lucia (herself a government employee) find themselves in good company as soon as they find themselves at the center of the uprising.
Truth be told, the wealth of characters made the first half of this book difficult for me to follow. It was very hard to track who was who. For me, a further complication was the extensive work that Merullo has done to situate his characters geographically within the city. I got lost in a maze of turn-by-turn directions, but suspect that if I had any familiarity with Naples at all, I would feel this aspect expertly accomplished. For these reasons, the first half felt like a real slog to me. After that, the stories come together more and the reader gets a better sense of how the characters play into the storyline. The ending is very action-packed, but I just found that I hadn't really started caring about the characters until just before that point, so I wasn't all that invested.
It was a decent book overall, but not a favorite. Appreciation to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC.
February 5, 2021
With the Allies nearing Naples in Sept. 1943, the Nazi commander occupying the city plans to destroy the historic city and its inhabitants before moving north. Despite hunger, poverty, limited armament, and even organization, Neapolitans, showing extraordinary courage, rose up over a period of four days and disrupted Nazi plans to deport Neapolitan men and all Jews en masse and blow up the city. This is the situation author Merullo describes so well through the individual lives he depicts. The author's note at the end on how he grew to love Naples was especially meaningful to me because after having lived in Naples for almost five years, it too holds a special place in my heart.
November 4, 2020
Set in Naples, this piece of historical fiction centres on the ‘Four Days of Naples’, which was a four day uprising of Naples against the Nazi occupancy, which I must admit I hadn’t heard of prior to reading this novel. This was what intrigued me to this novel, and I was glad to read more about it, even in a fictional setting.
The key themes of the novel are love, friendship, loyalty, duty, kindness and bravery. I will add here the trigger warnings of violence, and sexual assault, including that of children.
The novel is impactful from the beginning, with Merullo’s writing through creating a dramatic, atmospheric and descriptive setting.
I was, however, confused from the first few chapters in the novel with the number of characters that Merullo featured, and the multiple perspectives the novel is written from. This is magnified by the short chapters, covering a relatively short period of time, and therefore each chapter being more a thought process for the character than an event or happening, giving very little time for the reader to grasp onto something tangible.
I also felt that whilst there was a lot that happened over the four days, there were elements that were stretched out for a few too many pages because of the multiple perspectives over the same period, which resulted in the events losing their momentum and impact.
Overall, I thought the plot was engaging, and a wonderful insight into a lesser told story of World War II, but I just didn’t feel sufficiently invested in the novel as it lost its momentum through too much confusion.
I would like to thank Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The key themes of the novel are love, friendship, loyalty, duty, kindness and bravery. I will add here the trigger warnings of violence, and sexual assault, including that of children.
The novel is impactful from the beginning, with Merullo’s writing through creating a dramatic, atmospheric and descriptive setting.
I was, however, confused from the first few chapters in the novel with the number of characters that Merullo featured, and the multiple perspectives the novel is written from. This is magnified by the short chapters, covering a relatively short period of time, and therefore each chapter being more a thought process for the character than an event or happening, giving very little time for the reader to grasp onto something tangible.
I also felt that whilst there was a lot that happened over the four days, there were elements that were stretched out for a few too many pages because of the multiple perspectives over the same period, which resulted in the events losing their momentum and impact.
Overall, I thought the plot was engaging, and a wonderful insight into a lesser told story of World War II, but I just didn’t feel sufficiently invested in the novel as it lost its momentum through too much confusion.
I would like to thank Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 1, 2020
I appreciated the depth of character given to all the main players in this historical fiction book about the WWII uprising in Naples, Italy. Though much happens, the timeline of the book is condensed to a few days and so relationship development happens on a short timeline– but it seems fitting that the pressures of war and fragile nature of life brought to the forefront would cause this. Overall I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to any fans of the genre.
August 1, 2021
Interesting wartime story
This book starts by introducing us to diverse characters all living under the oppressive rule of Germany in Naples during 1943. The characters are well developed and drive this story which becomes more tense and action packed. The book develops a strong sense of how these people are driven to behave and act in ways they would not normally do and explores their fear, love, compassion, faith, selflessness, suffering. Some are coerced into acts of bravery, some glory in it, others gradually become drawn into it and some youngsters are reckless.
Based on facts, the story is very readable and I enjoyed learning about an historical event I knew little of previously.
This book starts by introducing us to diverse characters all living under the oppressive rule of Germany in Naples during 1943. The characters are well developed and drive this story which becomes more tense and action packed. The book develops a strong sense of how these people are driven to behave and act in ways they would not normally do and explores their fear, love, compassion, faith, selflessness, suffering. Some are coerced into acts of bravery, some glory in it, others gradually become drawn into it and some youngsters are reckless.
Based on facts, the story is very readable and I enjoyed learning about an historical event I knew little of previously.
April 19, 2022
My Musings
I enjoyed this intriguing novel! Plenty of emotion and action throughout. It's amazing what a small group of like minded individuals can accomplish. I am so glad I found this one in Kindle Unlimited with the audio. While at times the narrator sounded unemotional, he didn't take away from my enjoyment. Happy reading and listening!
I enjoyed this intriguing novel! Plenty of emotion and action throughout. It's amazing what a small group of like minded individuals can accomplish. I am so glad I found this one in Kindle Unlimited with the audio. While at times the narrator sounded unemotional, he didn't take away from my enjoyment. Happy reading and listening!
January 18, 2021
A bit choppy with too many POVs which lended to not the best character development. However, any story (especially true ones) that fight against the Nazi and win is a good one!
December 9, 2020
was unaware of these 4 days in Naples (neither was hubby who is a history buff)....another Holocaust
nightmare.
nightmare.
July 9, 2021
Learned a lot about the occupation and destruction of the Germans in Naples after the fall of the fascist regime led by Mussolini. The story weaves together the courageous acts of the main characters and their roles in taking back their city.
Three stars only because it didn’t really draw me in until the end.
Three stars only because it didn’t really draw me in until the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2023
A wonderful account giving human interest to a terrible time in Europe. I was gripped as the story unfolded and built up to its conclusion. Thoroughly enjoyable read.
October 28, 2020
I had the privilege of receiving an advance copy of From These Broken Streets. Here’s what I think of it.
This is one of Merullo's best books, a thriller replete with rich characters and stunning action firmly grounded in real history. It seems bound to be a movie. When I think of it, in fact, I have to remind myself that it is something I have read and not something I have watched on the screen. It is that vivid as a book.
Merullo has done his research. Not only is his sense of history strong here, he knows the place, the city of Naples, as though he'd grown up there. Within the matrix of the great old city live half a dozen unforgettable characters, ranging from a couple of saintly and very charming women to the pride of the Nazis, a colonel who is nearly matched in his inhumanity by an Italian Capo. Through these fully formed, fully human characters Merullo is able to convey events ant attitudes that, historically, involved millions.
In writing about ruthless Capos and Nazis in general, it is difficult not to fall into melodrama, placing white hats on all the good guys and black hats upon the villains. But Merullo is not melodramatic. Although these two characters are well beyond forgiveness, the author creates others who are flawed, some deeply so, and yet not without redeeming traits or, at the last, honest causalities for being what they have become.
As usual, the writing is excellent, and the plotting deft. Merullo can juggle five storylines at a time without breaking a sweat and without losing his reader or his own balance. It a virtuoso performance in which he is able to do something few writers have done, and that is to convey a sense of simultaneity. By using both places and events, where characters are and what they are doing at certain given moments, even though they are far apart spatially and, for that matter, completely unaware of each other. One character might be sitting on a curb, another riding in a truck but a third event, an explosion, for instance, specifies the time at which they are doing these things. Or it might be a place, a set of stairs, a building. One figure might be inside the building and the reading knows this, but another character, passing it at the same moment may not. This is the sort of thing Joyce does with such finesse in Ulysses. This is the kind of technique only masters of their craft can wield.
The plot is so perfectly tense that a reader will find herself thinking of it when she is not reading it and intent to get back to the book to find out what is going to happen next. The characters attract or repel, but in both cases, we come to care, very much, what happens to them. I am already trying to imagine just what current movie stars will play the roles in this book once it is made into a movie.
Readers who liked Once Night Falls will like this book even more. I give it five stars. Why? Because they won’t let me give it six.
This is one of Merullo's best books, a thriller replete with rich characters and stunning action firmly grounded in real history. It seems bound to be a movie. When I think of it, in fact, I have to remind myself that it is something I have read and not something I have watched on the screen. It is that vivid as a book.
Merullo has done his research. Not only is his sense of history strong here, he knows the place, the city of Naples, as though he'd grown up there. Within the matrix of the great old city live half a dozen unforgettable characters, ranging from a couple of saintly and very charming women to the pride of the Nazis, a colonel who is nearly matched in his inhumanity by an Italian Capo. Through these fully formed, fully human characters Merullo is able to convey events ant attitudes that, historically, involved millions.
In writing about ruthless Capos and Nazis in general, it is difficult not to fall into melodrama, placing white hats on all the good guys and black hats upon the villains. But Merullo is not melodramatic. Although these two characters are well beyond forgiveness, the author creates others who are flawed, some deeply so, and yet not without redeeming traits or, at the last, honest causalities for being what they have become.
As usual, the writing is excellent, and the plotting deft. Merullo can juggle five storylines at a time without breaking a sweat and without losing his reader or his own balance. It a virtuoso performance in which he is able to do something few writers have done, and that is to convey a sense of simultaneity. By using both places and events, where characters are and what they are doing at certain given moments, even though they are far apart spatially and, for that matter, completely unaware of each other. One character might be sitting on a curb, another riding in a truck but a third event, an explosion, for instance, specifies the time at which they are doing these things. Or it might be a place, a set of stairs, a building. One figure might be inside the building and the reading knows this, but another character, passing it at the same moment may not. This is the sort of thing Joyce does with such finesse in Ulysses. This is the kind of technique only masters of their craft can wield.
The plot is so perfectly tense that a reader will find herself thinking of it when she is not reading it and intent to get back to the book to find out what is going to happen next. The characters attract or repel, but in both cases, we come to care, very much, what happens to them. I am already trying to imagine just what current movie stars will play the roles in this book once it is made into a movie.
Readers who liked Once Night Falls will like this book even more. I give it five stars. Why? Because they won’t let me give it six.
January 28, 2022
This was not at all a bad book and, if I could have, I would have given it a 3.5 rating. It just didn't hold my attention that strongly and I was glad when I finished it. Actually, the last 20% of the book was more gripping than the entire first part of the book. The character development wasn't bad, but there wasn't any particular depth to the characters and they were largely caricatures of what you would expect in a book about WWII, Nazis, etc. The most interesting part of the book was the grassroots rebellion of the people of Naples just before the American invasion in 1943. I didn't know anything about this and the book made me want to learn more about it. Unfortunately, the book didn't go into much detail about it. If you're looking for an easy read that will give you a bit of history about WWII and Naples, then give it a read. Also, the narrator was very good on the Audible version.
October 13, 2020
From These Broken Streets is both a love letter to the city of Naples, Italy and a tribute to its citizens who survived the Nazi occupation of WWII. The early chapters are devoted to seemingly unconnected characters scattered around the city, allowing for rich character development. At times this can slow the narrative. As the subtle interactions begin to intertwine, the reader becomes invested in the survival of both the characters and the city they call home. The end of the story is a thrilling rush of action and emotion with the uprising known as "The Four Days of Naples" that drove the Nazis from Naples prior to the Allies arrival. Inspired by historical events, this is engaging historical fiction. Recommended.
* This review is based on an Advance Reading Copy supplied by the publisher *
* This review is based on an Advance Reading Copy supplied by the publisher *
December 14, 2022
Such a well written book. This is my sencond Roland Merullo books I have read and I totally enjoyed both. I love how Roland uses the language of the land and incorporates that into the script. I was able to go on Google maps and see the areas that were in the novel. This really helps to get a good snapshot and visual.
March 2, 2022
I really enjoyed reading this novel!! I found fascinating to see how the inhabitants of Naples managed an extremely lot (no spoiler!) within 4 days of fighting the Nazis. True events though the characters are fictional. Very interesting to see how their rebellion was organised! Brilliant!
September 10, 2021
Some authors write crime stories, some suspense, some write war stories, and some simply write good books. Roland Merullo falls into that last category. He simply presents books worth reading.
I first discovered Merullo in his novel Breakfast with Buddha,/i>, a great story that encased explanations of basic Buddhist spiritual beliefs into an intriguing storyline. From there, I read his other books relating to other spiritual and religious beliefs, including Christianity. All were excellent.
I soon discovered that Merullo had set a suspense story in Cuba under the reign of Fidel Castro. Just like the spiritual novels, it put the repressive methods of Castro into the perspective of a fictional storyline. It was a formula that worked. The suspenseful storyline made great and engaging reading while making the realities of life in Cuba vivid to readers.
From These Broken Street tells the story of the brutal Nazi occupation of Naples, Italy in WW II. The brutalities of the Nazis have been well understood all along since the war and are the frequent basis of novels, but From These Broken Streets makes the impact of occupation armies on a conquered population clear, painful, and poignant. People learn to survive rather than to live, fear pervades every phase of life, the very best and the very worst in humanity manifest themselves dramatically during these times of adversity. Yet, in spite of all that, the human spirit endures and the reign of tyrants fails. People may have been conquered, but they have not been and cannot be defeated.
The novel’s brutal Nazi Colonel Walter Scholl takes command of the Nazi forces occupying Naples. He is to gather all the Jews left in the city and have them shipped off to the death camps. His assignment is also to bring the city into defeat by ending the pockets of resistance and other defiances of its conquerors. Since he believes that the city is in chaos and needs to be tamed, he uses the only approach to conquest he understands: ruthless disregard for humanity. He acts through the kinds of brutality and bloodshed at which he is highly accomplished, the frequent tool of despots, and the least effective means of gaining a victory.
As he moves to tighten his hold on the city, his methods inspire the citizens to finally reach the point of separation at which they will aggressively fight back. Thus, the incompetent Colonel must use his military forces against the civilian population rather than marshaling them against the impending advance of the American army. Military fools who open two-front wars always pay the ultimate price, a lesson Scholl was soon to learn.
Merullo’s novel shows how street urchins, wealthy merchants, nuns, prostitutes, and people from every other walk of life work toward the expulsion of the Germans. Children become killers, women become spies, adversaries of a lifetime become allies against the new, interloping tyrants. The book traces in each of the characters the slow development that makes each finally being willing to take any risk whatsoever to throw off the chains of the brutal Nazis.
This book is revetting, tense, suspenseful, realistic. It still captures all of the grisly aspects of an occupied city, yet it also pays tribute to the human spirit and to the goodness that lies in all of us when faced with the challenges of a crisis.
As always, Roland Merullo tells a great story in order to demonstrate an even greater human truth.
November 4, 2020
Fans of WWII historical fiction, this book is for you! It is set during the days of “Quattro Giornate di Napoli” (Four Days of Naples) which refers to the civilian uprising that took place between September 28 and 30 against German occupying forces, immediately prior to the arrival of Allied forces on October 1, 1943.
You might say, “I thought Italy was a German ally,” and you would be right! However, in the days after Mussolini’s surrender on September 8, Italy basically flipped sides and suddenly the German occupying forces were officially the enemy.
The ordinary citizens of Naples suffered greatly during the war. The port city was shelled by Allied forces prior to the surrender of Mussolini, and much of the city was reduced to rubble. The citizens were quite literally starving already, and after the armistice, the Nazi army started to take out its frustrations on the citizens with random executions, destruction of valuable artifacts, and planned mass deportations before they planned to level the city as punishment.
Even though it was rumored that the Allies were very close, the people of Naples had quite literally had enough. They could not wait anymore and spontaneously rose up against the German occupying forces — despite limited armament, organization or planning.
I was not very familiar with the role that Italy played in WWII history, so a lot of this book was new to me and completely fascinating. It followed the stories of ordinary citizens who eventually all became connected and played a role in the uprising.
Heinrich Himmler’s plan to arrest all the Jews in Greater Naples and ship them north was thwarted by the Neapolitan uprising. However, two weeks later, in Rome, the citizens were not quite so lucky. Over 1,000 Jewish men, women and children were arrested and sent by train to Auschwitz, where most eventually perished.
This is an important piece of WWII that I’m glad I learned more about. It is always an inspiration to read about the power of ordinary citizens to bring about change.
Thank you NetGalley for the advance review copy. My opinions are completely my own.
You might say, “I thought Italy was a German ally,” and you would be right! However, in the days after Mussolini’s surrender on September 8, Italy basically flipped sides and suddenly the German occupying forces were officially the enemy.
The ordinary citizens of Naples suffered greatly during the war. The port city was shelled by Allied forces prior to the surrender of Mussolini, and much of the city was reduced to rubble. The citizens were quite literally starving already, and after the armistice, the Nazi army started to take out its frustrations on the citizens with random executions, destruction of valuable artifacts, and planned mass deportations before they planned to level the city as punishment.
Even though it was rumored that the Allies were very close, the people of Naples had quite literally had enough. They could not wait anymore and spontaneously rose up against the German occupying forces — despite limited armament, organization or planning.
I was not very familiar with the role that Italy played in WWII history, so a lot of this book was new to me and completely fascinating. It followed the stories of ordinary citizens who eventually all became connected and played a role in the uprising.
Heinrich Himmler’s plan to arrest all the Jews in Greater Naples and ship them north was thwarted by the Neapolitan uprising. However, two weeks later, in Rome, the citizens were not quite so lucky. Over 1,000 Jewish men, women and children were arrested and sent by train to Auschwitz, where most eventually perished.
This is an important piece of WWII that I’m glad I learned more about. It is always an inspiration to read about the power of ordinary citizens to bring about change.
Thank you NetGalley for the advance review copy. My opinions are completely my own.
May 10, 2021
I loved it!! And I would 100% recommend it. This is the second book I’ve read by Roland Merullo, (the first was Once Night Falls) and it’s now my favorite of his books. I loved the characters, with the exception of Scholl. And the book made me want to travel to Naples to experience the Neapolitan spirit. I’ve read so many books on World War II, but no matter how many I read I always end up finding a new series of events that I never knew occurred. So many people and places were impacted by it. And this was one of those instances. I had never heard of The Four Days of Naples before reading this book. And I’m so glad I came across this book and this part of history. After reading this book and the book Beneath A Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan (my favorite book), I truly wish that more about World War II was covered in history classes. I know it was talked about it a lot, in both History and English class, but the more I learn, the more I notice how much we didn’t learn in school. Reading Number The Stars by Lois Lowry in fourth or fifth grade was what really sparked my interest in reading about World War II, and since then I have read numerous books. I can’t remember how many or which all I’ve read because there have been so many and some were so long ago. But many of the books I originally read centered on the Jewish experience of that time and much of it was centered on the concentration camps, and more recently I’ve read books, like this one, about the Italian experience during the war, The Nightingale, centered on the French experience, as well as, All The Gallant Men, a memoir of a Pearl Harbor survivor. There are so many stories to be told, so much history to be remembered and to learn from, so many people, lives, families and places forever changed. These are stories and realities that should never be forgotten. “Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.” Of all of the World War II books I’ve read, I would absolutely count this one as one of my top 10. Read it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2022
Great book. Roland Merullo does a great job telling the story of the uprising in Naples, late September 1943 against the Nazis. I had no idea Naples suffered this much during WWII. This books takes place during a week in history and sets it in a story that is the epitome of teaching history. There is an interesting mix of characters: Lucia, her father Aldo, her lover Giuseppe the archive worker, the street orphan named Armando, Rita the prostitute, her brother the Monk, the local Mafia/Camorra boss and more – but not so many characters that you can’t keep track of who is who. The story is woven around all of these characters – where they worked and lived, what they did during this time during the uprising. The author doesn’t shy away from the horrors of war but doesn’t make it deliberately graphic and horrific – enough to get the idea. I was cheering for the Napolitani rising up against the Nazi and taking back their city.
Here is a passage from Rita:
Why was it, she wondered, that her city had suffered so much? Why was it that men like Hitler and Mussolini rose to power and then used that power to excite whole nations in the direction of war? How was it that the Nazi soldiers—some of them must have wives and children at home—could line up a hundred Italians and machine-gun them to death, or pull a girl or woman into a room and ruin her forever? What spider of evil crawled about in the brains of men like the officer who’d come to her home and tried to violate her? And how could the good Lord allow it?
Aldous Huxley wrote:
The most shocking fact about war is that its victims and its instruments are individual human beings, and that these individual beings are condemned by the monstrous conventions of politics to murder or be murdered in quarrels not their own.
Here is a passage from Rita:
Why was it, she wondered, that her city had suffered so much? Why was it that men like Hitler and Mussolini rose to power and then used that power to excite whole nations in the direction of war? How was it that the Nazi soldiers—some of them must have wives and children at home—could line up a hundred Italians and machine-gun them to death, or pull a girl or woman into a room and ruin her forever? What spider of evil crawled about in the brains of men like the officer who’d come to her home and tried to violate her? And how could the good Lord allow it?
Aldous Huxley wrote:
The most shocking fact about war is that its victims and its instruments are individual human beings, and that these individual beings are condemned by the monstrous conventions of politics to murder or be murdered in quarrels not their own.
December 19, 2021
Historically Educating.
As a child born within 7 years of the end of WWII I have always had a passing interest in the conditions endured by the general public during the hostilities.
As an adult with a lifelong love of Italian culture, it's people and it's history I was much surprised to stumble across this book telling the story of the Naples Uprising. In all honesty I had never heard of The Four Days.
Here the author has produced a novel, based on historical facts, that is both interesting and educational. I developed a good bond with the fictional characters, really caring about their wellbeing and survival, and this is the yardstick which measures how much I am enjoying any particular book. Would the young lovers live to enjoy a future? Or would Guiseppe be rounded up and 'taken north' to the work camps. Would Lucia's father find enough peace with his conscience to make his life more tolerable? Would Rita's dream of a husband, a home and children be realised or would her hopes be washed away along with the blood on the pavements. Would the street urchins be wily enough to survive their enforced premature passing from unruly children to heroic young men assisting the fight for their city's very existence?
The bravery and courage of the Italian Resistance, and the population in general who existed for so long under the iron fist of Germany, is clearly shown within these pages. Being in the unfortunate position of living under fascist rule their government, under Il Duce, quickly led them into an even more perilous situation and the people did what they had to do to survive...until merely surviving simply wasn't enough.
My thanks to the writer for giving me the chance to understand.
I read, I learned and I closed the book a better person.
As a child born within 7 years of the end of WWII I have always had a passing interest in the conditions endured by the general public during the hostilities.
As an adult with a lifelong love of Italian culture, it's people and it's history I was much surprised to stumble across this book telling the story of the Naples Uprising. In all honesty I had never heard of The Four Days.
Here the author has produced a novel, based on historical facts, that is both interesting and educational. I developed a good bond with the fictional characters, really caring about their wellbeing and survival, and this is the yardstick which measures how much I am enjoying any particular book. Would the young lovers live to enjoy a future? Or would Guiseppe be rounded up and 'taken north' to the work camps. Would Lucia's father find enough peace with his conscience to make his life more tolerable? Would Rita's dream of a husband, a home and children be realised or would her hopes be washed away along with the blood on the pavements. Would the street urchins be wily enough to survive their enforced premature passing from unruly children to heroic young men assisting the fight for their city's very existence?
The bravery and courage of the Italian Resistance, and the population in general who existed for so long under the iron fist of Germany, is clearly shown within these pages. Being in the unfortunate position of living under fascist rule their government, under Il Duce, quickly led them into an even more perilous situation and the people did what they had to do to survive...until merely surviving simply wasn't enough.
My thanks to the writer for giving me the chance to understand.
I read, I learned and I closed the book a better person.
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