Matilde Waltzing

by Elise Valmorbida

Matilde Manin leaves behind her Old World to discover a New World at a time when the whole world is being changed by Depression and War. From her childhood in Northern Italy to her death in Melbourne, Matilde’s off-key life unravels in ways which echo the unsettling hagiography of the bizarre Saint Barbara. This is an astonishing, entertaining and moving story. Moments of magical realism break the boundaries of conventional fiction. Narrative voices include Remo the mythical co-founder of Rome and the Scottish Terrier whose cameo is the map of Australia.“There have been countless books on the migrant experience, but few recall this rite of passage with such wit and daring… Part of the book’s charm is its disarming and bold narrative style… Involving read. You’ll enjoy waltzing this Matilde.”—The Sunday Herald Sun and The Sunday Telegraph, Australia“Matilde’s isolation in her widowhood is heart-wrenching; the moments of joy are good enough to sing about – or waltz?”—The Bulletin, with Newsweek“Valmorbida is a clever and imaginative writer, able to spin out visions like an Italian saint herself.”—The Australian Way“Valmorbida writes with energy and challenges the conventionality of what language can achieve… engaging, often funny, sometimes poignant…”—The Canberra Times“Words in this text are quartz-like objects that contain miniature worlds folded within… This is a miraculous iconoclastic, compassionate and brilliantly witty.”—Rosi Braidotti“A strange and ultimately seductive tale charting one woman’s emigration from Italy to Australia during the rise of fascism. Its fragmented narrative explores the sense of alienation experienced as a stranger in a strange land, as migrant, as other.”—Anita Roddick

256 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1997

About the author

I grew up Italian in Australia, but a scholarship took me to England. I was smitten by London, and still am. In between the day-jobs, I've been writing fiction and non-fiction for 20+ years. I've been teaching creative writing for almost as long. Heartfelt thanks for reading my work and posting reviews.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

After about 20 pages of disorientation, I really loved this book. After the prologue about St. Barbara, and then the early life of Matilde, and her overly religious mother, and horrible priest and nuns, I was sure this was going to be a tale of a horrible life ruined by too much religion. But that wasn't it at all. I read this in less than 2 days. I just loved it. There was an awful lot going on - the Saint, the narrating dog, Giuseppina, immigration, Australia, Wars. I fell totally in love with the storytelling, and the sweep of the story, and the touches of fantasy felt so right. Maybe because I wasn't ready for it to end -- but I did feel that things were not ending quite in the manner I wanted. Was Matilde a feminist? (was St. Barabara?) she waited until she was almost 30 for the right guy to go on an adventure with. She learned to drive and drove all over Australia. She didn't seem to have any problems doing what she wanted; its just that her wants were few, and by today's standards, small. What about that dictionary? She put it to good use, yet it was the only book they every purchased. She was too busy living her life to pursue much else. The feminst 'graffitti' towards the end of the book got me thinking this way. Her daughter the doctor married to a circus performer? Nah, that's not odd.