Review: Daughter of Calabria

Title: Daughter of Calabria

(Previously published as Echoes of War)

Author: Tania Blanchard

Publisher: 7th September 2022 by Simon & Schuster Au

Pages: 448 pages

Genre: historical fiction

My Rating: 4.5 cups

Synopsis:

Previously published as Echoes of War

Set in Mussolini’s Italy amid great upheaval, this is the story of one woman’s determination to find her place in a world that men are threatening to tear apart. Another heart-rending novel inspired by a true story from Australia's bestselling author of The Girl from Munich.

Calabria, Italy, 1936

In a remote farming village nestled in the mountains that descend into the sparkling Ionian Sea, young and spirited Giulia Tallariti longs for something more. While she loves her home and her lively family, she would much rather follow in her nonna’s footsteps and pursue her dream of becoming a healer.

But as Mussolini’s focus shifts to the war in Europe, civil unrest looms. Whispers of war are at every corner and her beloved village, once safe from the fascist agenda of the North, is now in very real danger.

Caught between her desire to forge her own path and her duty to her family, Giulia must draw on the passion in her heart and the strength of her conviction.

Can she find a way to fulfill her dreams without sacrificing all she holds dear?

My Thoughts

‘You have to be smart, be realistic, work within the boundaries to find a way to do what you want.’

Daughter of Calabria (previously published as Echoes of War in 2021) is the fourth novel by Aussie author Tania Blanchard and I was excited to read it as I have very much enjoyed her previous offerings. On this occasion we have a young girl, Guilia, who just wants to be a healer like her Nonna. However, this puts her at odds with her father who’s only wish is to see his daughters married off as quickly as possible. Add into the mix, the outbreak of WWII and it is a recipe for a drama filled tale. 

‘I was finally free of Papà’s controlling ways and about to learn from one of the best herbalists in Calabria.’

Extending from 1936 into the 1950s, the reader follows Guilia’s struggles between her dreams and her family’s wishes. In the background, Mussolini and the world are waging war. Tania does a fantastic job of bringing to life not only this dictatorial government but also the patriarchal society and how life might have played out for someone such as Guilia.

‘The greatest responsibility of all rested on the shoulders of women. We were the ones who kept the family together, kept our farms and businesses running, put food on the table and made sure we all survived. But we couldn’t do it without each other.’

The story is inspired by Tania’s grandparents as mentioned in her Author Notes and she does another sensational job of melding fact and fiction. As in her previous works, Tania blends the events of the war beautifully with a story, in fact, the war most definitely is in the background for this one. With themes of family and ambition, dreams and heartbreak, I recommend lovers of historical fiction to take this journey with all the drama that this period brings with it. 

‘Oh, Giulia, you’ve always had a passion for life, a thirst for knowledge and the strength of will to reach for your dreams. You only needed to know how to harness your talents and recognise the strength within you.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.