The Shoemaker's Wife by Adriana Trigiani

When he returns and seeks Enza's hand in marriage, Enza, who is set to be betrothed to another man, must now weigh her possible futures: 'A life with Ciro would be about family, a life with Vito would be about her.' More than an epic romance, Trigiani's work pays homage to the tribulations of the immigrant experience, and the love that makes the journey and hardships worthwhile. While in New York, Enza and Ciro reconnect, but Ciro is soon swept away to fight in WWI. The Shoemakers Wife by Adriana Trigiani 24 votes 13.1 The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell 23 votes 12.6 The Sandcastle Girls by Chris Bohjalian 15 votes 8.2 Dreams of Joy by Lisa See 10 votes 5. There, Enza becomes a talented seamstress and gets involved in the lushly detailed New York opera scene by making costumes for the Met. to send money home to their struggling family. Soon thereafter, Enza and her father journey to the U.S. But when Ciro catches a priest embracing a young girl, he is banished from the convent and must depart for New York City, where he apprentices as a shoemaker. Though they come from different backgrounds%E2%80%94Enza is the eldest daughter in a family of eight, while Ciro and his brother are raised by nuns after their father's death and mother's mental breakdown%E2%80%94the two nevertheless bond. Ciro Lazzari and Enza Ravenelli grew up in nearby villages in Italy, but only meet when Ciro is hired to dig the grave for Enza's baby sister.

Trigiani's page-turning newest (after Viola in the Spotlight) is a sweeping saga that stretches across the World Wars, from Italy to America and back again.

The Shoemaker's Wife by Adriana Trigiani