Courtesy of Beaverdale Books

Review by Harriet Leitch

By Adriana Trigiani

HarperCollins

04/03/12

$26.99

496 pp

“The Shoemaker’s Wife” is a wonderful tale of the lives of two Italian immigrants — Ciro and Enza. The story begins in Italy in the early 1900s, when Ciro, who has been raised in a convent, is sent by the church to dig a grave for a young girl. Enza, the elder sister of the girl, visits the grave where she meets Ciro. This is the first of many meetings of the couple. Ciro is subsequently sent to New York to a nun’s relative to learn the trade of shoemaking. Enza travels to New York with her father so they can earn money to build their family a house on the mountain in Italy. Her father travels to California in search of a better job, while Enza becomes a respected costume designer at the Metropolitan Opera. Even though Ciro and Enza meet several times over the years, they seem unable to maintain a connection.

Ciro becomes very skilled in his chosen trade and when America enters the World War, he enlists to support his adopted country, thereby earning his citizenship. Upon his return, he finds Enza, they marry and move to Minnesota to create their lives anew. Their Italian heritage is always present — the mountain, lakes and streams of their homeland, the love of art, architecture and music which dominate their lives.

Adriana Trigiani blends some elements of her history with her skilled and wonderful pen. There are many immigrant stories, but the blend of the importance of family, love of country and love of the arts in “The Shoemaker’s Wife,” will be hard to top. CV