AVANTI!

"Avanti!", to gather strength from family and move forward, has been an inspiring motto guiding this unique Italian family and their descendants. Their story begins in the 1860's in Afragola, Italy, with the origins of that motto a mystery. A notable theme throughout is the demonstrated strength of the women as they survive tragedy and loss but always without diminishing the strength of its men.

The author, researching beyond her mother's material, depicts the vital context of the times from vineyard life in suburban Italy to immigration to America at the turn of the 20th century. Through world wars, assassinations, pandemics, the Great Depression, prejudice and other relevant historic events, one sees the influence of these events on family members and their impact on the community and the cities where they live.

Drawing from a vast number of personal diaries and recordings by the author's mother, Dr. Marie Amoruso has created a distinctive and intimate story of immigration for future generations. Well-drawn universal characterizations allow the reader to truly get to know and identify with each person individually. Writing about their joys and sorrows, their personality quirks and opinions, their achievements and losses all brings them alive.

This is more than the story of one family, this is more than the story of a diverse family, this is the story of a family where women and men are raised to be independent and strong, a story of Americans.

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