Vittoria: A Historical Drama Based on A True Story by Dafna Vitale Ben BassatMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
An unforgettable story about an unforgettable woman...
Author Dafna Vitale Ben Bassat weaves a powerful historical fiction based on a true story. With fascinating twists and turns, it will easily captivate the reader from the first page to the last. The author paints a dramatic and riveting tale of loss and despair, survival and human triumph in a very vivid and convincing way. In addition, the characters are drawn with great credibility and conviction. It’s a compelling story that will have you mesmerized from the opening chapter.
The book description gives a sneak preview: ‘Vittoria Vitale was born to a noble Jewish family in the north of Italy at the very same year that Mussolini met his Jewish lover. With the onset of World War II, her life is carried by a swirl of atrocities, decisions, farewells and remorse that will scar her forever.
This is the story of one unforgettable woman, supporting her husband and children under impossible conditions. It is also the story of a Jewish family who feels safe from war because of its status and wealth and wakes up to a disastrous reality. More than anything, it is the story of the entire Italian Jewish community in face of the Holocaust – a story of disaster, overcoming and eventual immigration to Israel as a part of the Zionist movement.
Daily life soaked in historical consequences, family ties and general atmosphere, aromas, sounds and tastes, based on thorough research, interviews and original historical manuscripts. A drama of loss and despair, survival and human triumph with unforgettable characters that stay with you long after the last page.’
If that’s not enough to get you engaged, I don’t know what will. But if you want to find out what happens, you’ll just have to turn the pages for yourself! However, I will say it was well worth the read. It’s my first time reading this author and I must say I was very impressed.
MY NAME IS VITTORIA had every element a good story should have. An interesting plot, attention to detail, but best of all fleshed out, well-written and well-rounded character development. There’s an abundance of well-illustrated scenes that make you feel like you are right there in the story, and that’s something I really look for in a good book.
I’ll be looking forward to reading more from this author in the future. I would highly recommend this book. A well-deserved five stars from me.
View all my reviews