|
|
Rhys Bowen
Lake Union
Feb 20, 2018/ ISBN 9781503951822
Mystery/Thriller
Reviewed
by Elise Cooper
|
The
Tuscan Child by Rhys Bowen is one of those rare books that
will stick with people long after they finish it. The story
is based on two time periods, 1944 and 1973, where the former
is a historical account of World War II and the latter embodies
a mystery.
Wanting to challenge herself, Bowen wrote in two time periods
with parallel stories coming together at the end. “I always
wanted to write something set in Tuscany because I love it so
much. I have been there quite a few times in my life, including
two years ago when I was asked to teach an author’s workshop.
The World War II aspect came from an account I read where an
English airman bailed out of his plane before it crashed into
Tuscany. All these bits and pieces come together in this story.”
The novel begins at the end of 1944 when British airman Hugo
Langley must parachute out of his crashing plane into German-occupied
Tuscany Italy. Badly wounded he finds refuge in a monastery
and is discovered by one of the villagers, Sophia Bartoli. She
aids him in his quest to become well enough to escape to the
Allied lines. As time passes both realize that they have fallen
in love and plot to escape together. During these scenes, WWII
is brought to life as readers jump out of the airplane with
Hugo, fear the German atrocities with Sophia, and realize how
severe are the conditions.
Fast forward to 1973 where Hugo’s daughter Joanna goes
through her deceased father’s old trunk filled with his
possessions. In it she finds an unopened letter addressed to
Sofia As Joanna had little knowledge of her father’s wartime
life, the revelation it contains startles her. Joanna travels
to the small Tuscan hill town of San Salvatore to learn about
her father and the time he spent there. The mystery comes into
play when everybody in this small town refuses to acknowledge
that Hugo hid near the village.
The most sobering parts of the book are the descriptions of
the cruelties committed by the Nazis on the Italian population.
“I wanted to show that after the Italians switched sides,
the Germans were brutal and committed atrocities including machine
gunning down whole villages. World War II is the last time we
had a clear sense of good versus evil. I think it is important
we remember it and understand what people went through. I wanted
to show the major risk Sophia took by helping the British airman.
She bought danger to herself, her child, and her village. Even
though it was at the end of the war the Germans became like
vicious dogs that are cornered and deliberately killed people.”
Tuscany is a character unto itself. Having been there several
times Bowen wanted readers to understand how the “town
has a feeling to it with the high stone walls and narrow streets.
I walked through the market and did wine tastings. I also found
out there is a central olive press in the area where bribery
allowed for a better time slot. I will be going back this summer
to teach the same course. The festival I described in the book
happened the last time I was there. It was a procession with
bands and banners combining religion and folk culture. Regarding
the earthquakes I wrote about, they can be devastating. Remember
in Italy all those stone houses will fall down.”
Bowen brings to life the setting where the reader can smell
the cooking scents, see the brilliant olive groves, and hear
the Italian chatter. This is also an action-packed story that
is very intense and haunting. |
|