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THE GARDEN OF LETTERS
Written in dazzling prose and set against the rich backdrop of World War II Italy, Garden of Letters captures the hope, suspense, and romance of an uncertain era, in an epic intertwining story of first love, great tragedy, and spectacular bravery.
Portofino, Italy, 1943. A young woman steps off a boat in a scenic coastal village. Although she knows how to disappear in a crowd, Elodie is too terrified to slip by the German officers while carrying her poorly forged identity papers. She is frozen until a man she's never met before claims to know her. In desperate need of shelter, Elodie follows him back to his home on the cliffs of Portofino.
Only months before, Elodie Bertolotti was a cello prodigy in Verona, unconcerned with world events. But when Mussolini's Fascist regime strikes her family, Elodie is drawn into the burgeoning resistance movement by Luca, a young and impassioned bookseller. As the occupation looms, she discovers that her unique musical talents, and her courage, have the power to save lives.
In Portofino, young doctor Angelo Rosselli gives the frightened and exhausted girl sanctuary. He is a man with painful secrets of his own, haunted by guilt and remorse. But Elodie's arrival has the power to awaken a sense of hope that Angelo thought was lost to him forever.
AVAILABLE SEPTEMBER 2, 2014
Trade Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Berkley (September 2014)
ISBN-10: 0425266257
ISBN-13: 9780425266250
Also available in hardcover.
PRAISE & REVIEWS
"Richman seamlessly weaves together the languages of music and love, reaching into the heart of the reader with artful portraits of heroism, sacrifice and redemption. Fans of The Lost Wife will again savor Richman's ability to tell a remarkable story about people who are unforgettable and real."
— Pam Jenoff, International bestselling author
“The Garden of Letters demonstrates artistry of the highest order. Lyrical and compelling, Alyson Richman’s novel of a cellist coming of age in wartime Italy is as layered as a symphony. Exquisite.”
— Erika Robuck, author of Fallen Beauty
“A brilliant novel that will haunt me for years to come.”
— Kristina McMorris, bestselling author of The Pieces We Keep
“Alyson Richman crafts a transportive novel vivid with history and fragile with hope.”
— Jessica Brockmole, author of Letters from Skye
“Sensual in its descriptions of the Italian countryside and the allure of music, this moving story also graphically depicts the heroism and sacrifice of wartime.”
— Booklist
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