The Hunger Saint - Softcover

Cerrone, Olivia Kate

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1599541068 ISBN 13: 9781599541068

Publisher: Bordighera Press, 2017

Synopsis

Fiction. THE HUNGER SAINT is a story of hope and survival set in post-WWII Italy. Hailed by Kirkus as "a well- crafted and affecting literary tale," this historical novella follows the journey of Ntoni, a twelve-year-old boy forced to labor in Sicily's sulfur mines to support his family after his father's untimely death. Faced with life-threatening working conditions, Ntoni must choose between escaping the mines and abandoning his family. As a series of unforeseen events soon complicate his plans, Ntoni realizes that all is not what it seems and to trust anyone might prove to be as fatal as being trapped inside of a cave-in. The Hunger Saint draws from years of historical research and was informed by the oral histories of former miners still living in Sicily today.

About this title

About the Author:

Olivia Kate Cerrone's Pushcart Prize-nominated fiction won the Jack Dyer Prize from the Crab Orchard Review. She's received various literary honors, including residencies at Ragdale, the VCCA, and the Hambidge Center, where she was awarded a "Distinguished Fellowship" from the National Endowment for the Arts. She currently resides in Boston, MA.

Review:

"...perfectly evoking both the setting and time period...A well-crafted and affecting literary tale." ---Kirkus Reviews


"Cerrone shows how systemic oppression can coarsen the soul...in this slim novella, Cerrone creates a searing portrait of child labor that still entraps millions worldwide. For this reason, as well as its vivid prose and memorable characters, The Hunger Saint is a valuable read." --Historical Novel Society

"...effortlessly threads research with narrative...the novella does more than locate characters in a dramatic setting...a suspenseful tale of collapsing mines and efforts to escape them."--The Brooklyn Rail

"...a powerful survey that brings to life and personalizes the plight of child laborers and their experiences, highly recommended for any who enjoy historical novels in general and, particularly, those who look for cultural insights and social messages in fiction readings." --The Midwest Review

"Cerrone tells this salt of the earth story in raw, blunt terms, via a naturalistic mode worthy of Emile Zola... She digs beneath the facts of exploitation to dramatize visceral sensations and emotions." --The Arts Fuse

About this edition

• Publisher: Bordighera Press
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 1599541068
• ISBN 13: 9781599541068
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 120