A Woman’s Last Name

180,000 copies sold

Winner of Bancarella Prize 2024

Winner of John Fante Opera Prima Prize 2024

An engaging family saga that marks the debut of an extraordinary talent.

An engaging family saga that marks the debut of an extraordinary talent. The story begins with Rosa, born in a small Sicilian village at the turn of the 20th century. Strongwilled and yearning for the freedom reserved for men, she runs away with Sebastiano Quaranta, a man with no family. They marry and open a tavern that becomes a social hub for the nearby towns.

They have three children: Fernando, Donato (who joins the seminary), and Selma, a gentle and talented embroiderer. Selma, too beautiful and too meek, marries Santi Maraviglia despite Rosa’s warnings. Rosa fears her daughter’s gentleness will lead to misfortune — and she’s right. Santi wastes Selma’s inheritance and dominates the family.

Selma’s three daughters — rebellious Patrizia, stunning Lavinia, and studious Marinella — face the consequences of their parents’ choices. As they try to break free from the past and find their own identities, they are quietly watched over by the spirit of their grandfather, Sebastiano.

This novel is an epic family saga centered on unforgettable women who struggle to reclaim their voices, their power, and their names.

What remains of the grandmothers, the mothers, and the women who came before us?

Rights sold:
France (Calmann Levy) two book deal
Germany (BTB PRH) two book deal
Poland (Wydawnictwo Dolnoslaskie) two book deal
Portugal (Bertrand Editora)
Romania (Editura Univers)
Russia (Alpina Publisher)
Spain (Seix Barral)