Bøger af Giancarlo Gabbrielli

THE THIRD OF SIX BOOKS FOR THE LANZIS SAGAThe previous two narrate the story of a courageous family that begins during WWI in northern Italy and continues during WWII. In 1944, when the war front reaches Tuscany and the Anglo-Americans bomb the bridges over the Arno River, the family abandons their house to find refuge in the countryside.At war end, Roberto, the youngest member of the family, is thirteen years old. He returns to school, but then abandons it to work in a tannery and economically help the family. But he aspires to a better life and finally, he applies and enters the ItalianAir force.The Lanzis III, Dreams and Disillusions' recounts the story of the young man who leaves his home, his friends, and his love to enter a military career which he hopes will enable him to attain a better life. He will have to overcome, solitude, harshdiscipline and many disillusions in a part of Italy so much different from his Tuscany.He will make new friends and overcome many difficulties. He has a chance to learn the English language and perhaps be sent to America for courses in Missiles'. He succeeds and now he'll be even farther away from the girl he loves. However, he thinks the new experience will give him more opportunities, and the chance to visit America will be worth the distance from his love and his country.

The sweeping tale of the Lanzi family is set in the backdrop of two wars. The story begins in the -until then- tranquil town of San Dona`, just north of Venice where Roberto and Luisa lived with their two sons in a modest villa near the center of town. Roberto, a chemical engineer, had recently lost his job because of the approaching war front. Luisa, a teacher by profession, stayed at home to be close to her sons, instilling them with the same discipline and moral principles which had guided all her life. Their eldest son Riccardo, just nineteen, despite his aversion for violence, had just joined the army to defend his country. His parents, though very proud of him, were in constant fear for his life. Their younger son, Lorenzo, was only nine years old and was at home since all the schools of the area had been closed. In fact, with the approaching front line, the city authorities, like rats on a sinking ship, had suddenly fled, leaving the town to itself. On October 25, 1917, after the collapse of the Italian front, known as the rout of Caporetto, the war fell upon the southern plains of Veneto with unsuspected ferocity. By early November, Italian and Austrian soldiers were entangled in murderous hand-to-hand combat in the outskirts of San Dona`, and the waters of the Piave River ran red with the blood of the youth fallen from both sides.

Now that Roberto Lanzi's family has finally reunited in Winnipeg, his ambition to succeed makes him long for a business of his own.With his wife Silvia's support, Roberto borrows money to build a large complex near the city center. He hurls himself into the project, working day and night to oversee the design and fill their new shop handcrafted items, luxury goods, and his own sculptures. Other galleries and shops quickly snap up space in the new complex, and Roberto's rapidly profile in the community earns respect as well as jealousy.The birth of a daughter propels Roberto take on more debt, and by 1969, Roberto has become a well-known figure in the community.But change is on the horizon. When interest rates increase exponentially, the nervous local banks in Winnipeg demand their money back. Betrayals force Roberto into a corner, and he realizes he must sacrifice his dreams, repay his loans and go into exile once more.