The Florios of Sicily by Stefania Auci

 This story captures many lives of the Florio family, from their humble beginnings as impoverished shopkeepers to building an empire. The official founder is Vincenzo Florio Sr. (1799-1868). However, the story starts with his father Paolo, who moves family from the mainland of Italy to Sicily and opens a shop in Palermo.

After an earthquake in 1799, Paolo moves his family – wife and newborn Vincenzo, and also his brother Ignazio and niece Vittoria, from Bagnara to Palermo. “Venice built her wealth on the spice trade and customs duties.” Now, Paolo wants to trade spices in Palermo. After much struggle, the brothers become known.

Their struggles are intertwined with the volatile history of Sicily. Napoleon’s wars have effects across Europe. It is 1817 and everybody is having a rough time. "Now it’s only closed store windows and bolted doors where the British warehouses used to be.” After Napoleon’s defeat, “the island has lost its strategic importance. The harbors are empty. Palermo seemed dead. (…) The changes over recent years have been too many and too quick.”

A grown-up Vincenzo gets a chance to travel to England and see how businesses operate there. He comes back with some ideas to improve their business. He also craves social recognition after having an unpleasant experience with an aristocratic young lady.

It’s January 12, 1848 and the time for rebellion has come. Palermo has had enough of taxes and tyranny imposed by the Bourbons. The rebels don’t see one’s humble beginnings. They see money and they resent people with money. With gun pointed at Vincenzo, he is forced to pick sides.

Sicilian revolutionary unrest continues to smolder beneath the surface for years, shaping Sicilian history and the Florios business.

The story is mostly concentrated on Vincenzo, the founder.

This story weaves interestingly developed characters with the rich Sicilian history and culture. It vividly portrays a man’s struggle of starting a new life at a new place, which is not that welcoming. They are foreigners and they are being despised. They can feel it and it really bothers them. It gives them an extra push to excel at their business. The brothers know how important it is to make the right appearance and talk the right way. They are quick learners. No matter how successful they are, in aristocratic eyes they are still simple laborers. “They want coat of arms. Noble blood,” which gives respectability. Not the hard work and building an empire with one’s own hands. Their emotions are very intense.

Beautifully written and engrossing depicted story of inspiring characters.

Release date: 21 April 2020

Source: HarperCollins Publishers