Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Children’s Train | 2019 | Viola Ardone | Buy |
| 2 | The Unbreakable Heart of Oliva Denaro | 2021 | Viola Ardone | Buy |
Viola Ardone’s novels are set in twentieth-century Italy and draw on real historical events and social movements. The Children’s Train (2019) tells the story of Amerigo, a young Neapolitan boy sent to live with a family in the north of Italy as part of a real postwar aid program. The Unbreakable Heart of Oliva Denaro (2021) follows a Sicilian woman across decades as she resists the patriarchal norms of her society.
Both books have been praised for their emotional depth and historical detail, and they showcase Ardone’s gift for bringing forgotten chapters of Italian history to life through compelling characters.