Dear Olivia - Hardcover

Mary Contini

4.13

120 ratings by Goodreads

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1841958441 ISBN 13: 9781841958446

Publisher: Canongate Books Ltd, 2006

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In her fascinating follow-up to the hugely successful "Dear Francesca", Mary Contini writes to her other daughter, Olivia. Through letters, anecdotes and the occasional recipe, she tells the story of what happened to the Contini and Crolla families after they emigrated to Scotland between the wars. The journey Mary's ancestors made to escape poverty in southern Italy for a new life in Scotland, the wartime experience of the Italian immigrants, the women who were left to cope with their families and businesses alone when their menfolk were rounded up and taken away during World War II - all are brought vividly to life in this charming and moving story of the first Italian Scots. "Dear Olivia" is also a tale of tragedy. This is a tale of prejudice and courage, bigotry and heroism; a tale of love and hope.

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From the Back Cover:

A tale of courage in the face of adversity . . . a story of love and hope.

In this fascinating follow-up to Dear Francesca,Mary Contini
writes to her daughter Olivia to tell the story of her greatgrandparents,
the humble Italian shepherds who emigrated to
Edinburgh and then helped to transform Britain's food culture.
Sharing some of the recipes that they brought over, this is a
mouth-watering memoir of family and food.

'Touching and inspiring . . . But there is an added pleasure to
reading Mary Contini, that comes from the importance of food
in her life . . .The book bursts with flavour.'
Financial Times

'Essentially the story of one man's journey, but also a story of one
community, two nations, and how they grew and flourished
together.'
Scotsman

'Uplifts and inspires . . . Contini has augmented the family
legends with historical research and imagination.'
Sunday Times

About the Author:

MARY CONTINI is based in Edinburgh and first generation Italian Scot is a director of the famous delicatessen and wine merchant, Valvona & Crolla. She has written extensively for The Scotsman, appeared on TV and Radio and has co-presented Scotland's Larder on STV. Her Children's cookery Books, Easy Peasy, co-authored with Pru Irvine is now in it's 8th year.

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