Vera Giannini is a free lance writer mostly about musical
and artistic personalities, with articles published in English and Italian.
The magazines publishing her articles in the United States included "Opera
News," "Opera Quarterly," "Ovation," the American
Airlines publication "American Way," "D" (of Dallas),
the British magazine "Music and Musicians," the Australian "24
Hours" and "Travel and Leisure."
In Italy she published various articles in "Radiocorriere" (like
TV News) and "I grandi fotografi (Great Photographers).
In 1987 she won an ASCAP-Deems-Taylor Award "In recognition of excellence"
for the article "Fritz Busch, A Son Remembers His Father" published
in Opera Quarterly.
Her novel "LOVE IN LITTORIA" is a love story between an Italian
girl and a German officer during the German occupation of a small town called
Littoria. The love story is pure fiction but the historical background is
authentic and correct.
The story takes place in Italy during World War II. In September 1943, about
two months after the capture of Mussolini, Army General Pietro Badoglio,
by order of King Vittorio Emanuele III, has signed an armistice with the
Allied Forces, thereby declaring war on Germany, Italy's former ally.
The story opens on the very day the armistice is being announced to the
Italian people, who are stunned by the news. The Germans, who as allies
were already stationed on Italian soil, react by occupying the entire Italian
territory north of Rome.
The principal character, Laura, is a young girl from Naples staying temporarily
with her sister's family in a town called Littoria, halfway between Rome
and Naples. Built on land reclaimed from the former Pontine marshes, Littoria
is a typical fascist town made up of government offices and employees. The
surrounding countryside on the other hand, was populated by farmers from
the North, whom Mussolini had called to work the land.
Beginning with the German occupation that follows the armistice, the narration
centers on the events as they affect the life of the town in general and
that of Laura and her family in particular.
Intertwined with these events is a love story involving Laura and the young
German Commander, Capt. Walter Thiele, a regular Army officer and veteran
of Stalingrad. With a few of his officers he is temporarily put in charge
of Littoria and surrounding area until the officers of the SS arrive to
take over the command. It is a delicate romance between two sensitive young
people in a politically sensitive wartime situation. The small town setting
and traditional family values also affect their relationship.
One of the highlights of this story is the Allies' landing on the Anzio
beachhead about ten miles from Littoria. As the Allies get closer, the two
young people must separate. At the most crucial point, however, just before
the Littorians are forced to evacuate, Walter comes to the rescue in a big
army truck to take Laura to Rome. Her family, who also was offered the ride,
declined to leave Littoria.
Once in Rome Laura is pretty much on her own and free to see more of Walter,
who is still stationed nearby. They get married in secret by the Army Chaplain
and spend a few rare moments of happiness together.
With the inexorable approach of the Allies and subsequent retreat of the
German Army, however, they also live moments of anguish, fully aware of
their forthcoming separation. Still, they dream of a future together with
their child, the child Laura is expecting.
But just as Walter and his officers reach the city's northern gates on their
way out of Rome, they are gunned down by the Partisans.
The following morning a dazed and heartbroken Laura watches the American
Army march into the City, greeted by the wild cheers of the people.
VERA GIANNINI
245 East 72 Street
New York, NY 10021
(212) 861-1452