Customer Reviews

Pietro's Book: The Story of a Tuscan Peasant

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From the first pages I found this book fascinating and refreshing for its simple presentation of the ins and outs of the daily life of poor farmers in Italy; those charged with working the landholdings of the wealthy.

One is struck by an alarming truth as in the beginning of the book Pietro says, "My generation has had a unique experience: we were born in the Middle Ages and now we are living in the age of computers." His descriptions of life as a peasant farmer do sound right out of the pages of a book on the history of the Middle Ages, yet this was not so long ago. According to the author, the last of these tenant farm contracts expired as recently as the 1980's.

The book has some photos and a few illustrations that are helpful in showing some of the things that would be alien to the modern reader. A glossary at the back is also helpful. In the introduction (not the main body, which is Pietro's life story), however, it would have been preferable to see some footnotes and sources for the information provided. While much of it sounds plausible, it's difficult to gauge whether it's reliable or accurate. This is the book's one failing.

I'm grateful to have found this book, as I now feel I have a better understanding of my Italian mother-in-law who, along with her mother and father, were mezzadri (tenant farmers) in the early and mid-twentieth century. She had described her life to me somewhat, and I knew it was difficult, but because of our language barrier (she speaks Neapolitan more than Italian) I could not fully understand. I think some of it she would rather forget, as well. This book has helped me to understand better the life circumstances that shaped the person she is today (still hard working with an amazing variety of practical skills).

While I felt no small amount of outrage at the injustices of Pietro's life, and sadness at the hardships and atrocities during wartime, I also felt no small amount of envy at the many good aspects that we seem to have lost in our modern age: connection to the land and the seasons, sense of community, closeness of families, the art of story-telling, simple entertainments and pleasures, and a life where work, no matter how difficult it may be, has dignity, meaning and real purpose. I am also envious of the author's opportunity to sit and listen to Pietro's stories. This book is the next best thing, and I'm happy its allowed me to eavesdrop on their conversations.