Author: Kate Furnivall
ISBN: 9781471155567
RRP: $29.99
Kate Furnivall has written a number of books set in exotic locations, and I had read none of them. The Liberation is my first of her works and I will admit that the page count was enough to have me hesitate before picking it up, and then it was selected as a book club title so the hesitation had to end.
Italy in 1945 is a place of devastation, British and American troops are still in place to help restore order and the locals are fighting to survive. The only money is in the pockets of the troops, and the paid off local law enforcement. The streets are in ruins and many people are selling off what they can just to eat.
Catarina Lombardi is a young woman with determination and a will to survive; she is out one day selling handcrafted wooden boxes when she crosses paths with a number or different people that will completely change the direction of her future, and the way she thinks about her past.
The Lombardis live in the small town of Sorrento where they are renowned master craftsmen working with wood. Catarina inherited her love of woodworking from both her father and grandfather, and her skills are certainly up there with theirs. It was interesting that when Catarina took boxes out to sell she passed them off as work by her father or her brother, even though she had made them herself, because she wouldn’t be able to get the same prices for her work.
The Liberation is evocative, it is dark, it is suspenseful and it certainly kept me reading long after I should have been sleeping – and when I had two kids (that aren’t mine) hounding me to play with them instead of reading. The page count was high but I was so entranced that I still got through it in 3 days.
Action is non-stop and you are never quite sure what’s going to happen next, or who the bad guys really are. The police make a living from pay-offs, the mafia are a force to be reckoned with and their territory is even avoided by the police, the troops are viewed with suspicion if not open hostility and they are only trying to help get Italy back on its feet but having to do it with little support from the locals.
Italy has such a long history and is home to countless priceless artifacts from paintings and sculptures to religious icons and antique furniture, many of which have disappeared during the war and in its aftermath. A taskforce has been put together to track down missing relics and bring them back to the Italian people, but the casualties mount up and there are more questions than answers.
Catarina is forced into a position where she is left questioning everything, and in danger at every turn; not sure who to trust or how to keep her family safe. Instead of spending days in her workshop creating items to sell she is facing danger from all directions in her quest to clear her father’s name.
The intrigue and deceit of this story is woven so seamlessly that it really is difficult to untangle and work out where the biggest threats come from. Asking questions can be a dangerous business, regardless of which side of the law you are on. The war is over and Italy is rebuilding but the explosions and the death aren’t finished yet.
The resilience of the Italian people is commendable in the face of adversity, and though the troops are there to help the people still see them as intruders and aren’t willing to answer their questions. Not necessarily a bad thing when talking to the troops is likely to get you killed.
The Liberation will entrance and enthrall while it keeps you guessing and trying to get to the bottom of all the mysteries hidden within its pages.
Thanks Kate Furnivall and Simon & Schuster for a fabulous book.
Kate Furnivall can be followed on Facebook and Twitter.
The Liberation is published by Simon & Schuster and is available now from Angus & Robertson Bookworld, Booktopia and where all good books are sold.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster 30 of our Beauty and Lace club members will be reading The Liberation so please be aware there may be spoilers in the comments below.
I devour books, vampires and supernatural creatures are my genre of choice but over the past couple of years, I have broadened my horizons considerably. In a nutshell – I love to write! I love interacting with a diverse range of artists to bring you interviews. Perhaps we were perfect before – I LOVE WORDS!
Thank you Beauty & Lace Simon & Schuster but especially Kate Furnivall for this fantastic read which was enjoyed immensely
A bit sceptic about the length of this novel but once started very hard to put down & completely forgot about page numbers
Set in Italy after the struggle of WW2 it becomes a who are the heroes/villians with Caterina as the stand out hero defending the love of her family whilst trying to decide who to trust
So as not to be a spoiler I will not divulge the rest except to say there are tears, love, endless struggles with hope shining through
Now has become one of my favourites & will recommend to family & friends
Thank ou, Carol.
I really loved reading this novel. The heroine, Caterina, is an intriguing and inspiring character and her strength and courage are well portrayed. Personally I found the descriptions of the wood craftmanship, the teaching of her father and the skills which Caterina developed, all to be beautifully explored within the framework of the novel. My imagination grasped these images and to me this was the highlight of the story. I shall be passing this book to my elderly neighbour to read now as she was born in Naples in 1935. Thank you for the opportunity to review this book.
Thank you, Carla.
The Liberation. Wow, such an intriguing and interesting story about war, recovery, corruption, family connections and the past. Caterina Lombardi is the main character, a young 21 year old Italian who is a strong force when trying to keep her family together, clear her deceased fathers name, renew a relationship with her mother, discover lost artefacts and determine who to trust while also falling in love. A unique story, well written to keep you interested while it unfolds. The history of Italy as it fights to survive is also played out in the story.
I loved reading this novel. I am putting it on my list to read again so I can continue to enjoy. Thank you Kate Furnival. You have captured a true essence of a lovely story.
Thank you, Denise.
Thank you Beauty & Lace, Simon & Schuster and Kate Furnivall for the opportunity to read this gripping and powerful novel.
We follow Caterina Lombardi post WW2 in Italy where the war has left many people in poverty including Caterina’s family. She is supporting her blind Nonno and young brother Luca by selling her exquisitely made wooden music boxes – she learnt her craft from her late father, her mother walked out on the family when Caterina was 11.
Post WW2 was ghastly and Kate writes it in great detail and has a way of making you feel the desperation and devastation. I really like her writing style.
Reading on Caterina meets 2 Army officers and eventually they inform her about illegal trade of artifacts where it has ties to her late father. Caterina tries to clear his name but in the process digs up family secrets and danger follows along the way.
I found this book complex and had a hard time putting it down (which during school holidays is something I had to do … so I had a few late nights …Lol)
I was on the edge of my seat a lot of the time and feel it is certainly worthy of the Guaranteed Good read sticker on the front.
I look forward to reading more of Kates novels in future!
Thank you, Alison.
I love this book!! It’s so easy to read the story flows beautifully.
I feel like I’m in Italy, I can picture the ocean and smell the lemon groves as this enthralling story unfolds. A fantastic read don’t wait another moment you will love this story x
Thank you, Karen.
The Liberation by Kate Furnivall is a huge book but worth taking the time to read it.
Italy post WWII is a country ravaged and trying to rebuild itself with the help of British and American Soldiers. Not every are happy they are there.
Italy’s treasures are being stolen and sold off. The Allies are trying to stop this happening.
The Italians are desperately trying to survive and we follow the story of one young lady’s desperate fight to feed her remaining family members while trying to clear her Father’s good name after his death.
The Liberation is a tale of war, survival, treason, loyalty and love.
A wonderful read that is fast paced with unexpected twists and turns that will have you stunned and keep you riveted until the stunning conclusion.
Thank you to Beauty and Lace and Simon & Schuster for the chance to read this unforgettable book.
Thank you, Anne Maree.
Kate Furnivall is an author who is quite familiar to me. I devoured Furnivall’s series of books set in Russia, she has a real knack for bringing to life places and specific time periods from the past. It has been awhile since I have read a book written by Kate Furnivall, so I was excited about the prospect of reading Furnivall’s latest release, The Liberation.
The Liberation effortlessly transports the reader back to post war Italy. In 1945, Caterina Lombardi is a young woman among countless Italians fighting to survive. The reader quickly learns that Caterina is fiercely protective of her family and will do anything to ensure that their safety is secured. After losing her Father two years ago, Caterina has continued the family trade of wooden handicraft. One day, she finds herself selling these articles in Naples and runs into trouble. A robber tries to attack Caterina but she is saved by two Allied Army officers. These officers change Caterina’s life, as she discovers that her late Father has been accused of treason and black market dealings. As Caterina fights hard to clear her family’s name and protect them from further anguish, she is lead on a dangerous journey.
If you enjoy historical novels grand in scale, look no further than The Liberation. An epic novel at over 500 pages, the length of this novel first seemed a little daunting. Thankfully, I was soon swept away by the breathtaking locations and compelling time frame of this novel, to concern myself about the breath of this book. There is no question that author Kate Furnivall takes care to ensure she presents her readers with an accurate depiction of the specific time and locales in which her books are set. The Liberation is no exception. By far, what I enjoyed most about this book was the vivid setting. While reading The Liberation, I was also reminded of what I appreciated about Furnivall’s writing in the past, her scene setting is faultless. At many points in the novel I felt like I was a genuine part of the action in Italy during this desperate, perilous and uncertain time period.
It is hard to not like leading character Caterina Lombardi. From the opening pages, Caterina is clearly defined as fearless, as well as fiercely loyal. Caterina’s love for her family is admirable, which we witness through the dangerous action she takes in the novel. Furnivall also gives Caterina a little romance to contend with in her determined quest to restore her Father’s integrity. I did enjoy the scenes between Caterina and Allied Officer Jake, the chemistry between the two provided moments of light in a somewhat bleak time.
Readers will find the plot in The Liberation deeply satisfying. The Liberation travels at a steady pace and the pages flip by at an easy pace. On the whole, I found the narrative very intriguing, delivering plenty of twists to keep me on my toes. In fact, there were many points in the novel where I wasn’t quite sure what Furnivall was going to serve up next. This added to the overall appeal of The Liberation. In terms of content, I have to say I found the story thread involving the stolen artefacts, paintings and statues fascinating. In addition, I was dearly holding out hope that Caterina could clear the accusation made against her Father in his association with these stolen goods. When I reached the end of The Liberation, I felt like I had been on a tumultuous journey but I was filled with feelings of hope for the future of these characters and Italy’s restoration.
A story rich in history that demonstrates the strength of the Italian people and their love for family, The Liberation is a book that I endorse highly.
I wish to thank Beauty and Lace for providing a copy of this book for review purposes.
Thank you, Amanda.
The Liberation by Kate Furnivall is set in Italy at the end of World War 2 with the main character being Caterina Lombardi, a young woman who lives with her blind grandfather (Nonno) and her younger brother Luca.
When Caterina was 10, and her baby brother 5 months old their mother deserted the family and ran off with her father’s good friend Roberto Cavaleri. Roberto’s wife killed herself in distress and the warmth and friendship between the Lombardi’s and the Caveleri’s was extinguished.
Antonio Lombardi, Caterina’s father, was a master wood craftsman, but was killed during the war when a stray bomb destroyed his workshop while he was at work.
Now it was up to Caterina to try to support Nonno, Luca and herself, by selling beautifully carved music boxes to the British and American troops, who having first bombed her beautiful country to smithereens, had now come to help rebuild.
When one of the soldiers she sold a music box too comes to call at her house the next day Caterina’s world is turned upside down. The soldier accuses her father of having been a thief involved with stealing old artefacts from the Museum of Naples, churches etc. Caterina cannot believe what she is hearing, her father was a good man, not a thief. However after she is dragged into an alley and questioned roughly by two Italian men she does not know about what the soldier had wanted and threats are made against her family Caterina wonders what she has got caught up in.
Furnivall writes an enthralling story with its twists and turns, where nothing is quite as it seems, complete with blood feuds, secret societies and love in unexpected places.
This is the first book by Kate Furnivall that I have read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Although it is quite a long book it is well written and quite captivating and I would highly recommend it.
Thank you, Marcia.
I found Kate Furnivall’s The Liberation a fascinating story exploring the aftermath of war and the devastation left behind. For once military hostilities are over, life does not and cannot simply go back to normal.
The central character Caterina Lombardi is strong, genuine and likeable with her love for her family driving everything she does. When she unexpectedly discovers dark family secrets she is drawn into a dangerous web out of which for a long time it seems there is no escape. Accusations of theft and treason lead to many more mysteries with each step forward it seems another hurdle arises.
A great read, with fabulous twists and turns and amazing armchair scenery, I particularly loved experiencing post-war Italy from a local’s perspective. This novel has been very skilfully written and I look forward to enjoying more of Kate Furnivall’s work. I highly recommend The Liberation for lovers of historical fiction, romance, crime and thrillers or just damn fine writing! Thanks to Beauty and Lace, Simon & Schuster and of course Kate Furnivall for the opportunity to read and review The Liberation.
Thank you, Imogen.
Set in Sorrento, Italy in 1945, this fast paced novel tells the story of Caterina Lombardi. World War II has ended and most people are struggling to survive Caterina, living with her younger brother and her grandfather, is no different, making a living from selling wooden boxes she handcrafts herself, following the family tradition
This is a tale of survival, of Caterina’s love of her father and her quest to clear his name. It is a very vivid story, and you are transported to a different time; a different place. It is a lovely thick book, that you will not want to put down. I pretty much read it in two days.
There are many twists and turns along the way. This is a great paced book, very easy to read. I was nor aware of the author Kate Furnivall, but will check out her other works based on this one. Thanks to Beauty and Lace and Simon and Schuster for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Thank you, Jacqui.