Monday, January 18, 2021

My Book in three languages: English, Italian, and French





My book based on Andrea's memoirs is now available in English, Italian, and French. 

The English version is available on the publisher's website, http://www.xlibris.com, as well as online booksellers such as amazon, bookdepository, barnes & noble, etc. 

The Italian and French versions are available on amazon and other online booksellers.

Spread the word! Tell your family and friends! 

If you like the book, please leave a Customer Review on amazon or Xlibris. These reviews have already been posted. So far all of them have given my book Five Gold Stars!

Here are some of the reviews. More to be posted soon~

Editorial Reviews

“At the crossroads of biography, memoir, essay, and history, Growing Up in Mussolini’s Fascist Italy: The Story of Andrea Marcello Meloni is a vivid and moving tribute to a unique period in time and a unique individual who lived through it. Weaving firsthand accounts and photographs with a wealth of research and insights, Christine Foster Meloni gives us a detailed excavation of a period that is no less fascinating or relevant now than it was when it occurred, and she paints a memorable portrait of a man who was forever altered by it.
- Kirk Kjeldsen, author of Land of Hidden Fires

“Often left out of World War II accounts set in Europe, Growing Up in Mussolini’s Fascist Italy: The Story of Andrea Marcello Meloni offers a vivid picture of life in Italy during Mussolini’s 21-year iron rule. “When I was born, in 1928,” Andrea writes, “I was born a little fascist. Yes! In that period one was first born a fascist and then an Italian.” In this memoir, author Christine Meloni wraps her husband’s own words in her own extensive research on the rise of Mussolini and the historical context of Andrea’s life. This is both an entertaining and informative read for anyone interested in World War II history and fascism in Italy.” 

-J.L. Oakley, author of The Jøssing Affair and The Quisling Factor


Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2020

This haunting account of life under Mussolini, as see from a child's perspective, reminds us that times of disturbing local strife and the poverty of war are not that far away. Meloni does an excellent job of adding historical context to her husband's childhood memories of life in Rome before and during World War II, expanding the story into a broader portrait of that time. Carefully and beautifully done!

Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2020

Curious to know a little about “Fascism”, I loved reading this - and the additional resources too (they are excellent: to hear one of Mussolini’s speeches ‘live’, see link on p. 75.) Meloni writes a gentle, personal account from her husband’s notes - one aches for the hungry little village boy, understands his enthusiasm later on when he gets his own uniform and marches, with his friends, in the military parade. One aches again when he endures the sufferings of the war imposed on all his people - and deeply understands his eventual, mature hatred of oppression and his love of freedom and peace. This book is more than readable and enlightening tho’: it’s applicable to the present. We're seeing our own freedoms being curtailed (for whatever-many reasons); poverty is growing and so is the centralization of political power. “Growing Up In Mussolini’s Fascist Italy” is a book to read now and keep in mind and heart as we make choices for our own future.



In Memory of Andrea Meloni


 Colin and Christian sitting on the benches I donated to the church for the Memorial Garden in memory of Andrea.