In his sequel to Calabrian Tales, the historical fiction about the paternal side of his family, Peter Chiarella comes forth with an account of his maternal relatives, the Zinzi family from southernmost Italy, in Out of Calabria. 

NAPA, Calif., June 30 /PRNewswire/ -- In his sequel to Calabrian Tales, the historical fiction about the paternal side of his family, Peter Chiarella comes forth with an account of his maternal relatives, the Zinzi family from southernmost Italy, in Out of Calabria  (published by Trafford Publishing).
Reminiscent of Melania Mazzucco's VITA  and Upton Sinclair's The Jungle, Out of Calabria  spans the period from 1860 - 1920, set first in Calabria in the southernmost region of mainland Italy and later in New York City. Vitaliano Zinzi, Chiarella's great-grandfather, seized the role of patriarch and head of the family at age 10 when his father and two brothers were killed in the war. He worked hard to become a wealthy man, becoming known as "Baron Zinzi," and expected his children to marry into esteemed, prominent families.

Vitaliano sires two sons and two daughters. When his oldest, Caterina, falls in love with a peasant field hand, he is scandalized by their marriage and torrid relationship. Meanwhile, Concetta, Baron Zinzi's younger daughter, has fallen for a young man trapped in a loveless marriage with an older woman. Eventually the man leaves his wife for Concetta and the couple makes their home on the same shabby street as Caterina and her husband.
Follow these two couples as they travel to New York, where they are determined to rise above their peasant status. Will they find success on America's shores, or will the harsh realities of circumstance prove to be too much? Should the sisters have followed Vitaliano's advice and married rich men instead of following their hearts? What will become of them in New York? Find out in the pages of Out of Calabria, a compelling portrait of Southern Italy and the United States at the turn of the century. Discover more in the pages of this engaging new book.
About the Author 
Peter Chiarella was born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., and graduated from St. John's University in New York. Now retired from the corporate world, Chiarella resides in Napa, Calif., where he spends his time as a wine grape grower and vintner. He and his wife have four children and three grandchildren.
 

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