In 1939, Giacinta sets sail from Italy to Australia. Decades later, a granddaughter discovers the true story of her family… A stunningly crafted novel of family, secrets and facing adversity.
When Sofie comes to stay with her grandmother in Stanthorpe, she knows little of Nonna Gia’s past. In the heat of that 1984 summer, the two clash over Gia’s strict Italian ways and superstitions, her chilli-laden spaghetti and the evasive silence surrounding Sofie’s father, who died before she was born. Then Sofie learns Gia had an arranged marriage. From there, the past begins to reveal why no-one will talk of her father.
As Nonna Gia cooks, furtively adding a little more chilli each time, she also begins feeding Sofie her stories. How she came to Australia on a ‘bride ship’, among many proxy brides, knowing little about the husbands they had married from afar. Most arriving to find someone much different than described.
Then, as World War II takes over the nation, and in the face of the growing animosity towards Italians that sees their husbands interned, Gia and her friends are left alone. Impoverished. Desperate. To keep their farms going, their only hope is banding together, along with Edie, a reclusive artist on the neighbouring farm and two Women’s Land Army workers. But the venture is made near-impossible by the hatred towards the women held by the local publican and an illicit love between Gia and an Australian, Keith.
The summer burns on and the truth that unfolds is nothing like what Sofie expected.
Zoe Boccabella, author of Mezza Italiana, brings to life a unique, untold experience in a resonant novel of family, food and love, including twelve traditional recipes from the author herself.
It’s hard to imagine the days when arranged marriages were commonplace in Australia, but that’s exactly what author Zoe Boccabella explores in her latest historical novel, The Proxy Bride. . This is an authentic and heartfelt read that examines the connections we make when faced with hardship
The novel shifts between protagonist Gia in her younger years and her granddaughter Sofie in 1984. While both storylines focus on themes of family and resilience, Gia’s story dives into the discrimination that she and other Italian immigrants faced in Australia when the war broke out. The women band together without their husbands and support each other while undergoing severe prejudice. It’s an inspiring look at women coming together to form their own community. As Sofie slowly learns about her grandmother’s life during this time, we see her start to understand that Nonna Gia isn’t the woman she thought she was. The relationship between Gia and Sofie is a strong feature of the story, and Boccabella does a wonderful job of portraying this throughout.
Perfect for readers of Victoria Purman, Zoe Boccabella’s The Proxy Bride is a moving novel that explores female friendships and the bonds we make when faced with disaster.
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