- Paperback: 368 pages
- Publisher: Atlantic Books (1 Jun 2009)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1843549875
- ISBN-13: 978-1843549871
- Product Dimensions: 23.2 x 15.6 x 3.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 378,775 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Last Train from Liguria
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
"'Spare, trim, precise and remarkably tense' Margaret Forster 'Keeps getting better, long after you have put it down. In perfect, unassuming prose, Christine Dwyer Hickey conjures all our childhoods.' Anne Enright 'Beautiful and heartbreaking' Independent on Sunday"
Product Description
From the bestselling Irish novelist comes a sweeping historical novel, a tale of consequences that spans from the 1930s to the 1990s. "Last Train from Liguria" takes us on a journey from claustrophobic Dublin and the tense formality of London, to the heat and bustle of the Italian Riviera. Bella lives a cosseted life with her father in London. So when he announces that he has arranged for work for her as a governess in Italy, she is shocked, angry, and terribly scared of what lies in store...But as she boards a train for the northern Italian port of Bordighera, her fear soon gives way to her burgeoning sense of adventure. Bella eventually finds her young charge, Alec, at the Villa Lami, where he lives with his music teacher Edward. She delights in her relationship with the young boy, and discovers unexpected comfort in Edward who, like Bella, seems to be hiding a secret. But the atmosphere in Italy is changing quickly. As fascist laws take effect, Bella, Edward and Alec must escape the mounting threats around them, and face a rapidly changing world.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
87 of 90 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I took this novel with me for a weekend's break and read it morning, noon and night and couldn't put it down until I'd finished. The writing is lyrical and poetic with the most stunning imagery and Bella, the reason for whose timid, clinging and what we would now call anorexic behaviour is explained later on, is a character who gets under your skin. In fact all the characters do, from Bella's selfish, difficult and mostly absent employer, the American 'cousins' to the enigmatic Edward whose crime remains largely unexplained. Alec, I assume , has what is now know as Asperger's syndrome. One can't begin to imagine how his final days must have been.
I have read the critical comments here and am amazed. Did these people actually bother to read the book properly? Where is all this bad behaviour and language? Yes, the story of Anna shows a woman who is down in the depths but there is the possibility of redemption for her at the end and her all-too-believable behaviour is also explained by her past. You only have to think of her 'ancestry.'
The writer does not see the English as inferior. In fact, it is English people who look after Bella on the train when disaster strikes and help her through France and when she gets to London.I believe these reviewers only skim-read the beginning or were expecting Enid Blyton, not an intelligent, deep and thought-provoking read. That the title refers to a train journey which only comes later on is irrelevant. It is built up throughout the whole novel from the very first journey Bella makes.
This is a novel that remains with me even now. I keep thinking about the unfairness and stupidity of war, the vile stain of fascism and anti-Semitism and how people who would never normally meet are flung together, only to fail each other. Stunning.
I have read the critical comments here and am amazed. Did these people actually bother to read the book properly? Where is all this bad behaviour and language? Yes, the story of Anna shows a woman who is down in the depths but there is the possibility of redemption for her at the end and her all-too-believable behaviour is also explained by her past. You only have to think of her 'ancestry.'
The writer does not see the English as inferior. In fact, it is English people who look after Bella on the train when disaster strikes and help her through France and when she gets to London.I believe these reviewers only skim-read the beginning or were expecting Enid Blyton, not an intelligent, deep and thought-provoking read. That the title refers to a train journey which only comes later on is irrelevant. It is built up throughout the whole novel from the very first journey Bella makes.
This is a novel that remains with me even now. I keep thinking about the unfairness and stupidity of war, the vile stain of fascism and anti-Semitism and how people who would never normally meet are flung together, only to fail each other. Stunning.
46 of 48 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have never read anything by this author before so I have no comparisons to make with previous novels. All I knew was that Christine Dwyer-Hickey is an award winning Irish novelist. While I found this narrative interesting taking us back and forth between London, Dublin and Italy in the nineteen thirties and mid nineteen nineties it neither excited me nor bored me. In fact leaving me feeling rather indifferent about this well written novel. I am disappointed and feel a little guilty admitting this, but there is no point in pretending otherwise. A decent read that was absorbing but nothing particular really drew me in.
The main setting of the story is fascist era Italy where the female protagonist Bella Stuart takes a position as tutor to Alec the son of the aristocratic Lami family. His mother has little time for him and Alec's life revolves around Bella and his music teacher Edward King. The reader has already learnt much about the latters past in the opening chapter of the novel, a dark secret he keeps to himself in Italy. When the story moves to the present times it is to meet Anna a young woman of Italian descent and gradually connections with the past are uncovered.
It is a vivid picture of Italy during the rise of fascism that the author gives us with a very atmospheric sense of place. A novel not just about the historical period it is set in but a love story of perception and regret.
The main setting of the story is fascist era Italy where the female protagonist Bella Stuart takes a position as tutor to Alec the son of the aristocratic Lami family. His mother has little time for him and Alec's life revolves around Bella and his music teacher Edward King. The reader has already learnt much about the latters past in the opening chapter of the novel, a dark secret he keeps to himself in Italy. When the story moves to the present times it is to meet Anna a young woman of Italian descent and gradually connections with the past are uncovered.
It is a vivid picture of Italy during the rise of fascism that the author gives us with a very atmospheric sense of place. A novel not just about the historical period it is set in but a love story of perception and regret.
38 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I really enjoyed this book. I was rather uninspired by the gory first chapter but completely captivated from then on. This is a warm and engaging story that not only deals with the minutiae of an aristocratic family life in Italy in the 1930's but also touches on the sprawling epic of what was to befall Europe in the lead up to WW11. The characters are thoughtfully and richly depicted, the storyline is strong and coherent and the larger picture across three generations and a number of European countries is clearly drawn. I could not recommend this book more highly.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Last train from Liguria
I enjoyed the book, it was definitely worth downloading. The storyline was interesting and kept me turning the pages. Set in Italy and covered present day back to WW11.Great read.
Published 11 days ago by Sandie
Unusual Story
Bought this on the short summary. Unusual story that lost me a few times but did get my attention wondering what was happening. Read more
Published 12 days ago by Molly
Well written novel - so why didn't it engage me more
This novel flits between 1930's and 1990's. It is well written and the description of life in Fascist era Italy is interesting. Read more
Published 16 days ago by Avidreader
Passed the time.
I wasn't that impressed with this book, although it did keep my interest for some of the time, but I found it slow, especially at the beginning, and I found the central character... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Valleysgirl
Last Train from Liguria
Excellent read which kept me engaged till the last page. I would recommend it as a good summer read.
Published 2 months ago by nhowitt
Good read
Downloaded by my 2 year old grandson by mistake, this proved to be an excellent unexpected read.No too sure about the ending...
Published 2 months ago by Lily
Last Train from Liguria
I loved this book. It was given to me as a present and just could not put it down.
Wonderful insight into life in Italy at the start of World War Two. Eloquently written. Read more
Wonderful insight into life in Italy at the start of World War Two. Eloquently written. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Irene Procter
Refugees
I had not previously heard of the author Christine Dwyer Hickey. Such descriptions as "best selling Irish novelist" or even "best selling female author" are often off putting... Read more
Published 3 months ago by maytrees
Last Train to Liguria
The book came on time and in good condition and well wrapped. A good story that I thoroughly enjoyed and will be passing on to my cousin.
Published 3 months ago by Florence Joan Beech
AN ADDICTIVE TALE
Don't think of starting this one unless you have time for long reading sessions. It is that good . You won't want to put it down. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Alexander Bryce
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