A Rose for Every Month

This book begins with the character of Jane Rushton, a 30-something English woman in the 1920s who flees to Italy to escape her fiance's infidelity. There she meets Ottavio Castagnolo, "padrone" of a vast wine and olive estate which has been slowly falling into ruin. Jane agrees to become governess for Ottavio's two young children, and thus the lives of the Rushtons and the Castagnolos become forever intertwined. Specifically, Jane's brother, Charlie, her cousin, Alexandra, and her nephew David, all become bewitched by Italy through mingling with Ottavio's sister, Anna, his brother, Fausto, and his son and daughter, Marco and Francesca. The story spans approximately 40 years and is set against the backdrop of WWII. My only complaint about this novel is that the ending felt rather rushed; suddenly, we have the characters informing us of the action rather than being allowed to see it unfold for ourselves. Overall, however, this was an enjoyable read, especially given the unique perspective into a terrible time of world history.