The Brittle Age
The Brittle Age by Donatella Di Pietrantonio, published by Europa Editions on June 3, 2025, is a contemplative novel that delves into the intricate dynamics between mothers and daughters. Set in the 1990s and revisiting the haunting shadows of a brutal crime in Central Italy, the story follows Lucia, a physiotherapist grappling with her past as her daughter Amanda returns home during the pandemic. This edition, written in English and spanning 192 pages, explores themes of generational trauma and the fragility of human connections.
Readers will find a profound exploration of family life as Lucia’s memories resurface, intertwining her personal struggles with the mystery of the tragedy that impacted their community decades earlier. The narrative weaves together elements of coming-of-age and domestic life, set against the backdrop of the rugged Apennine mountains. The Brittle Age offers a poignant commentary on how historical events shape personal lives, inviting reflection on resilience and the complexities of familial relationships.
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WINNER OF THE 2024 STREGA PRIZE AND THE 2024 YOUTH STREGA PRIZE
★ “A gut-wrenching excavation of generational trauma… this contemplative novel offers a subtle but piercing meditation on the complex dynamics between parents and children.”–Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Acclaimed Italian author Donatella Di Pietrantonio’s best-selling novel to date, The Brittle Age is a powerful mother and daughter story and a profound exploration of human fragility and the haunting shadows of the past
In the 1990s, deep in the Maiella mountains of Central Italy, a brutal crime shatters the peace of the local community. Two young women are murdered, a third left for dead. Lucia is twenty years old back, and the only survivor is her best friend.
Now, Lucia is a physiotherapist, separating from her husband, her daughter Amanda studying in Milan. When the pandemic forces Amanda to return to the family’s home near Pescara, Lucia’s memories are reawakened, and with them the impact of past trauma.
Set against the backdrop of the rugged Apennine mountains, this gripping psychological family drama weaves Lucia and Amanda’s personal struggles with the mystery of the tragedy that marked their familial land decades earlier.
Inspired by true events, The Brittle Age is a tale of individual resilience, and a commentary on the indelible impact of historical events on personal lives and the broader community.
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