A Castle in Romagna

Translated from Croation by Tomislav Kuzmanovic and Russell Scott Valentino
Autumn Hill Books (2004)
ISBN 0975444409
Reviewed by Lisa Kisner for Reader Views (2/06)

This book tells the tale of two loves 400 years apart, yet similar in their fate. During a tour of a castle in Italy, a man hears the story of Enzo Strecci, a poet who falls in love with the wife of his host and protector at this castle in 16th century Italy.

The tale is told to him by a friar who is a fellow countryman and ex- patriot. Intertwined in the story of Enzo, however, is the ill-fated love story of the friar and a Communist police captain’s daughter in his native in Bosnia. Both men are relentless in their quest for their chosen loves that climax in heartrending outcomes.

These tales mirror each other proving that history repeats itself, especially regarding affairs of the heart. The bittersweet tales are both set in times of change and are told in eloquent, descriptive language and will attract readers for many years to come.

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