Harriet Jarreau cannot bear the thought of the end of her marriage to Peter, who married for her substantial fortune. No longer able to tolerate an oppressive marriage, he decides to leave her. His relief at this decision is palpable even though he is aware of the luxurious life he is about to give up...unless somehow she were gone. Stephen, Harriet's nephew, is a beneficiary of her Will. He also constantly cajoles her into implementing the meager allowance she gives him as Trustee of an inheritance from his late mother. Beneath his affable facade, however, he feels a burning resentment toward her and her control over him in denying what is rightfully his. Andr, Stephen's significant other, is forbidden to enter Harriet's home because of his "disgraceful" relationship with her nephew. He despises her and reminds Stephen of the luxurious life they could enjoy if only Harriet weren't around. Katy, the housemaid, is in love with Peter. She is naive in her belief that he returns her feelings because of his occasional flattering remarks. Her disdain toward Harriet is unrestrained, and she unequivocally believes she would be the next Mrs. Jarreau if only Harriet didn't exist. Faced with these unacceptable circumstances in their lives, who will be desperate enough to escape...by a death?
The year was 1879. It was a sunny Sunday afternoon in Nola, Italy. The DiNobili family, proud, imperious and of substantial means, joined the crowd of people in the streets, celebrating the Festa Dei Gigli. At the same time, in a rural village just outside Nola, lived the daughter of a family - poor, humble farm hands, bound to the soil and subject to the will of an aristrocratic land owner. As the result of a misguided love affair with him, she produced an illegitimate child who would one day through marriage become part of the Ferraro family. In the early 1900’s, both families emigrated to America. The DiNobili’s occupied first-class cabins, and the Ferraro’s sprawled out in steerage. Both settled in the poorest section of Brooklyn, New York, known as Greenpoint. The Ferraro’s rented a cold-water flat in a run-down tenement, and the DiNobili’s resided in the same type of tenement except that they owned the entire building. Years later an offshoot of each of these disparate families created a new family as a result of the elopement in 1916 of Paolo DiNobili, and 16-year old Maria Ferraro - much to the dismay of both families - the DiNobili’s because of their assumed superior social status to the Ferraro’s and the Ferraro’s because the choice of a husband had already been made for Maria. This tragi-comedy is told in colorful and authentic dialogue - a heart-rending account, juxtaposed with infectious humor as a picture of the lives of the descendants emerges. Paolo (Paul) Nobili’s life is woven throughout its telling - from his violent birth to his outrageous behavior on his death bed 92 years later. His often displayed uncontrollable rages and undeniable cruelty toward his family when provoked is shocking. Paul’s aberrant behavior degenerates into a new and lascivious dimension when, in his sixties, he forces upon his son’s wives and his grand daughters his latest ignoble trait. Almost 150 years of tragedy and humor experienced by these families is laid bare. Paolo never experiences the humor.
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