Der Mädchenname

At the beginning of the 20th century in a small village in the Sicilian mountains: It soon becomes clear that little Rosa seems to be made of the very fabric of the plant she is named after: flowers that come to life again and again, fruits that are good against diseases, and wood that is strong and resilient. As a woman, she is regarded as little, yet she never fully submits to her father and brothers. When she meets Sebastiano Quaranta, it is love at first sight. Rosa elopes with him, they marry, and together they open an inn that becomes a sought-after destination. Shortly thereafter, they welcome the handsome Fernando, Donato, who will become a priest, and finally Selma, whose hands are as delicate as the embroideries with which she adorns fabrics. Selma marries against Rosa's advice and better judgment, and her unhappy marriage has repercussions for her own daughters. Patrizia, the most combative of the three sisters, Lavinia, who loves cinema, and the youngest, Marinella, who dreams of leaving Italy. Aurora Tamigio combines ancient wisdom, imaginative lightness, and strong female characters in her award-winning three-generation novel. "The Maiden Name" unfolds an irresistible pull, has been awarded as the favorite book of booksellers, and has become one of the most successful debuts in Italy in recent years.