Steile Welt

The Onsernone: Valley of Women, Valley of Silence, Valley of Dreams. Three hundred curves, two shops, the postal bus. The steep world in Ticino offers little in terms of opportunities for ascent, forcing the locals to seek alternatives. About fifteen people share stories of poverty and hardship, prosperity and decline, emigration and resistance. Personal impressions from the author introduce each chapter before the residents recount their lives in detail. The immense willpower of those who have endured or returned is vividly expressed. At the same time, these accounts provide insight into the cultural richness of this region. With "Steep World," the author honors a remote yet historically significant valley in Ticino in an exceptionally atmospheric tone.