The Boston Italians: A Story of Pride, Perseverance, and Paesani, from the Years of the Great Immigration to the Present Day
Drawing extensively on the files ofLa Gazzettaas well as the personal papers of its legendary editor and publisher, James V. Donnaruma, and on his own family's memories, Puleo has crafted an unsparing, but mostly admiring, account of a colorful and vibrant community as it battled for social acceptance and political recognition.—Michael Kenney,Boston Sunday Globe"As you flip the pages ofThe Boston Italians, you can practically smell the sauce simmering on the stove. It's not a dull history lesson but a narrative underdog tale of what Puleo calls the 'real story' of those early southern Italian immigrants."—Dana Barbuto,Patriot Ledger"At long last, a historically accurate and well-crafted history of the Italian community that flourished in Boston’s North End. Drawing upon original documents, as well as anecdotes from the lives of his own family, Stephen Puleo has produced a work that is a great read for the generalist and a gold mine of information for the specialist."—Thomas H. O’Connor, university historian at Boston College and author ofThe Boston Irish"An inspiring contribution not only to the history of the city, but to the story of America. Part elegy, part paean,The Boston Italiansis a compelling document that honors the generations of immigrants who inspired it."—Christopher Castellani, author ofThe Saint of Lost Things"[Puleo] has written a book that moves along like a fast-paced novel . . . Truly a magnificent work." —Primo Magazine