The Italian Prisoner, by Elisa M. Speranza

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**Keep reading to learn more about the true story of The Italian Prisoner.**

Historical Inspiration

Black and white photo of the Messina sisters, Dorothy and Mary, with Jackson Barracks POW including Antonio Pezzana. Photo courtesy of Linda DiMarzio Massicot.

The Messina sisters, Dorothy (left) and Mary (right) with Jackson Barracks POWs, including Mary’s future husband Antonio Pezzana (front right). Photo courtesy of Linda DiMarzio Massicot.

‍Many years ago, I heard a friend’s story about his parents: an Italian prisoner of war and a French Quarter Sicilian woman who met during World War II in New Orleans. Fascinated by this hidden chapter in history, she became determined to find out more. In the course of my investigation, I connected with scholars, researchers, and others who’ve been piecing together the little-known stories of some of the 51,000 Italian POWs held in the US from 1943-1945, 1,000 of whom were held at Jackson Barracks in New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward. Working with Sal Serio, Curator of the American Italian Library, and Linda DiMarzio Massicot, the daughter of one of the Jackson Barracks POWs, I started a treasure hunt for information, artifacts, and people. Together, we identified ten local families who had descended from the Jackson Barracks POWs and the local Sicilian-American women they met and married. Find out more about the historical backstory here on this page.

“Operation Torch,” a critical WWII campaign, began in North Africa in November 1942 and ended with an Allied victory in May 1943. After the fighting ceased, British and US forces transported captured German and Italian prisoners of war to camps around the world. The Americans brought 380,000 Germans and 51,000 Italian POWs to the US. Italy surrendered and switched sides in September of 1943. The Italian POWs were no longer “enemy combatants,” but couldn’t be sent home either, according to the Geneva Convention. Given the severe shortage of workers, the US Army offered the Italian POWs a chance to serve in “Italian Service Units” in March of 1944. Almost all of them signed up.

About 1,000 Italians were housed at Jackson Barracks in New Orleans until they were sent home in December of 1945. Many people are surprised to learn there was a sizable population of Sicilian immigrants in New Orleans’ French Quarter in the first half of the 20th century. In fact, the Mayor of New Orleans at the time was Sicilian-American Robert Maestri. Along with other cities that had thriving Italian-American neighborhoods (such as Boston), New Orleans’ Sicilian community adopted the Italian POWs–partly to help support the war effort and prove their patriotism, and partly out of compassion for their countrymen. The young women of “Little Palermo” found friends and dance partners, and many of them found husbands. Please visit my Substack archive to find out more about these unique American love stories.

‍The Jackson Barracks POW Families

Lorenzo Nuzzolillo married Eleanor “Noni” Battaglia

Eugenio Chierici married Concetta “Tini” Battaglia

Lorenzo Giancontieri married Marianna “Annie” Battaglia

Giovanni DiStefano married Vergie Battaglia

Giuseppe Faroldi married Felicia D’Anna

Loreto DiGregorio married Mamie Lore

Mario Maranto married Marguerite Graffagnini

Antonio Pezzana married Mary Messina

Ermanno DiMarzio married Dorothy Messina

Giovanni Manfrin (Camp Plauche) married Anna Mae Cassesi

Click here for more pictures

Praise for The Italian Prisoner

Primo Magazine 2023 edition with praise for The Italian Prisoner.

‍It’s always great to get recognition in the local press. Check out this terrific article in the New Orleans paper, thanks to Allison Alsup of the New Orleans Writers Workshop.

“The Italian Prisoner does a smoothly confident job drawing readers into the world of wartime New Orleans. The dynamics of foreign prisoners of war spending years quartered in American cities and towns will be unfamiliar to many readers, and those dynamics are well-drawn in these pages. The novel belongs entirely to Rose, but nevertheless, the large cast of secondary characters are well fleshed-out and often represent different life-paths or choices than the ones Rose herself makes.” —Steve Donoghue, The Vineyard Gazette

“The repercussions of WWII are lovingly rendered through one woman’s story, with an endearing cast of characters who all feel like family by the end.”—LALITA TADEMY, New York Times best-selling author of Oprah’s Book Club pick Cane River, Red River, and Citizens Creek

"Elisa Speranza's heartfelt and exuberant debut is both an essential contribution to the treasure trove of Italian American fiction and a transporting page-turner. I want everyone in my family to meet Rose, our inspiring heroine, whose extraordinary story will stay with me for a long time."—CHRISTOPHER CASTELLANI, author of Leading Men

“The Italian Prisoner is a stunningly detailed, fast-paced novel that unveils a largely unknown part of America’s World War II history. Ms. Speranza’s first novel is a compelling mix of freshness and familiarity, using a female rites-of-passage narrative to transport readers to 1940s New Orleans and to bring alive the timeless challenges of living in a nation at war. The memorable main character, Rose Marino, tugs at the hearts of readers as she weaves her unique tapestry of independence with threads of hope and courage.” —ANN HAGEDORN, award-winning author of Beyond the River, Savage Peace, Sleeper Agent and more

“A dazzling World War II love story set in New Orleans that will pull you in from the very first paragraph. The characters have compelling depth and the setting is so well described that you will be able to feel, hear, and smell the locations throughout the novel. But it is Rose’s journey that tugs at your heart. The Italian Prisoner is a marvelous debut novel.”—JENNIFER SMITH TURNER, award-winning author of Child Bride, named the Best Ebook of 2020 by the Black Caucus of The American Library Association.

‍“The Italian Prisoner is a refreshing addition to the historical women’s fiction bookshelf. Speranza has written a captivating dive into New Orleans’s Italian-American community as seen through the eyes of a young woman figuring out how to balance family, friendship, faith, and love against the backdrop of World War Two.”—KAIA ALDERSON, author of Sisters in Arms

"Painting an intimate portrait of the Italian-American community in WWII New Orleans, Speranza crafts a lovely coming of age tale. With true-to-life family dynamics and the drama of first love, the author invites us to take a passeggiata alongside her heroine Rose." —SHAUNNA J. EDWARDS, co-author of The Thread Collectors

“Prepare to fall in love with Rose and those in her orbit in this tender coming-of-age story -- intimate historical fiction at its page-turning best.”—PAMELA ROTNER SAKAMOTO, author of Midnight in Broad Daylight: A Japanese American Family Caught Between Two Worlds

“The Italian Prisoner carries us to New Orleans during World War II. Speranza’s finely-crafted prose captures all the vibrancy, cultural tribalism, musical swing, and grinding fear of that era. At the novel’s center is young Rose; caught up in global anxieties while, at the same time, struggling with aching, impatient questions about love, self, and the tearing need for independence. This is a beautiful book that will touch anyone who ever dared want more out of life. I so admire The Italian Prisonerand thank Elisa Speranza for sharing her wonderful vision and insight.” —CHARLES FORREST JONES, author of The Illusion of Simple

"Elisa Speranza has gifted us the charming story of a young Sicilian woman during the years of WWI in New Orleans as she copes with a distant mother, a conflicted romance with an unlikely admirer, and an evolving world which beckons her to blossom. The author's keen eye for the history of those years are evident as delightful details of the city at war abound. Within this framework, personal tragedy and family secrets erupt to provide the reader with an intimate connection to the lovely protagonist, Rose. She could easily be one of us. What an enjoyable read!”—BRIAN ALTOBELLO, author of Whiskey, Women, and War: How the Great War Shaped Jim Crow New Orleans

‍“It is one thing to read about history, and it's another to experience it—In reading Elisa Speranza's, The Italian Prisoner, life during WW11 in America breaths on every page. Speranza transports us back in time to follow the coming of age of Rose while simultaneously telling us of the not widely known history of Italian prisoners at Jackson Barracks, Louisiana. The sounds, tastes, and smells of an Italy-infused New Orleans interweave with secrets, love, friendship, and loss, along with a women's evolution to independence and the struggles that come with it. Speranza's writing is compelling, atmospheric, and refined. A truly magnificent read.”—DIANNE C. BRALEY, author of The Silence in the Sound (debuting August 2022)

‍“So many wonderful moments, with well-drawn scenes and rendered emotions. The novel's time and place come alive. Speranza offers us Rose Marino, a young protagonist who truly grows over the course of the book, as well as secondary characters who breathe life onto the page and shape Rose’s evolution. Here is the voice of the war and of young women finding their way, as they never have before and during the most difficult of circumstances. The Italian Prisoner is a tribute to how ordinary people were called upon to do extraordinary things and to endure extraordinary losses, both at home and abroad. An achievement for the literature of New Orleans and World War II.” —ALLISON ALSUP, Co-Founder and Creative Director, New Orleans Writers Workshop

‍Reader Reviews

‍“I was completely transported to an earlier era. Elisa Speranza does an incredible job developing the characters and describing 1940s New Orleans. Such a beautiful story of a woman’s role, forbidden love, and societal expectations – I couldn’t put it down!”—MARY DEVLIN, Cambridge, MA

“This beautiful blend of Italian and New Orleans culture had me feeling hungry and humming songs all the way through. The downside of reading great books is that they end... I want a sequel!” —GINA WAMMOCK, Black Mountain, NC

‍"The Italian Prisoner brings the look and feel and sound and smell of the wartime French Quarter to life. It left me wishing I could walk through the courtyard and up the steps into Rose's family's apartment, plastic covered sofa and all, and spend an evening with the Marinos. What a fascinating dive into a little-known role New Orleans played during World War II."—DANA ENESS, New Orleans, LA

“As a lover of WWII stories, I was delighted to discover a previously untold storyline of romance between an American and a POW, with a spunky, modern heroine that I couldn’t resist. The characters were richly drawn and avoided the tropes and stereotypes of so many “home front” stories. Bravo!”—CAROLE FLORMAN, Edgecomb, ME

‍ “I not only enjoyed it, but it transported me to another time. The author conveyed a sense of history so well that I felt as though I were actually experiencing aspects of civilian life during WWII. The pace kept moving briskly along, and I was interested from the beginning all the way through, as Rose was transformed into a confident, independent woman in a believable way."—MICKEY LEVINGER, Annapolis, MD

‍“A thoughtful, pleasant journey in World War II era New Orleans through a young woman’s eyes as she sees family, work, war, and romance cascade in new and unexpected ways. An authentic and delightful book, worth reading!”—ROBERT MILLER, Louisville, KY

Related Links

World War II was a pivotal time in the history of women in the workplace. In the novel, Rose and her best friend Marie work in war-time jobs at the Higgins Shipyard, which had an integrated workforce—unusual in those days in the South. Here’s more about the role of women during the war. New Orleans writer John Pope combed through some oral histories at the National WWII Museum for this portrait of the many women who worked in non-traditional jobs during the war. Here’s a link to his September 24, 2020 story.

The Feast of Saint Joseph, celebrated on March 19, is important in many cultures, as it honors the patron saint of families, workers, and the “good death”–all important themes in my book. The Sicilian-American community in New Orleans has taken the celebration to a high art. Check out the photos below from my tour of New Orleans area altars in 2019. Read more about the tradition here. And on a related note, the beautiful book cover for The Italian Prisoner is from New Orleans-based artist Deedra Ludwig’s painting called “Capistrano.” Saint Joseph’s Day is also the day the swallows return to Capistrano, so it’s just too perfect.

St. Joseph Altar with food and offerings.

St. Joseph Altar with a red candle burning, food, and offerings.

St. Joseph Altar with food, candles, and offerings.

Like most immigrant groups, Italians and Sicilians faced cruel discrimination as they arrived in the U.S. seeking a better life. By the 1940s, many had assimilated and taken positions of power and influence in politics, business, and society. When the war broke out, old prejudices flared up. Some German and Italian US residents were classified as “enemy aliens,” and some were even detained during the early days of the war, though nothing on the scale of the shameful internment of Japanese-Americans. For a deep dive into Italian Internment During WWII, here’s a great talk given by Humanities Professor Laura Ruberto of Berkeley City College. More on the topic here.

The West Bank Historical Society’s March 2021 newsletter (page 22), The Algerine, has a great write-up on the late Sal Serio and the American-Italian Research Library. Mr. Sal was instrumental in helping me unlock the fascinating stories of the Jackson Barracks POWs and was an invaluable research partner. An expert genealogist, he also helped track down the descendants and was an ardent cheerleader and promoter of the novel and the backstory. I miss him and will be forever grateful to him.

In the novel, Rose’s family runs a grocery store. Here’s a great piece about the history of Sicilian corner groceries in New Orleans, featuring Sal Serio, of course.

Here’s an excerpt from Justin Nystrom’s Creole Italian in the Southern Foodways Alliance’s online journal. It’s a good history of the Sicilian French Quarter.

I was thinking about writing a blog post about the parallels between the COVID19 crisis and life on the New Orleans home front during World War II. Luckily, the National WWII Museum’s Kim Guise did it for me here in 64 Parishes magazine.

Rose works as a bookkeeper at Higgins Industries. Here’s a link to read more about Andrew Jackson Higgins and the boats that helped win World War II. And here’s a great little mini-documentary on Higgins’ role during the war.

The World War II era has been burnished over time in the American psyche, and for good reason. But it was also a time of unmitigated racism manifested in Jim Crow laws, cruel segregation, and violence against African-Americans. Even Nazi POWs were appalled at the treatment of African-Americans in the US. Learn more in this article.

Sicilian-American Jazzman Louis Prima makes an appearance in the novel. Here’s an article with a little more background on him, and another from New Orleans writer Michael Tisserand about one of my favorite songs. And here’s a link to “The Wildest,” a fabulous documentary about Prima’s life.

Rose spends a lot of time on streetcars, which criss-crossed New Orleans before being mostly removed in the late 1940s as the automobile became ascendant. Here’s a good article by geographer Richard Campanella. And here’s a photo of what North Rampart Street would have looked like as Rose made her way home from work.

Rampart Street 1947, a tree lined road with cars on the side.

Photo courtesy of The Historic New Orleans Collection/ Charles Franck Collection.

To check out some photographs that inspired various aspects of the book, click here.

The Italian Prisoner Playlist

Apple Music

Spotify

Bonus: Swing Kids was a pretty terrible movie with one fabulous dance scene, featuring Louis Prima’s “Sing Sing Sing.”

Double Bonus: Jon Batiste’s “Freedom” video, which shows what it’s like to live in present-day New Orleans.

Presentation

Click here to see a Power Point presentation about the historic context and inspiration for The Italian Prisoner.

‍Italian-English Glossary

What’s with all those Italian words?

Throughout the book, there are Italian words in the dialogue. Many of them are in context so readers can figure out what they mean—but not all—hat tip to reader Barry Simon for putting together an Italian-English glossary, which you can download here.