The Proxy Bride
In the mid-20th century, thousands of proxy brides travelled from Italy to Australia to marry men who had emigrated but found there were no suitable wives for them. Often, these young women didn’t even know their husbands but were willing to risk all and take up the offer of a life free from the poverty and lack of suitable partners in their homeland, knowing they might never see their families again. Inspired by the author’s own family history, this is the story of Gia and Taddeo, who had a fruit farm on the Queensland tablelands.
In 1984, teenager Sofie is sent by her mother, Elena, to stay with her widowed Nonna Gia during the summer holidays. Initially, the pair are prickly towards one another, but while cooking together (using copious amounts of chili peppers) and listening to songs by Dean Martin, their relationship matures. Gia slowly reveals her life as a proxy bride after she left Italy in 1939. Many Australians did not welcome the Italians, and it was a struggle for the women, especially when their husbands were interned during World War II, and they suffered outright hostility as they tried to keep their farms going. Gia also tells of a forbidden love affair that could have cost her dearly. Sofie has her own secrets and hopes to learn from Gia the truth about her own mysterious father, who died before she was born.
This is a delightful and thoroughly absorbing novel on all levels. The characters are vivid and believable. The 1980s settings are as authentic and impeccably handled as those of the earlier years. Although there are tragedies, these are balanced out with resilience, forgiveness and love of family. An added bonus is the inclusion of all the mentioned delicious Calabrian recipes.
