The Walls of Lucca by Steve Physioc
“I thought about the deeper message about how we often build emotional walls to protect us from some perceived threat and how doubts, fears, worries keep us from realizing our own divine potential.”
With those sentiments, says author Steve Physioc, the story begins.
That story, ripping with history, personality, philosophy, tranquility, danger and beauty, is The Walls of Lucca, in which flawed and well-defined characters gingerly navigate through post-World War I Italy as Mussolini and Fascism loom over the peace and prosperity of the unassuming Martellino vineyard.
The book is a marvelous blend of relationships, romance, friendships, politics, war, religion and spiritual suggestion. Through concise and captivating writing, the author introduces us to a plethora of characters with different backstories and dreams, all set against the rise to power of Benito Mussolini. Most of the characters oppose his authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization, but there are some supporters.
While the walls surrounding the central Italian city and commune of Lucca are very real, they are the perfect metaphor for the walls within the soul — the outward expression of activity and appearances necessary to survive world events and influences, contrasted with the inward beliefs and feelings perhaps too dangerous to share but what hold one’s spirit together.
There’s a most memorable character who shines in the midst of struggle: Isabella, an orphan who finds her way from the convent to the Martellino vineyard and represents all that is good in the world. She is strong, wise, grounded in her beliefs, confident, cocky, charming and the glue that holds the story together — and pretty much all of its characters.
Isabella is driven by love and forgiveness, in finding the good in soil and souls, from her gardening, cooking and connection to nature’s beauty to her outlook on life and people. She somehow possesses the unique skill to see past others’ shortcomings and forgive them unabashedly for what appears their outward crimes or digressions.
Hers is a spiritual outlook that permeates the entire saga and stands as the guiding light that sees the characters through political upheaval, personal/relationship challenges, economic hardship and growing up and coming of age.
The plot has many tentacles held together by the author’s fluid storytelling, clear and easy writing style and page-turning march through historical times and events.
At the vineyard, Isabella links with Franco, a farmer who has left his home, entered into war on a whim, and returns as lead winemaker to the Martellinos. He marries Isabella.
Life on the vineyard is tranquil in many ways. It is a peaceful existence where it is easy to experience the beauty and bounty of one’s surroundings. It is a joyous place to be and to grow up in. Until fear rears its ugly head.
While the characters and characterizations are many, two are uniquely significant:
Susanna, wife of the vineyard’s owner, intent on enhancing her reputation and power as a woman of status. She supports the Fascists, and is constantly clashing with the lovely Isabella, seemingly jealous of her every step but mainly because her children seem to favor her over their mother.
Alfred Obizzi, a power-hungry man seeking the favor of Mussolini and determined to destroy anything and everything in his way — even Isabella and what she stands for.
Franco, who has seen the world from many perspectives, nicely summarizes his transition in life from disillusionment to reality to a spiritual sense, reflecting to a large degree the overall theme of the story:
“We were told that war is about honor and patriotism. But the Great War was about power and greed.”
And where do we go from there as a people?
“Bella says our sole purpose on earth is to know forgiveness.”
In The Walls of Lucca, there’s plenty of opportunity to practice that course — as difficult and unthinkable at times as it might appear. That message is what makes this book an incredible read — an engaging story with intricate and complicated characters who learn to forgive even the most abominable outward behavior, for a greater purpose.
Says Isabella, “The world you see right now is a vengeful world – and when you see a vengeful world, the only answer that comes to you is revenge. That’s why it is so important to forgive.”
An important message to carry forth into Book Two. Be glad that there’s more!
Steve Physioc has been telling stories for the past forty years, primarily as a play-by-play announcer for football, baseball, and basketball and most recently as the radio-TV broadcaster for the Kansas City Royals and on play-by-plays for Fox. He won an Emmy in 2013. Physioc’s historical romance was inspired by A Course in Miracles, which perfectly reflects his protagonist Isabella’s view on inner peace and the power of forgiveness. Read Steve’s other works: Above the Walls (book two in the series), Walks with the Wind and Catching the Wind. Steve and his wife Stace live in the Kansas City area and love to visit and spend time with their children, Ryan and Kevin, and three grandchildren. Visit www.stevephysioc.com.
Publish Date: March 31, 2018
Genre: Historical Fiction
Author: Steve Physioc
Page Count: 508 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace
ISBN: 9781983749520
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