Exquisitely written and deeply poignant, this profound novel translated from the Italian utterly swept me away.

Davide’s world is small: he is the son of a pig farmer, in a rural village in south Italy. He pilfers notebooks from the local peddler, drawing squiggles onto the page and dreaming of, one day, wielding letters like his friend Teresa.

The boundaries of his world forever alter when a group of Jews are forcibly resettled in his village. The erudite Nicolas, dazzling with city-sophistication, is the embodiment of everything Davide idealizes.

Davide becomes a secret pupil of Nicolas’ father, a teacher, while simultaneously studying every air and gesture of the son. Nicolas, Davide and Teresa roam the forests together, formative days that become deeply emblazoned upon their hearts.


After a rift with his violent, fascist father, Davide chooses to take refuge with the pigs, filling his notebooks with the words and ideas that are emerging in his ever-expanding world. Until, in one irrevocable night, everything is upended.

The ensuing chapters bring reinvention, reflection, and at long last, a chance to amend all that was fractured.

What an absolutely lovely read! This was an exceptional reading experience for me, and I’m so thankful to Netgalley and HarperVia for the opportunity to read it in advance of publishing. With "There Was a Time for Such a Word," author Gianni Solla and translator Richard Dixon have given us a true gem. (Publishing 11/11/25)