There Was a Time for Such a Word
A Novel
by Gianni Solla
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Pub Date Nov 11 2025 | Archive Date Jan 06 2026
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Description
For fans of The Reader and inspired by historical events in 1940s Italy, a poignant and hopeful novel in which a young, illiterate herdsman learns to read with the help of his two friends— rewriting his destiny in the process
September 1942. Young Davide is no stranger to hunger or cruelty. Uneducated but curious, he endures a life of quiet hardship caring for his father’s pigs with only the fiery Teresa for a friend. That is, until a group of Jewish families are relocated to their small Italian town. Among them is the mysterious Nicolas, who sparks within Davide a desire for knowledge and deep connection.
When Nicolas’ father sets up an underground school, Davide begins to attend classes and, as he learns to read, words begin to reshape his world. As Davide, Teresa, and Nicolas grow closer, they find themselves navigating the perilous and emotional terrain of adolescence. But when Davide’s choices lead to betrayal and guilt, he is forced to flee the village, leaving his friends behind.
In Naples, amid bombed-out rubble, back-alley theaters, and fleeting moments of human kindness, Davide will eventually reclaim his voice through the power of storytelling as a performer. Each word penned carries the weight of his struggle, and every performance strikes back at the cruelty of his world. Resolving at last to find his lost friends, Davide sets off in search of redemption. Rich with history, heartbreak, and the fragile glow of resilience, There Was a Time for Such a Word captures the transformative power of words and the strength needed to decide your fate.
Translated from the Italian by Richard Dixon
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9780063336162 |
| PRICE | $28.00 (USD) |
| PAGES | 288 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Reviewer 1790075
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)
Reviewer 1376114
One of my goals for 2025 was to read more translated works and I'm so excited I picked this up. This is the coming of age story of Davide and we follow him as he discovers the power of language. The lyrical prose the author manage to write was breathtaking and unflinching. One moment I was reaching for the tissues, the next I was smiling Davide found his passion and purpose in life. While I enjoyed this book I will say there are a lot of heavy topics that were sometimes hard to read about it. Still, I would recommend this novel to anyone to read because it's such a beautiful novel, with dynamic characters that have realistic bonds and interactions.
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