Anna, a shy and withdrawn girl, grows up in a town in northern Italy before World War II. Her life changes when she marries Cenzo Rena, a man thirty years older than her, and follows him to a remote place in the south. While she remains silent, conspiracies against Mussolini, broken loves, and unexpected escapes unfold around her. The war erupts with violence, imposing extreme decisions and a pain that engulfs everything. In the end, Anna, now a widow, becomes a witness to a generation marked by a history that decided for them.
Our Yesterdays (1952) offers a glimpse into the resistance and clandestinity in wartime Italy, narrated through the eyes of young people from bourgeois families. Ginzburg focuses on the everyday and the small grandeur of her characters, treating them with delicacy but not shying away from their struggles.
The portrayal of the human soul, especially the feminine, stands out. Frequently, her female characters possess an innocent touch that enhances their beauty. While some scenes convey immense sadness, her characteristic humorous tone balances the narrative. Her style is reminiscent of other postwar Italian authors.
Natalia Ginzburg (1916-1991) was one of the great figures of contemporary Italian literature.