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Cremona House: An Italian Migration Journey: 1905-1950
FROM ICE CREAM EMPIRE TO ENEMY ALIEN
Meet Carlo Bodoni, an enterprising immigrant who builds a successful ice cream business, making him a household name in 1920s Adelaide, South Australia.
Economic forces drove him from his native Cremona, in northern Italy in 1911, at the tender age of fourteen, accompanied only by his violin. After several false starts, in Melbourne and Geelong, he finally finds his feet in Adelaide where he meets the love of his life, accomplished pianist Luisa.
Together, they build a family and a business, while also embracing their social responsibilities and sharing their passion for music. Keeping his promise to his mother, Carlo also sponsors his younger siblings so that they too can share in his good fortune in the lucky country.
But by the mid 1930s, a world economic downturn coupled with a devastating personal tragedy and the threat of another world war, sees Carlo on the brink of losing everything he’s worked for, including his beloved Cremona House.
Always proud of his Italian roots, now he’s been labelled an enemy alien and Adelaide’s Number One Fascist. Will Carlo’s intelligence and resilience be enough to overcome this new challenge?
Discover Adelaide of the 1920s and 1930s as it throws over its mantel as a colonial outpost and begins to glitter in its own right.
Ride the inevitable ups and downs of this intricate tale, inspired by the true stories of Adelaide’s pioneering Italian migrants.
Meet Carlo Bodoni, an enterprising immigrant who builds a successful ice cream business, making him a household name in 1920s Adelaide, South Australia.
Economic forces drove him from his native Cremona, in northern Italy in 1911, at the tender age of fourteen, accompanied only by his violin. After several false starts, in Melbourne and Geelong, he finally finds his feet in Adelaide where he meets the love of his life, accomplished pianist Luisa.
Together, they build a family and a business, while also embracing their social responsibilities and sharing their passion for music. Keeping his promise to his mother, Carlo also sponsors his younger siblings so that they too can share in his good fortune in the lucky country.
But by the mid 1930s, a world economic downturn coupled with a devastating personal tragedy and the threat of another world war, sees Carlo on the brink of losing everything he’s worked for, including his beloved Cremona House.
Always proud of his Italian roots, now he’s been labelled an enemy alien and Adelaide’s Number One Fascist. Will Carlo’s intelligence and resilience be enough to overcome this new challenge?
Discover Adelaide of the 1920s and 1930s as it throws over its mantel as a colonial outpost and begins to glitter in its own right.
Ride the inevitable ups and downs of this intricate tale, inspired by the true stories of Adelaide’s pioneering Italian migrants.
306 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 28, 2024
2 people are currently reading
6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 5, 2024
Highly recommend, a lovely read.
It was great going back not just into South Australia’s history but also Italians making their way in a new country, their struggles and successes.
It was great going back not just into South Australia’s history but also Italians making their way in a new country, their struggles and successes.
August 22, 2024
Laura has delivered a wonderful tribute to the expatriate Italian community in South Australia. This fictional novel is based closely on real people and events, her novel follows Carlo Bodoni as he leaves his close knit Italian family as a young teen, to becoming a prominent businessman and community leader in South Australia. In between the experience of building a new family in a foreign country is the story of an immigrant negotiating two world wars in a country where he is considered an enemy. A fascinating look at the times and attitudes, the discrimination and prejudice facing non-British migrants and how Mussolini's fascism inserted itself into a naive Italian diaspora under the veil of national and cultural pride.
May 6, 2025
Very well researched book, factional.
Good to read of the origins and openings of places in the western suburbs of Adelaide where we grew up and lived.
Made us aware of the difficulties faced by the Italian immigrants to Australia.
The extent of hardship faced was more than we imagined and was very well documented and described. The obstacles, both physical and emotional, which characters went through, were very eye opening.
We were upset reading about the health and social obstacles and their ensuring challenges, eg tuberculosis. We were too young to remember the challenges faced by them but heightened our appreciation of their despair at every turn
It was an eye opener to learn Carlo (and others) were shipped back in 1918.
WW11 was even a more turbulent time for these immigrants and author Laura brought this to our attention. The immigrants from Italy faced numerous challenges but maintained their fighting spirit.
Travelling down South Terrace, where Cremona House is located, is a reminder of this book and draws us back to it.
Recommend reading this amazing book.
Nadia and Maria
Good to read of the origins and openings of places in the western suburbs of Adelaide where we grew up and lived.
Made us aware of the difficulties faced by the Italian immigrants to Australia.
The extent of hardship faced was more than we imagined and was very well documented and described. The obstacles, both physical and emotional, which characters went through, were very eye opening.
We were upset reading about the health and social obstacles and their ensuring challenges, eg tuberculosis. We were too young to remember the challenges faced by them but heightened our appreciation of their despair at every turn
It was an eye opener to learn Carlo (and others) were shipped back in 1918.
WW11 was even a more turbulent time for these immigrants and author Laura brought this to our attention. The immigrants from Italy faced numerous challenges but maintained their fighting spirit.
Travelling down South Terrace, where Cremona House is located, is a reminder of this book and draws us back to it.
Recommend reading this amazing book.
Nadia and Maria
September 12, 2025
This read was unexpected. It isn't just a real story mingling family history and geopolitical events, but also a deeply moving, engaging story of people whose feelings and personalities we can almost see first-hand. This is what I enjoyed the most. How Di Martino conveys the world inside and behind each character with just a few decisive, fine hints.
What's more, as an Italian, it was a chance for me to learn a forgotten and little known part of our history as a people.
Super suggested!
What's more, as an Italian, it was a chance for me to learn a forgotten and little known part of our history as a people.
Super suggested!
July 5, 2024
At the young age of 14, Carlo Bodoni, leaves his home town of Cremona in Northern Italy in 1911 to begin an adventure working abroad leading him to finally settle in Adelaide, Australia. This story is about the many challenges he faces in establishing himself in a new country, finding love and overcoming adversity. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
July 25, 2024
An amazing story that I couldn't put down. Loved rhe historical aspects and all the characters.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews