There Was a Time for Such a Word

by Gianni Solla, Richard Dixon (Translator)

Reminiscent of the works of Joanna Quinn and The Children’s Train, a poignant and hopeful novel, set in  small town 1940s Italy, in which a young illiterate herdsman learns to read with the help of his two friends—a gift that will open his eyes to a new world and change the course of his life.

September 1942. Davide is an uneducated but sensitive pigskeeper, a dreamer who imagines a life beyond his small town in Southern Italy—away from the animals he cares for, from the other children who mock him for the limp he has born since birth, and the brutal hand of his Mussolini-loving father.

Teresa, his friend and the only person with the courage to defend him from the schoolroom bullies, also yearns to escape. She hopes to go to Rome before she is trapped in a marriage of convenience arranged by her parents.

When a group of thirty-six Jews from Naples forcibly relocated by the Fascist authorities arrives, everyday life begins to change. Among them is Nicolas, a boy who brings with him an unknown world that is initially met with animosity by the villagers. But when Nicolas’ father sets up an underground school, Davide begins to attend classes and soon, as he learns to read, this illiterate herdsman begins a journey that will change him forever. As Davide, Teresa, and Nicolas grow closer, they venture into the countryside surrounding the village and into the unmarked terrain of adolescence and unspoken feelings. Though the war and a single tragic event will break them apart, their friendship indelibly marks Davide, leading him on the path to a new future beyond this small world.

Many years later, Davide, now a successful writer for the theater, sets out to find his lost friends again.

288 pages, Hardcover

Published November 11, 2025

Reviews

[Angela M · Rating 5 out of 5]

"This is a story about words, about their sound and how they are formed, about how they can come a weapon, a shield, a means of escape, a path to freedom, a path that leads to a larger and more complex world.” (From the note by Richard Dixon, who translated this novel from Italian to English.)

This is on the broader level what this novel is about. Davide, the crippled son of a Fascist pig farmer in a small town not far from Naples has a burning desire to learn to read and write, to know words he has never heard of, to find a way out from this place. The joy and satisfaction he feels is palatable and touching as he learns each new word, savoring every one, writing them in stolen notebooks, secretly being taught by one of the thirty six Jews sent to this place from Naples.

I found it to be about so much more than the desire to learn . A burning desire for the girl Teresa who also wants to leave this town, a burning envy to be like the smart Jewish boy Nicolas, son of the man who teaches him to read also shape this story of these three characters whose lives will forever be connected by love, betrayal, friendship and loyalty in the backdrop of war, of Fascism and the plight of the Jews in the 1940’s.

It’s beautifully written and moving with a stunning ending that brought tears of both sadness and hope. This is the kind of story that will stay with me, one for the heart, head and soul. One of my favorites of the year for sure . Gianni Solla has written several novels and from what I can tell, this is the only one that has been translated . I hope for more.

I received a copy of this book from HarperCollins through Edelweiss .

[Dona's Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pre-Read Notes:

I honestly could not resist the title of this one!

"Church and fascism were compulsory for all villages like ours. We had to depend on something, or someone— fearful, therefore governable. The two oldest institutions in my life were both founded on fear." p74

Final Review

(thoughts & recs) This is a terrifying tale of the proliferation of facism in a previously free society. It's also the story of a family surviving unfathomable circumstances. It's a harrowing read, yet beautiful, and I couldn't look away. This is a story about how cruelty changes everyone it touches, and how hard we must fight when cruelty takes root in society.

I recommend this book to readers of history and historical fiction, fans of seldom-explored perspectives of WWII, fans of excellent disability representation. This is a good choice if you liked Orange Wine by Esperanza Hope Snyder or A Guardian and a Thief by Magha Majumdar.

My Favorite Things:

✔️ "We were country folk, knew all about the soil and animals but nothing about people. My father would say there was no point going to school— one pig plus another pig makes two pigs, and once you know that you can work out the more difficult stuff." p9 Well! This excerpt and it drew me right into the story. The poverty plus the certainty created an irresistible pull.

✔️ This setting defines the book. It is so small, space is tight, all the families stay the same, generation after generation. They all embrace a weird underlying cultural violence: "“I’ve never hit a pig.”“All animals need to be hit, otherwise they don’t know who is master. Your father hits you. We all saw it. Maybe we should ask him.”" p37 Our disabled, sweet, gentle Furtuná, known locally as merely "the pig keeper", shines brilliantly against this backdrop of the small, isolated town. He is truly unique, here.

✔️ "“The Bristol Blenheim.” He moved his open hand in the air as if it were an airplane and made the sound of an engine with his mouth. “I learned that name by heart after I saw a photograph in the newspaper. It’s a small British airplane, fast, unbeatable. It’s what they’ve used to bomb the areas around the port. But Naples has another city built underground, where people can hide. It’s made of tufa, a yellow rock that looks like sponge. Such things don’t happen here.”" p52 The history in this book is so rich on the page I can feel it and smell it.

Notes: physical violence against animals, children, women, disabled people, death of an animal, animals killed for food, public humiliation, fascism, church, war, bombings from planes,

Thank you to Gianna Solla, Richard Dixon, HarperVia, and NetGalley for an accessible digital copy of THERE WAS A TIME FOR SUCH A WORD. All views are mine.

[Hattie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exquisitely written and deeply poignant, this profound coming of age 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)

[Ashlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really didn’t know what to expect from this book. I love historical fiction. I also really enjoy books that demonstrate strength through World War 2. This book was poetic. It was beautiful. The way young Davide fell in love with words and language made me want to cry! Living a life of such sadness and pain, yet the spark he had when he was able to learn was brilliant. There were parts that felt like a love song, gliding through the difficult times the characters had to survive. The writing was stunning.

My only hiccup was I struggled with some of the shifting of the book. At times it felt fragmented and jerky. I’d still recommend the book, and maybe it was due to the translation, however I felt I had whiplash at times.

The narrator was listed as Edoardo Ballerini. Quite literally the most perfect narrator for this book. His voice was smooth yet crisp. There was a sensual vibe to his voice which brought beauty, even during the ugliness of the war and Davide’s struggles. 10/10 perfect narrator pick.

Thank you NetGalley for the read. Wonderful book and I’m so happy I was given the opportunity to enjoy it.

[Reading Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is about a boy that grows up in a village of mostly uneducated people. You get to watch him grow up and become educated. His world is completely changed by words. His mind opens and blossoms in such an amazing way. I loved this book.

[Shruti morethanmylupus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Netgalley ARC

This is a story about words, about their sound and how they are formed, about how they can come a weapon, a shield, a means of escape, a path to freedom, a path that leads to a larger and more complex world. - Richard Dixon, translator

When books are translated from their original language, I often find that they lose a lot of their magic. That wasn't the case here. Or, in any case, enough of the beauty of the language and story translated well. Our main character, Davide, is the disabled son of an abusive pig farmer who has fully bought into the fascist narrative (Mussolini's picture on the wall and all). Davide wants more than the pig farm - he wants to learn how to read and write. The story is about Davide's desires for more. Davide wants to learn, he wants Teresa, and he wants to be as smart as the Jewish son of his reading teacher. But this is all set against the backdrop of a country spiraling rapidly into fascism, the shadow of a coming war, and the way Jews were treated in this era. It was a painful story to read, especially knowing what we do about what would come next for these characters, even when they don't. But it was also a hopeful story about a desire to grow beyond the expectations that have been set for you.

This book felt especially timely now, as we see a worldwide trend in the rise of fascism again. The translator did a beautiful job as did the narrator.

A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

[Lydia · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you question why we need a book right now that illustrates the power of fascism and the danger of ignorance, then you have been asleep for most of 2025.

The story begins in an isolated rural community in Italy, with Mussolini in charge and fascism on the rise. Our hero, the uneducated son of a pig farmer, finds his world expanding when a group of Jews are forcibly resettled in the village. Not only does he make friends with the erudite Nicolas, who is of his own age, but he learns to read from Nicolas' father, setting him on a path of expression and understanding that eventually brings him to question everything he has been conditioned to believe and accept.

Solla's depiction of this rural community is at times bleakly judgmental, in the violent fascist father, but also warmly tolerant, as we see Davide's awakening understanding. Both things have to be true, in order for us to get a real glimpse into the mindset that comes from ignorance. Davide doesn't understand, at the beginning of the book, why abusing Jews is wrong. He has been taught to idolize "Il Duce" and has no way to educate himself any differently. But he grows, through one teacher's kind intervention, and his exposure to the wider world of literary language, coupled with his own innate sense of right and wrong, which somehow has not been snuffed out by his awful family.

It's the slow burn of Davide's evolving awareness that makes this book so special. There is no watershed moment where he suddenly understands and then acts right. Instead his growth involves many smaller revelations, imperfect leaps, and a bumpy development. This is the story of a real character, not the illustration of an idea with a human body.

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title of this novel is translated differently in other languages. In the original Italian: The Notebook Thief. In German: Everything is Fragile in the Light. In Finnish: The Lesson of Friendship. The "Note from the Translator" gives a hint of why he titled his translation There Was a Time for Such a Word:

This is a story about words, about their sound and how they are formed, about how they can become a weapon, a shield, a means of escape, a path to freedom, a path that leads to a larger and more complex world.

There Was a Time for Such a Word shows how learning new words opens up a whole new world for Davide. It takes him from being an illiterate pig farmer's son to an actor of some renown. We learn of his early friendships with Teresa and Nicolas. Then there is the impact that Nicolas's father has on Davide as he teaches him to read and write. This is a story of the lasting effect those early friendships have on Davide's life, even as the three friends separate under difficult circumstances. Nicolas's ghost accompanies Davide in the years to come after the war, eventually leading to reconciliation and an unexpected ending. Beautifully written.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperVia for the opportunity to read this free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Danelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, beautifully translated from Italian, tells the story of Davide, an illiterate keeper of pigs who lives in a remote Italian village during WWII. When a Jewish father and son arrive in the village and set up a secret school, Davide learns to read and write and his life begins to change. Eventually Davide flees his small town and begins a new life in Naples, but he struggles with guilt, loneliness and lost friendship. The plot at times seems simple, but the characters are complex and come to life in a way that allows you to experience their struggles and triumphs. I especially loved the way this book highlighted the power of literacy to change a life. 4.25 stars!

Thank you NetGalley and HarperVia for the advanced digital copy of this book.

[Sherry Chiger · Rating 4 out of 5]

As befits a novel focused largely on the power of words, "There Was a Time for Such a Word" features impeccable prose. There were times I paused to reread passages to be sure I was soaking up all their meaning and beauty. (Kudos to translator Richard Dixon as well as author Gianni Solla.) This isn't one of those books that sacrifices plot and pacing for language, however; I remained eager to learn more about Davide, Teresa, and Nicolas from beginning to end.

Yet it's a book I admire more than love. Narrator Davide keeps us at arm's distance, and while I understand why, given his upbringing and subsequent events, that remove prevents me from feeling as well as thinking.

Thank you, HarperVia and NetGalley, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.