Margo Laurie

In 1920, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, Italian immigrants and Anarchists, were arrested for armed robbery and murder. There was little evidence against them and the case became a cause celebre garnering world-wide interest and support for the pair coming from sources as diverse as future Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Felix Frankfurter and Mussolini. Despite this, they were found guilty and electrocuted on August 23,1927.

The Anarchist’s Wife: A Novella of the 1920s Sacco and Vanzetti case is a historical fiction account of the event told as a memoir by Rosa, Sacco’s wife, to their daughter, Inez. The author, Margo Laurie, is very clear that this is fiction and, although there are some references to the actual events, it deals mainly with how it is all perceived by Rosa and how it affects her and their children. As such, Vanzetti plays a very minor role here. I would have preferred more about the actual case and felt it was limited by the length. Overall, though, I did enjoy the story. It was well-written and it should be noted that Laurie gives a more detailed account of the actual events at the end of the book for those, like me, who are interested in learning more.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review… (mehr)