Download or read book The Sicilian Nobleman's Daughter written by Florence Calderone Blake and published by . This book was released on 2010-02 with total page 188 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this powerful memoir, Florence Calderone Blake relives her childhood of abuse, starvation, and even attempted murder at her mother¿s hands. The Sicilian Nobleman¿s Daughter is the story of Giovanni Calderone¿s family. As a member of the richest family in Casteltermini, Italy, Giovanni stands to inherit major holdings in a sulfur mine, gristmill, palaces, and real estate. He weds a beautiful, penniless orphan, Maria, who despises him and his obnoxious kin, but who has no say in the arrangement as one dares not turn down Don Angelo Calderone¿s son.As Fascism gains power, Mussolini poises to seize Don Calderone¿s possessions. Giovanni¿s choice is to join the Fascists or to join their adversaries the Mafia. He chooses neither, but takes his family to America, thereby relinquishing all his financial interests. In America, without English, he can only do menial factory labor. His family goes from riches to rags.