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Arthur J Penn
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NADA. A historical thriller. Kindle Edition

by Arthur J Penn (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 11 ratings
A young woman’s struggle to free herself from the manacles of fascism and the bigotry of faith.

Sardinia, 1934. On her eighteenth birthday Eleanor Cardinale is relishing the warm embrace of local festivals, red wine, and her first lover. Her passion is set against the backdrop of the island’s crystal seas, mountain crags and ancient magical legends. 
But her joy is fleeting, for dark forces gather as she openly challenges her suffocating religion and Mussolini’s twisted vision of a new fascist Italy. The Duce is at the height of his popularity and Eleanor finds herself dangerously alone in her dissent.

Eleanor’s simple Sardinian life is shattered by a series of hideous crimes against her loved ones; savage rape, atrocity and finally murder by masked dancers in the fire and shadows of a demonic festival.

Is Eleanor willing to pay the ultimate price for freedom and independence?

NADA is a story of love, murder and revenge set in a time of Italian fascist expansion and ending in the early days of the Spanish Civil war. A historical novel, for fans of Robert Harris and Louis de Bernieres Corelli's Mandolin.
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  1. Print length
    330 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    October 18, 2013
  4. File size
    652 KB
  5. Page Flip
    Enabled
  6. Word Wise
    Enabled
  7. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00G13ZNLG
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 18, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 652 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 330 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 11 ratings

About the author

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Arthur J Penn

Arthur J Penn

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Hi, I'm Arthur. I'm an artist and author, and my creative work over the years has spanned sculpture, painting, etching and drawing as well as illustration. I'm now focusing on lino-cutting and print-making. You can see my portfolio at www.ArthurJPenn.com

I spent many years encouraging creativity in children and teachers through my work in schools in Britain and internationally. As a county art and design adviser, my art packs supported the study of artists across many cultures, and explored the stories and meaning in art. I've run art tours for teachers in Europe and published city art guides to accompany them.

I live in the Cotswolds, England with my wife, Kate, plus Louis the Labrador and two cats. My studio has a door to the garden, which is where I find much of my inspiration for the designs.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
11 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Jane V. Blanchard
    5.0 out of 5 stars Complex, with many undercurrents, Nada is an astonishing debut novel
    Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Nada. A historical thriller by Arthur J. Penn is perhaps the best debut novel I have read in a long time. Because I was unfamiliar with the "Mamuthones" and Sardinia, Mr Penn piqued my curiosity from the beginning—what were these creatures, what were they doing, who was Edo, and why was he killed?

    The setting is Sardinia in the 1930s. Mussolini is coming into power. Few Italians can resist his call, and those that do are at risk. Can one person make a difference? Events in Eleanor Cardinale's life transform her from a young, obedient, church-going Italian teen into an enlightened woman involved in the resistance. I fully enjoyed watching this transformation, even though it came as a result of a series of cruel and atrocious events.

    The story is complex, with many undercurrents: love and betrayal, the church and patriarchy, racism, feminism, coming of age, Fascism, the ugliness of war, the belief that nothing exists after death, and much more. Mr. Penn weaves the historical and geographical backdrops into a page-turning tale that I could not put down. I highly recommend this book.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Marie A. Parsons
    4.0 out of 5 stars to her love of her country
    Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    NADA is set in Sardinia and Spain during the early years of Italian Fascism under Mussolini, and the Spanish Civil War between Fascists and Republicans. The novel's title refers to a painting by Spanish artist Francisco Goya,

    The story itself is fairly simple. Eleanor, a woman in Sardinia is caught up in the rising grip of Fascism in Italy. While she loves a handsome young gypsy man, and lives under protection and care of a locally popular Jewish doctor, her brother is set to join the Fascist Black Flames. He soon goes to Abyssinia to take part in the Italian invasion there, and his letters home spark many questions in his sister's heart and mind. The story is also profound, as the young woman finds herself questioning everything, from her Catholic beliefs, to her love of her country, to her faith in humanity, to her faith in her brother, and round and round. She eventually makes decisions that take her from her innocent life in Sardinia into the midst of the bombing of Madrid in 1937.

    Does she discover Something? Or is in fact everything, simply, NADA?

    The reader gets quickly caught up in the events, both those near to Eleanor's heart as well as the larger events within Europe. Who holds out more hope for society, the communists or the fascists? Is the Church right in its support of the Fascists? What is man and woman's role in either vision of society?

    These are all questions that should resonate today as citizens ponder whether to embrace liberal or conservative concepts, whether one is religious or not.

    Stronger yet, the fact that the protagonist is a young woman, not a man, provides a broader and more complex look at the issues both then and now.

    NADA provides an interesting new look at the Fascism of Italy, as it is set in Sardinia, not in Rome or the peninsula. By then moving the action into Spain, the author magnifies the scope of the story as readers ponder, along with Eleanor, what kind of world humanity is braced to allow to be born.
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  • Debra Eve
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Sardinian Labyrinth
    Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I loved this book, but it's not a simple read. It's a twisting political labyrinth, with a naive but intelligent young woman at its center and a shocking, satisfying ending.

    Eleanor Cardinale loves her gypsy boyfriend, Edo, adores her Jewish foster-father, Vito, and worships her brother, Marco. But it's 1930s Italy, and Mussolini is everyone's hero. Il Duce -- grand orator, defender of The Faith, charismatic tyrant. But very few Italians see the latter and Eleanor's doubts about Il Duce bring her closer and closer to danger. Pluralism such as Eleanor's cannot be tolerated.

    The first half of Nada reads like a gorgeous travelogue, replete with descriptions Sardinia's food and countryside. Arthur Penn truly invokes his love of the island. But small, nasty acts start to multiply and you know there's a worm in the apple.

    After Marco joins the elite Fascist ranks, a series of tragedies lead Eleanor to Spain to fight against Fascism.

    Against the backdrop of World War, Eleanor finds her voice, her courage, and her spirit. Her choices with astonish you, yet in the end, she remains true to her deepest convictions and ultimate humanity. Highly recommended -- a deep and altogether satisfying read.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Booklover
    4.0 out of 5 stars Impressive debut novel
    Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2013
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    Well written and clearly well researched, Arthur Penn's historical thriller is an impressive debut. I hope Mr. Penn is at work on another book. This was an engrossing read that I highly recommend.
    3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Katherine
    5.0 out of 5 stars Superb sense of time and place - a must read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 9, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Builds a highly evocative portrait of Sardinia, its history and its people. Recommended for anyone who loves Italian culture, traditions and festivals all woven into a love story set in the time of the Spanish civil war.
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