Return to Valetto

A Novel

By: Dominic Smith

Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini

"Edoardo Ballerini’s adroit narration conveys the subtle changes in
the family, set against the splendor of Valetto’s changing landscape."- Bookpage

From the bestselling author of The Last Painting of Sara de Vos, Dominic Smith’s Return to Valetto tells of a nearly abandoned Italian village, the family that stayed, and long-buried secrets from World War II.

On a hilltop in Umbria sits Valetto. Once a thriving village—and a hub of resistance and refuge during World War II—centuries of earthquakes, landslides, and the lure of a better life have left it neglected. Only ten residents remain, including the widows Serafino—three eccentric sisters and their steely centenarian mother—who live quietly in their medieval villa. Then their nephew and grandson, Hugh, a historian, returns.

But someone else has arrived before him, laying claim to the cottage where Hugh spent his childhood summers. The unwelcome guest is the captivating and no-nonsense Elisa Tomassi, who asserts that the family patriarch, Aldo Serafino, a resistance fighter whom her own family harbored, gave the cottage to them in gratitude. But like so many threads of history, this revelation unravels a secret—a betrayal, a disappearance, and an unspeakable act of violence—that has impacted Valetto across generations. Who will answer for the crimes of the past?

Dominic Smith’s Return to Valetto is a riveting journey into one family’s dark history, a page-turning excavation of the ruins of history and our commitment to justice in a fragile world. For fans of Amor Towles, Anthony Doerr, and Jess Walter, it is a deeply human and transporting testament to the possibility of love and understanding across gaps of all kinds—even time.

A Macmillan Audio production from Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Critic reviews

<p>“An intriguing saga of wartime promises and trauma . . . This intelligent family drama will keep readers turning the pages.”<br><b>—<i>Publishers Weekly</i></b><br><br>“I was completely charmed and transported by <i>Return to Valetto</i>, Dominic Smith’s smart, engaging novel about the secrets held within a dying Italian village. This terrific novel, about loss and family and the weight of history, is probably as close as I’ll ever get to buying one of those picturesque Italian villas, and surely a wiser investment.”<br><b>—Jess Walter, author of <i>Beautiful Ruins</i> and <i>The Angel of Rome</i></b><br><br>“Packed with lush details and a gripping narrative, Dominic Smith’s masterful novel is about the ways in which the past echoes through generations, how the human heart is both fragile and resilient, and what it takes to stand up for justice no matter how much time has passed. <i>Return to Valetto </i>is a story of love, loss, and the enduring power of hope. Propulsive, heartfelt, and sneakily funny—I was transfixed from page one.”<br><b>—Lara Prescott, <i>New York Times </i>bestselling author of <i>The Secrets We Kept</i></b><br><br>“In this propulsive, lush, and haunting novel, Dominic Smith transports us to a near-abandoned town in Umbria and shows how the courage to voice unspeakable secrets of the past can give new life to crumbling bonds of family and community. Filled with enormous hope for the future and rich appreciation for history,<i> Return to Valetto</i> will make you want to race through to the end but also slow down to savor the beautiful writing and sharp insights. I couldn’t put it down.”<br><b>—Angie Kim, author of<i> Miracle Creek</i></b><br><br>“The revelations of<i> Return to Valetto</i>—those of history, and those of the heart—unfold with meticulous grace in Dominic Smith’s stately and majestic novel. With fascists breathing down our necks anew, <i>Return to Valetto</i> could not be more timely, but it is the fine writing and high drama that make it so memorable, and so moving.”<br><b>—Joshua Ferris, author of<i> A Calling for Charlie Barnes</i></b></p>

A beautiful story describing many how facets of history and family are intertwined and inescapable.

This was quite a different look at the everlasting impact of war, the grief over losing a beloved spouse, the relationship of a father and daughter, and the promise of new beginnings for those that needed them. I loved the descriptions of Italy as well as the outstanding narration.

Contrived

The story seemed contrived. Loose ends were not tied up. I found the Alisa character annoying. I did not learn much of anything from this book, and I like to read books that teach me something.

Love historical fiction

The detailed descriptions of characters and places really gave a picture of the past and present stories. How the past shaped the future generations was clearly depicted. I enjoyed the book.

Wonderful!

I loved this book: the story, the level of writing, the wit as well as the poignancy, and of course, par excellence, Edoardo Ballerini as the narrator. He could not have been a better choice for the narrator, as he is fluent in Italian, and wow, is that evident. Each character had a different voice, which furthered the storytelling. I had never read a novel by Dominic Smith, but this will not be the only one I read, as I loved his writing and character development. Don't miss this one.

The relationships were very tender

It took me time to get to it and at times I felt tge dialogue was a little contrived