7. Another theme in the book is the difficulty of
recognizing evil. This is illustrated by Isolina
who starts to recognize evil in her own father,
and by Lucia who sees it in her own husband.
What are some of the reasons why it might be
so difficult to recognize evil—both in one’s own
family and in the larger society?
8. At the end of the book, Lucia and Isolina learn
that Elio Sardolini is alive and will come to
America as soon as he can. Can you imagine
what their reunion will be like? Do you think
Lucia and Sardolini will get married and live
together in Boston? How will Lucia’s children
feel about Sardolini’s return? Will Nietta be
resentful of Sardolini because she still loves her
father?
Book Discussion
Guide
About the Book
The Incident at Montebello is based on a true event— In
1930, Benito Mussolini was driving through the Italian
countryside with Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jr. when his car
struck and killed a little girl, Sofia Buonomano. The
Buonomano family is torn apart by Sofia’s death and is
caught in a political firestorm that spreads from their village
to Rome and across America and Europe. One family
member, 16-year-old Isolina, witnesses the accident and
recognizes Mussolini as the driver. She lies to the police to
protect herself and her boyfriend, but she’s caught. Falling
deeper into trouble, she confides in Sofia’s mother, Lucia, and
sets off an unexpected chain of events. Lucia, who now knows
the truth, voices her disapproval of Mussolini and comes in
conflict with the police and her husband Donato, an ardent
Fascist. As Lucia and Donato become increasingly estranged
while struggling with Sofia’s death, Lucia is attracted to Elio
Sardolini, a Jewish anti-Fascist living in town. The family’s
love and loyalty is further tested when the incident becomes
an international scandal and Mussolini orders the police to
silence all opposition. One family member is killed and the
rest must choose between their allegiance to Mussolini and
their allegiance to each other.
Discussion Questions
1. In the opening chapter, the driver of the car, the Italian
Premier Benito Mussolini, runs over and kills a child.
Afterward, he is quoted as saying, “What’s one life in the
affairs of a State?” What does this statement reveal about
Mussolini’s character and beliefs?
2. The political prisoner Elio Sardolini arrives in Montebello
to serve out his sentence for his anti-Fascist activities.
Were you surprised to learn that exiling prisoners to remote
parts of Italy was a practice in Fascist Italy? What
observations about Montebello and its people does
Sardolini make that interest and surprise you?
3. When Sardolini meets Lucia at the tailor shop for the first
time, he comments on the three pictures above the cash
register. Lucia tells him that President Herbert Hoover,
Benito Mussolini, and her father-in-law are her husband’s
saints, but not hers. This moment foreshadows the political
conflict between Lucia and her husband. Do you think their
political differences are the main reasons why they
ultimately separate or do other factors (like Lucia’s love for
Sardolini) play an equally important role?
4. At the end of Chapter 11, Sardolini and Lucia meet by
accident in the graveyard. Nonna Angelina sees them
talking and treats Sardolini with great coldness. From this
moment forward, Nonna Angelina is suspicious of Lucia’s
relationship with Sardolini and becomes convinced that
Lucia is unfaithful. Why do you think Nonna Angelina
dislikes Lucia so much? How much does she influence
Donato in the break up of his marriage?
5. In Part 2 of the book, Isolina learns several surprising
things about Rodi, the priest, Donato, Lucia, the midwife,
and her parents. How does this new knowledge change her
and her attitudes?
6. One of the major themes of the book is what Hannah
Arendt calls “bureaucratic evil.” This is illustrated by the
Fascists who introduce a new kind of evil, which requires
total allegiance in mind, body, and soul, and in the
character Donato, who must make greater and greater
moral compromises. The justification Donato often uses is
that he is doing what is best for the family. He says this to
justify stealing money from his boss and betraying Rodi to
the police. Do you believe him? Do you think he believes his
own justifications? Why or why not?
Courtesy of P.A. Moed