In Rosa and Giovanni, a love in time of war, Roberto De Nart takes us into the heart of northeastern Italy in 1943—a pivotal and dramatic year in the history of the country and the province of Belluno, which had fallen under German occupation. With a concise and evocative prose style, the author weaves the private emotions of two young people into the fabric of the public and historical events that shaped a generation.
The novel’s strength lies in its ability to blend fact and fiction: the love story between Rosa and Giovanni, while a literary invention, unfolds within a meticulously reconstructed setting, offering the reader a vivid portrayal of everyday life during wartime. Particularly effective is the integration of key historical moments—such as the Russian Campaign and the Meeting of Feltre—which are narrated with a balanced approach, walking the line between documentary realism and narrative flair.
