LAKEPORT >> Anna Fiorina Hess will talk about her family’s World War II experiences in a free program on March 25 at 2 p.m. at the Lakeport branch of Lake County Library located at 1425 N. High Street. Hess has complied those experiences into a historical novel, “Born in Internment,” which she will have available for purchase in conjunction with her talk.
Californians are aware of the relocation of Japanese-Americans during World War II, but a less well known event in Britain forced Italians residing there into internment as enemy aliens. Scotland residents Andy and Kathy Bertellotti and their toddler daughter Aida, now termed “enemy aliens,” were sent to internment, where their daughter Anna was born.
Other relatives still in Italy faced the horrors of war directly. Andy’s brother Tommy joined the Resistenza in Italy and their teen-aged sister Bruna became a refugee with their parents. Bruna narrowly escaped death in the massacre at Santa Anna.
Anna Fiorina Hess says that “Woven amongst the pain are wee Anna’s stories of playing in the rubble of war, a love story and the companionship of a black man and a white man. From the ashes of war arise love, resilience and a cautious peace.”
Light refreshments will be served. For more information please call 263-8817.
The Lake County Library is on the internet at http://library.lakecountyca.gov and Facebook at Facebook.com/LakeCountyLibrary.
