HistoryHistory
Score Classic
What it's about
In Rome in 1941, Ida Ramundo, a timid, widowed schoolteacher who hides that she is half Jewish, is raped by a young German soldier. She gives birth to a son, Useppe, a radiant, curious little boy. The novel follows Ida, Useppe and Ida's older son Nino, a reckless teenager who joins the Fascists and then the partisans, through the war, the German occupation, the deportation of Rome's Jews and the hungry years after. Each chapter opens with a summary of world events.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Bokklubben World Library of the greatest books. It was a huge bestseller and controversy in Italy, and it's one of the great novels about how history crushes ordinary people.
You'll love it if you liked
War and Peace
My Brilliant Friend
Half of a Yellow SunGood to know
It's long and very sad, with wartime violence and a sexual assault. Elena Ferrante has called Morante her greatest influence.
By the numbers
- Readers91 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics55 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller2 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
Reads as
Epic
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Quick answers
Is History worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Bokklubben World Library of the greatest books. It ranks #458 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 79.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is History about?
In Rome in 1941, Ida Ramundo, a timid, widowed schoolteacher who hides that she is half Jewish, is raped by a young German soldier. She gives birth to a son, Useppe, a radiant, curious little boy. The novel follows Ida, Useppe and Ida's older son Nino, a reckless teenager who joins the Fascists and then the partisans, through the war, the German occupation, the deportation of Rome's Jews and the hungry years after. Each chapter opens with a summary of world events.
How long does it take to read History?
About 19 hours (755 pages), or about 5 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after History?
If you liked it, try War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy, My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante or Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.