As Wild as Nettles
Release: 1st November 2025
Pages 94
Genre: Historical novel
Trailer: [ Official Trailer ]
eBook: Amazon
Print: Not available
Plot:
Vittorina is the eldest daughter of the Manettis, known in the town of Villanova di Bagnacavallo by the nickname Sért. With a strong and decisive character, she must build her own identity in a society that sees her limited to certain roles. The formation and development of her character are also marked by the environment in which she lives, by family events, by the historical-social facts she goes through and by the relationships she forms over time. Her parents, siblings, uncles, aunts and grandmothers are her very own strenght, but at the same time they represent responsibilities that she did not choose.
The novel is divided into three distinct parts, entitled REVOLUTION, FAITH and TOMORROW. Each represents a different moment in the development of the story, which looks like this:
Chapter 1 . The Way to the River
Chapter 2 . Chants and Murmurs
Chapter 3 . Flushed
Chapter 4 . Hemp
The first part of the novel focuses on the daily life of the Manetti family, on the customs of village life and presents the characters dealing with the advent of a socialist revolt in Villanova di Bagnacavallo, in June 1914.
Chapter 5 . The Storm
Chapter 6 . Dearest Sister
Chapter 7 . Resilience
Chapter 8 . Yesterday’s Echoes
The second part of the novel is set four years later, in the autumn of 1918. The Great War changed the socio-economic landscape of the country and the relationships between family members evolved overtime.
Chapter 9 . Visiting Ghosts
Chapter 10 . A Family Gathering
Chapter 11 . Naivety
Chapter 12 . As Wild as Nettles
The third and final part finds the characters in 1922, and focuses on the efforts to start over and re-establish a balance that now seems lost. Places and people now seem to have changed forever.
The main characters of the Manetti family (nicknamed Sért):
Vittorina, born in 1892. The main character of the novel, is the eldest daughter of Domenico Manetti and Adele Farini. Engaged to Pietro, she is a point of reference for many people in her family.
- Laurina, born in 1895. Second child of the Manetti family, she has a special relationship with her older sister. With an instinctive and rebellious character, she is the first to leave home and start a family with Arturo.
- Manetto, born in 1896. The Sért’s first male child, he had an active social life and many interests. The arrival of the Great War will see him busy at the front, but he will not return.
The other main characters of the Manetti family:
- Felicina, born in 1900, her nickname is Silly. She constantly makes jokes and tries to uplift people’s moods all the time. She develops an interest in Innocente, a friend of the family from the neighbouring town of Santerno.
- Alma, born in 1901, her nickname is Oldie. Quiet and shy, Alma becomes the eldest sister in the household when her sisters get married. This brings her into the role Vittorina once held.
- Amedea, born in 1904. She has a curious character and follows her sisters in the shenanigans they come up with.
- Grisostoma, born in 1906, her nickname is Brunette. Sweet and shy, Brunette is a confidant to her sisters and always keeps a low profile, but her pride grows under the surface.
- Pietro, born in 1907, his nickname is Cricket. He feels the family expectations in the work he has to do for the family business. He does not really have a deep connection with his siblings because of his stingy approach to everything.
- Antonia, born 1909, her nickname is Nina. The youngest daughter in the household, Nina is a vivacious child that only seeks to be accepted and welcomed in the family dynamics.
- Grisostomo, born in 1911, his nickname is Giaza. The youngest child, Grisostomo has an outgoing character and is always up for tricks and pranks. The family decides he’s going to become a priest, something which soon transforms his manners and forces him to come face to face with his new path.
More characters of the Manetti family:
- Domenico Manetti, the father. Landlord and for a certain period host in his wife’s tavern. He has anarchist sympathies, but they won’t be evident until the socialist revolt called Red Week.
- Adele Farini, the mother. Domenico’s wife, keeper of the house and host of the family tavern. She must maintain strong authority to be able to manage family and work as best as possible.
- Livia Contessi, the grandmother, the matriarch. Witness of the past generation and traditions of the previous century, she displays both a docile and a pungent character.
Other characters:
- Innocente. First a family friend, he later gets closer to Felicina and becomes her boyfriend.
- Maria. A girl from town with whom Manetto had started a relationship prior to his leave to join the war front.
- Giuseppe. A friend of Manetto, with whom he grew up with. He’s not really welcomed by the other family members.
- Pietro, born in 1893. Vittorina’s fiancée. He leaves to go to war but when he comes back his character has definitely changed.
- Maria Pascoli, nicknamed Mariuccia. A strong woman, she creates friction with her future daughter-in-law, but later grows to welcome her.
- Maria, born in 1897. Pietro’s sister.
- Angela, born in 1901. Pietro’s sister.
- Giuseppa, born in 1905. Pietro’s youngest sister.
As Wild as Nettles
photo gallery of the main characters: the Sért family [coming soon]
