Leave If You CanThere is something different about Angelina. She is a passionate and headstrong young woman, German on her father's side, Italian through her mother. She is also an ardent communist and an outspoken atheist. With Europe embroiled in World War II and her father missing in Russia, Angelina journeys alone to seek out her mother's family in Italy. Instead, she finds Giulia, a kindred spirit. In the summer of 1943, with Fascist Italy reeling under repeated defeats, Angelina and Giulia decide to fight for the socialist world revolution. Setting out alone through the wartime chaos, the two join an Italian partisan group led by the dashing Antonio. The partisans are soon in action against the Nazis and Angelina's courage and devotion to the cause earns her Antonio's admiration -- and his love. But when Angelina is injured during a battle, she finds herself locked in a spiritual struggle every bit as daunting as her physical battle against the Nazis. Originally written in German in 1959, Leave If You Can explores the challenge of God's mystical call versus the overpowering allure of the world, set against the backdrop of wartime Italy and the bombing of the abbey at Monte Cassino. |
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Pretty good book. It leaves you on the edge of your seat the whole time! I would recommend it to anyone.
Common terms and phrases
afraid Allies Angelina saw Angelina told answer Antonio Antonucci asked began believe Benedict Benedictine bomb bread breviary brother can’t cellar chapel Communist Compline convent cried dared daughter dead didn’t want egredere si potes enclosure everything Fascists felt Foligno Francesco Frosinone garden gave Germans gone hadn’t hands happened hear heard Italians knew Lake Bracciano later Latium leave live looked at Angelina Luise Rinser Manziana Maria del Monte mind monastery Monte Cassino Mother Abbess mountain never night nonna nuns old woman once partisans Pierino plainsong pray priest psalm quiet quietly realized remember replied Rieti Rinser Rome rooster rubble Saint Saint Scholastica saw Angelina seemed sensible shooting shot simply sister smiled someone spoke started stone story suddenly sure talk tell There’s things thought told Angelina Tommaso took truck turned understand valley waited walking wall What’s word
Bibliographic information
| Title | Leave If You Can |
| Author | Luise Rinser |
| Translated by | Margaret Stevens |
| Publisher | Arx Publishing, LLC, 2010 |
| ISBN | 1935228048, 9781935228042 |
| Length | 142 pages |
| Subjects | › › Fiction / Historical / General Fiction / Religious |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |