1909: THE CHRONICLE OF AN ITALIAN IMMIGRANT

116 years ago, Domenico, known as “Micu,” left Calabria with his heart full of hope and the determination of a man who dares to dream of a better future. On March 4, 1909, he boarded a train in Gerace Marina, his destination Naples, where the ship Europa waited to carry him legally across the vast, unknown ocean to America. I decided to share his story, following his journey and his first year in the busy, fast-moving life of New York. That’s how 1909 The Chronicle of an Italian Immigrant was born–a book that captures the spirit of the time and the lives of those who left everything behind. But this is not just Micu’s story, this is a story of Italian immigration, like millions of others in the early 1900s, is full of hope and struggle. Families leave their homes with nothing but dreams of a better life in America. They push through, working hard to build a future for their children. Through all the hardships, they never forget where they came from, carrying their Italian roots and strength in every step they take. I hope it moves you as deeply as it moved me to write it. Antonio Larosa