Why ‘Eternal’ Is An Eye-Opening Book About World War II
This book shows the resilience of everyday people
I smiled while reading about a character’s sarcastic humour, I gasped when reading how the Nazis invaded Rome, and I was touched when reading about the courage of Rome’s residents. Eternal by Lisa Scottoline is a compelling read, as it’s impossible not to fall in love with the three main characters. The stunning descriptions of Italian architecture and pasta-making made me feel as if I was walking on the cobblestone streets of Italy’s historical capital city. But Scottoline’s depiction of three historical events that actually happened truly left me breathless.
Eternal introduces the reader to three heroes. First, there’s Elisabetta D’Orfeo of Trastevere, an aspiring novelist who serves Nazis in occupied Rome as a Casa Servano waitress. Charismatic Marco Terrizzi of Tiber Island joins the Italian partisans with his father- the owner of Bar GiroSport which has transformed into a popular spot to socialize and drink in the city- and hides his dyslexia from loved ones. Sandro Simone, a gifted mathematician known for his kind heart, lives with his family in the Ghetto of Rome.
Scottoline leaves an incredible impression on me, as this is her first historical fiction novel. A Pennsylvania native and a University of Pennsylvania Law School graduate, she has written 30 novels and is known as an exceptional writer of thrillers. Her success in the historical fiction world proves hard work translates to wonderful results, and her note in the end of the book where she explains she had wanted to write a book like Eternal since she was an undergraduate made me admire her even more: She made the decision to pursue her dream, no matter how long it would take.
Scottoline’s inspiring pursuit to achieve her goals is commendable, but the way she uses writing as a way to bring attention to devastating historical events is just second to none. To begin, there’s a part in the book where Sandro’s sister, Rosa, gets admitted to the hospital after she eats contaminated food and develops a high fever. At the same time, the Nazis start invading the homes of Jewish people and telling them they will be deported. Dr. Giovanni Borromeo- a real person from history-tells Rosa that hospital workers will transfer the Jewish patients to one ward and will explain to the Nazis that these patients have the Syndrome K virus. This is a fake virus, and fabricating this disease is the way Dr. Borromeo plans to save Jewish patients.
Once the Nazis enter the hospital, Dr. Borromeo says these patients are suffering from a contagious virus, but the troops are relentless and demand to stand in front of the ward. Sandro’s mother sees the men staring at Rosa, contributing to the high levels of suspense. The Nazis call the healthcare workers cowards in Eternal and claim that these patients are only sleeping, but Dr. Borromeo refuses to back down: He says this virus has a high mortality rate and patients are near death. Scared about the possibility that the virus can spread and annihilate troops, the Nazis leave the hospital and Rosa is saved.
As I finished reading this section, I had to process what happened because I never knew about the Syndrome K virus. This is why Eternal is such a triumph, the book makes readers learn something new. It isn’t the first time that Scottoline uses her storytelling skills in Eternal to raise awareness about what Italians had to endure in the 1940s. 1,023 Jewish Italians are deported to Auschwitz, and Scottoline inserts the names of real Jewish victims in her writing. Prior to this event, Scottoline writes about Nazi officer Herbert Kappler’s demand: Those living in the Ghetto of Rome must pay 50 kilograms of gold within 36 hours or 200 Jewish people will be deported. Sandro, along with the others, displays unbelievable courage when they rally together and meet this horrible demand.
I love this book because it educated me on the Italian Holocaust. I first heard about this book when scrolling through The Mark Twain House and Museum’s email newsletter- I always make sure to read these emails because they feature author talks and writing workshop opportunities. When I read that Scottoline was leading a free online webinar to celebrate the launch of Eternal, I knew I had to attend and purchase a signed copy that the museum would send to me because I never read a World War II book in southern Europe.
Fearless characters that are placed in terrifying circumstances are, of course, crucial parts of World War II fiction. I read the Pulitzer-winning book All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr where a Parisian girl witnesses the Nazi invasion. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah teaches me about the French resistance, and The Kommandant’s Girl by Pam Jenoff teaches me about the Warsaw Ghetto. As a historical fiction lover, I have read books set in France, England, and Poland. The only thing I knew about 1940s Italy was that Benito Mussolini was an authoritarian leader. Eternal expanded my knowledge of this time period.
Eternal is additionally an unforgettable book because it proves how literature is a way to preserve history and honor brave acts. One quote from the book upholds this belief:
“War was eternal, but so was peace. Death was eternal, but so was life. Darkness was eternal, but so was light. Hate was eternal, but above all, so was love.” — Lisa Scottoline
This book left such an impact on me that I told my family about the Italian doctor over dinner and recommended Eternal to friends. That is the power of reading: learning new information and making sure that everyone remembers these dauntless stories.
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