Milford's Italian Experience Focus Of New Historical Fiction Novel

MILFORD, MA — A new historical fiction book will focus on the experience of Italian immigrants in Milford in the 19th and earth 20th centuries.

Author Catherine Marenghi is known for her 2016 memoir "Glad Farm," which traced Marenghi's childhood growing up in a farmhouse in Milford. Her new book, "Our Good Name," is a work of fiction rooted in history. Marenghi conducted lots of research — overseas in Italy and in Milford — to make sure the events depicted in her book matched the real lives of immigrants, including members of her family.

"I share a lot of stories that are emblematic of what happened in the era," she said.

The book begins in the late 19th Century in a tiny village in Northern Italy near Parma. The characters leave Italy in search of prosperity in the U.S. Once across the Atlantic, they end up in Milford, drawn by the large number of factories in the area, including Draper Corp.

"Our Good Name" explores historically accurate themes of immigrant life — poverty, hunger and racism — in the industrial age. Marenghi also uses major events of the time, including the Sacco and Vanzetti trial in Dedham — Nicola Sacco lived in Milford and worked in the Draper factory — and labor strikes.

Marenghi adds her ancestors to those events, imagining what life might've looked like for them,like an ancestor getting attacked by a boss in a factory.

"I wanted to share a side of Italian-American history that not many people knew about," she said "I wanted to give a human face to that history and make it come alive for people — and I hope it's entertaining."

Marenghi will read from the book at a Milford Public Library event at Memorial Hall, 30 School St., on Thursday. The event begins at 7 p.m., and copies of "Our Good Name" will be available to purchase.