The Land of the Living

Overview

A sweeping historical saga of love, loss, and the search for belonging across generations.The Land of the Living follows Angela Amorelli's journey from Sicily to a New England fishing town, where she confronts the challenges of immigration, war, and prejudice. Sacrificing everything for her children's future, Angela faces unimaginable loss, yet her resilience and unwavering spirit become a beacon of hope for her family.Set against the backdrop of the 20th century, this unforgettable novel explores the complexities of identity, the enduring power of family, and the meaning of home. Perfect for readers seeking:

• Historical fiction with strong female leads
• Immersive stories of the Italian-American experience
• Family sagas that explore themes of immigration and assimilation

Will Angela find peace and create a lasting legacy in this new world?

Reviews

"In his epic and intimate first novel, author Tim Crellin reveals himself as a masterful storyteller. The author’s deep ties with his own Sicilian family endow this gripping multigenerational story with authenticity and grace. In seeking a better life for her family, Angela Amorelli faces the indignities and complications of immigrant life in a New England fishing town. Ultimately, she must summon even more resolve to take on an unjust political system. In this finely drawn and unforgettable portrait, the novelist subtly exposes the ironies of life in an immigrant nation with a selective amnesia about the immigrant experience." —James Rutenbeck, award-winning filmmaker of A Reckoning in Boston

"A beautiful saga that follows a family across generations and the wars that shaped them, while always remaining so deeply personal that you cannot put it down. It’s like sitting at a table late into the night with dear friends, listening with rapt attention to their moving tales of faith and family and finding home." —The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, author of Songs My Grandma Sang and Love is the Way

"The Land of the Living weaves together history and culture in an enduring story of family-ties over generations. Crellin has crafted a moving story that pops with romance, tragedy, and light-hearted insights about Sicilian, Catholic, and WASP culture. 100% delightful and readable." —Chuck Collins, author of Born on Third Base and Altar to an Erupting Sun

“Timothy Crellin has written an epic immigration story of resilient Sicilians who make their way to America for a better life. The Amorelli family meets their match in the Lathrops, an old New England family who have their own point of view about the Italians. When Ellen Lathrop falls for Vittorio, more than sparks fly. Crellin weaves a heartfelt story told across generations, replete with joy, grief, and regret. A beautiful read.” —Adriana Trigiani, author of The Good Left Undone

"In Tim Crellin’s extraordinary first novel, three generations of a Sicilian family struggle to make America home while their lives are upended by war and tragedy. . . . The layered plot covering more than six decades of family history, is held together by the running stitch of Angela, the first in the family to come to America. . . . The story is riveting; the issues, profound. The book is finely crafted — and a great read!" —Lynn Potts, poet, historian, author of The Porthole View and The Relentless Pronoun

“The Land of the Living [is] wholeheartedly recommended for its sensitivity and lyricism and its clear-eyed avoidance of the folklorism and sentimentality which sometimes characterizes fiction based on immigrant stories. This is also a book with an unflinching contemporary message in its recognition of how much America owes to immigration.” —Katherine Mezzacappa, Historical Novel Society

Author Biography

Timothy Crellin is an Episcopal priest, ordained in 1996 after graduating from Brown University and Harvard Divinity School. He is rector of a church in central Massachusetts and serves as a hospice chaplain. His mother’s family came to the United States from Sicily in the early part of the 20th century. His fascination with his heritage led him to learn Italian and to study at the University of Bologna. In researching The Land of the Living, the author located his relatives in Sicily, and has since made many trips to visit his cousins. He loves the outdoors and hiking.