Return to Valetto

Table of Contents COVER PAGE PRAISE ABOUT THE AUTHOR ALSO BY THE AUTHOR TITLE PAGE COPYRIGHT PAGE DEDICATION CONTENTS PART I CHAPTER 1. CHAPTER 2. CHAPTER 3. CHAPTER 4. CHAPTER 5. CHAPTER 6. CHAPTER 7. CHAPTER 8. PART II CHAPTER 9. CHAPTER 10. CHAPTER 11. CHAPTER 12. PART III CHAPTER 13. CHAPTER 14. CHAPTER 15. CHAPTER 16. CHAPTER 17. CHAPTER 18. CHAPTER 19. CHAPTER 20. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Guide Cover Table of Contents Start List of Pages i ii iii iv v vi vii viii ix 1 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 
 
 
 
 
 
 PRAISE FOR
 RETURN TO VALETTO
 ‘I was completely charmed and transported by Return to Valetto, Dominic Smith’s smart, engaging novel about the secrets held within a dying Italian village. This terrific novel, about loss and family and the weight of history, is probably as close as I’ll ever get to buying one of those picturesque Italian villas, and surely a wiser investment.’ Jess Walter, author of Beautiful Ruins and The Angel of Rome
 ‘Packed with lush details and a gripping narrative, Dominic Smith’s masterful novel is about the ways in which the past echoes through generations, how the human heart is both fragile and resilient, and what it takes to stand up for justice no matter how much time has passed. Return to Valetto is a story of love, loss, and the enduring power of hope. Propulsive, heartfelt, and sneakily funny—I was transfixed from page one.’ Lara Prescott, New York Times bestselling author of The Secrets We Kept
 ‘In this propulsive, lush, and haunting novel, Dominic Smith transports us to a near-abandoned town in Umbria and shows how the courage to voice unspeakable secrets of the past can give new life to crumbling bonds of family and community. Filled with enormous hope for the future and rich appreciation for history, Return to Valetto will make you want to race through to the end but also slow down to savor the beautiful writing and sharp insights. I couldn’t put it down.’ Angie Kim, author of Miracle Creek
 ‘The revelations of Return to Valetto—those of history, and those of the heart—unfold with meticulous grace in Dominic Smith’s stately and majestic novel. With fascists breathing down our necks anew, Return to Valetto could not be more timely, but it is the fine writing and high drama that make it so memorable, and so moving.’ Joshua Ferris, author of A Calling for Charlie Barnes
 PRAISE FOR
 THE ELECTRIC HOTEL
 ‘Smith skilfully blends film history with the adventures of his cast … A compelling plot, robust characters, and finely crafted prose richly evoke a bygone age and art.’ Kirkus Reviews (starred)
 ‘A glorious ode to the luminous art that ushered in Hollywood’s film era.’ BBC
 ‘Fascinating information about the making of silent films is balanced by poignant, emotional portrayals of individuals attempting to define their lives offscreen even as they made history on it. Smith winningly delves into Hollywood’s past.’ Publishers Weekly
 ‘A sensory delight … highlighting not only the incredible and alluring power of film but also its ability to provide structure and meaning to sometimes impossible lives. The Electric Hotel will attract readers with an appetite for old Hollywood and keep them.’ Books + Publishing
 ‘What sticks in the memory are intensely realised fragments [and] prose as clear, luminous and detailed as a silver nitrate photograph.’ The Age/Sydney Morning Herald
 ‘Spanning three continents, the author poignantly captures the early 20th century era. An engrossing read for film aficionados, and for anyone who likes an entertaining, witty and well-written story.’ Toowoomba Chronicle
 ‘[Dominic] Smith again blends history and fiction to create a world where a tale of hope, love and loss all seems real.’ West Australian
 ‘The Electric Hotel skillfully melds fact with fiction, opening a window into the age of silent movies and the off-screen lives of a cast of eccentrics.’ Qantas Magazine
 ‘Smith’s multi-layered narrative, vivid language