I have been searching for background material on living conditions in Sicily in the approximate time frame of 1880 to 1920, which is probably the period of greatest immigration from Sicily. I'm particularly interested in eye witness accounts and anecdotal history so that I can get a clearer understanding of the obstacles my ancestors faced and at least gain some insight into the considerations they faced in making the decision to emigrate to the US. Of course it would be preferable if all text was in English; otherwise, translation would be a lifetime commitment and, to be honest, a lot of water has flowed under the bridge for me! Any bibliographical listing on this topic is welcome as well.

I've hit a wall on genealogical information on the Dragotto's, the Monte's and their kin and other familial relations so I am entertaining plausible fiction in my account of my grandfather's exodus from Sicily to the US, which will also include my grandmother's journey as well since they are so closely intertwined. One of the ironies I've encountered since I threw myself into learning more about my ancestors is that others involved in similar pursuits tend to be generous, kind, encouraging and sympathetic while many family members, by and large, show very little interest in the intricate web of paths which trace the journey of our ancestors and, in no small measure, contributed to whom we have become. Life is full of mystery and surprise!

Tom

Check this link and then see if your local library has it. If they don't they will order for the library if you put in a request.

findarticles.com/p/art...n13684752/

Hope this helps out.

Thanks, Elizabeth. I had come across that white paper; however, aside from the opening part of the book where a description of every day life is provided, I'm not certain I want to start out with the author's political views as the basis for my own investigation. Getting the library to order a copy of the book just for that first chapter is probably worthwhile. I had discovered a Sicilian woman who wrote novels/stories from her own experiences in that time period but I was foolish enough not to book mark the site so I could return to it. I'll keep looking.

Tom,

If you haven't read it before, Jerre Mangione and Ben Morreale's La Storia, Five Centuries of the Italian American Experience is a well writen and moving account of the Italian Immigrant Experience. Parts Two and Three, "The Land They Left" and "Emigration Fever," have information on the economic, cultural and social history of Sicily and southern Italy, and details some of the myriad reasons why southern Italians emigrated. The paperback version is still in print and is about $15 at Amazon.

Biff