I Stay Here

A sweeping novel about how the most significant, turning points in history are connected to the destinies of ordinary people.
Trina lives in the village of Kuron in the South Tyrol Valley, annexed by Italy from Austria. She works as a teacher when Mussolini bans teaching in the German language. Many do not know Italian and leave for Germany, but Trina and her husband Erich decide to stay. When Tyrol comes under Hitler's rule, they flee into the mountains, knowing: the fascists must not win, and love is stronger than adversity. But when the war ends, Kuron faces a new danger…
Reflecting on her life, Trina reaches out to her daughter, who long ago left the family. In these dramatic, love-filled, and painful letters lies the answer to the question of what the price of loyalty to one’s land and to oneself is?
Today, only the bell tower remains of Kuron, rising above the lake. Inspired by its view, Balzano wrote a poignant and very modern story about the strength of will, the heroism of resistance, and true love.