Here's what readers have said about my novel, The Lion and The Swastika:
“This novel profoundly touched me on a personal basis having been born, though not in Venice, but in the Veneto region. There is an almost palpable sense of the city both physically and emotionally. The blow by blow account of the war was absolutely frightening not only for the precious human loss but for all that history bequeathed the beloved city and that possible loss. I so enjoyed the descriptions calle by calle, fog, mist, the sunsets, I could feel the city authentically that only a native could relate. It is a story of courage and moral strength for such a young person caught in unison with her generation, in a frightful period of time. It’s a story I was so fascinated to read and Anna told it so well.”
~ Maria Groll
“The Lion and the Swastika is a novel which connects with the reader on two very different levels. Firstly, as a historical fiction based on true stories, you are at once transported into a World War II-era Venice rich with details and (for most non-Italian readers) heretofore unknown but fascinating events. The specificity with which Anna Benson describes Venice, down to canals, bridges, and streets, makes you long to go and explore, with a copy of the novel as a guide. Secondly, The Lion and the Swastika is also a classic coming of age story, full of the ups and downs of first love, even though the backdrop is a highly unusual one - the German occupation of Italy during the war. Our heroine encounters the mundane (her younger brother's sometimes foolish exploits) to the horrific (the deportation of Jews from Venice). And yet, with all the rich details and the epic historical context, the novel is a refreshing straightforward and enjoyable read, suitable for teens as well as seniors. I highly recommend it.”
~ Mark Seldis
“The Lion and the Swastika tells the history and experiences of a perceptive citizen of Venice, young enough to write about it free of youthful guile but mature enough to tell with sensitivity some of the horrors that Italy had to suffer at the hands of their northern neighbors during the second world war. Written in a somewhat biographical style, a spellbinding tale unfolds that deals with more than her own story. It is educational as well as good history, covering an episode of which the world knows way too little. Ever since the Rhine froze over early in the fifth century those invaders have been known as Barbarians. This book does little to change that opinion.”
~ Mathias Vanos
"The Lion and the Swastika succeeds in giving a gripping perspective on WWII - a view not often depicted due to the media's general emphasis on the involvement of France, Germany and England during the war. Anyone who has visited or wishes to see Venice should read this book not only for its rich historical account but for the loving depiction of this beautiful city - a city which may not have survived as we know it today if not for the courageous resistance of its inhabitants."
~ Barbara Smith
“At times mysterious, romantic, and, haunting, The Lion and the Swastika
vividly traces Anna Bruni Benson’s personal experiences as a young girl growing up in Venice during World War II. Against the backdrop of the gruesome Nazi occupation of Venice, the author gracefully captures the blossoming of teenage love and the awakening of her main character, Marina, to the injustice in the world and the importance of taking action in defense of her ideals and the freedom of her beloved country. Lion and The Swastika not only offers a unique perspective on a time in Italy's history that has little been written upon, but it also tells the inspiring story of a young woman who learns to stand up for her beliefs. It is a story that will stay with you long after you have closed the book.
~ Julia Drake
A novel by Anna Bruni Benson
