Please join Dante Society for an author talk with Timothy Crellin and his novel The Land of the Living, which grows out of the author’s fascination with his Sicilian heritage, on his mother’s side. Timothy Crellin studied Italian and lived in Bologna for a year. He has Italian citizenship, speaks fluent Italian, and visits his family in Sicily as often as possible. The other taproot of the book is Tim’s deep study of war in the 20th century, and particularly the generational impact of World War I, World War II and Vietnam on immigrant families.
About the author:
Timothy Crellin is an Episcopal priest, raised in the Boston area and educated at Brown University and Harvard Divinity School before being ordained in 1996. Since February of 2022 he has been Rector of St. Paul’s Church in Gardner, Massachusetts. Tim was Vicar of St. Stephen’s Church in Boston from 1999 to 2022, and was the founder of St. Stephen’s Youth Programs. Previously he was Associate Rector of the Church of the Redeemer in Chestnut Hill. In addition to being Rector and Dean of the Wachusett Valley Deanery, Tim is a chaplain with a local hospice provider. He serves on the Ethics Committee at Heywood Hospital in Gardner, and on the Social Justice Commission of the Diocese of Western Massachusetts.
About the book:
The Land of the Living is a historical novel that explores the themes of immigration and assimilation, war and its impact on families, the role of race and class in forging identity, and what it means to find home. The story follows Angela Amorelli and her husband Tommaso through Ellis Island and on to their new life in a New England fishing town. Angela sacrifices everything, hoping to create a better future for her children, only to be confronted with more loss and strife than one could bear. But with remarkable strength and resilience, she carries on through the wars and upheaval that shaped the 20th century, becoming the force that confronts war's impact and heals her family. An unforgettable story of family and faith, The Land of the Living inspires readers to rethink how we came to be who we are.
Please note:
Westerly Library & Wilcox Park staff often take photos and recordings during programs and events, which may be used in publicity and marketing. If you do not wish to have your photo used, please contact a staff member to let us know and we will make every effort to honor that request.
