LILIA: a true story of love, courage, and survival in the shadow of war.

“A TIMELY AND MUST-READ BOOK”

LILIA – a True Story of Love, Courage, and Survival in the Shadow of War.

LILIA is a gripping, cinematic novel inspired by my family's true story of resilience and survival, set against the backdrop of Mussolini's fascist Italy and Hitler's brutal occupation. Amid war-torn chaos, a young girl and her family fight to endure unimaginable loss, betrayal, and the daily terror of Nazi rule. Stripped of her childhood and forced to navigate an unforgiving world, Lilia clings to the only thing that cannot be taken from her—hope. Years after the war, an unexpected encounter rekindles the possibility of love, healing, and a new beginning.

An unforgettable story destined for the screen, LILIA is a powerful testament to the indomitable spirit of the human heart. This harrowing yet deeply moving novel transports readers to a lost moment in history and stays with them long after the final page.

Experience LILIA today.

“Memories of war and a stolen childhood still burn in my heart and tear at my soul. I was a young girl who was made to endure the unthinkable. During the occupation, German soldiers invaded our village—a known hideout for partisans. Spies acted as friends by day and informants to the Nazis by night. Unable to trust anyone, we lived in silence so deafening it was torture. The darkest day of my life came when the Nazis took my brother. I felt helpless as the war tore our family apart. His last words to my mother: “Mama, if I don't go now, they will kill us all.” I saw the pain in my mother's eyes. I felt her heart cry words she could never speak. Haunted by death, I prayed: God, let me grow up before I die. Like the war, my life was senseless.”

Lilia Ganzini

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Lilia Ganzini

“After securing my passport and a third-class ticket, I was set to leave my country behind for America on July 25, 1956 aboard the SS Andrea Doria luxury liner. Due to unexpected document delays, immigration moved up my departure date to March 16 on the Saturnia. July 25th, the Andrea Doria collided with MS Stockholm causing numerous casualties, making it one of history’s most tragic maritime disasters. The ship capsized and sank the following morning disappearing into the Atlantic Ocean. My life was spared that day. Destiny had a better plan for me.”

SS Saturnia

A BEAUTIFUL MASTERPIECE

“In the past two days, I traveled to and from Alaska’s capital city, but along the way I visited much more memorable destinations. I explored 1940s Italy —Mussons, Rome, and WWII’s most brutal concentration camps. I fell in love with a place I have never been and with a poor family that I will likely never meet. Page after page I followed their harrowing journey through our Second World War, and its aftermath. In Lilia I found lasting love, unbearable loss, and courage beyond imagining. As a father and a war veteran I connected on a deep emotional level with the characters. Although I didn’t intend to, I paid for my journey with a bounty of tears. This true story by debut novelist Linda Ganzini is a beautiful masterpiece. Bring it home to adorn your bookshelf and to live in your heart.”

Sidney Wood • Author of Path of Jen: Bloodborne