Sicily in the 60s - though it might as well be the 1460s. Pietra is shunned because of her illegitimate birth - but one important man befriends her, and changes her life.
Pietra is the daughter of the beautiful but harsh Isabella Castello. Because Pietra was born illegitimately, both mother and daughter are shunned by the village and Isabella is called buttana or slut. Pietra is kept in almost total ignorance.
When she reaches her mid-teens, she begins to show signs of becoming a stunning beauty. This doesn’t go unnoticed by Carminutso, the son of her employer who preys on her and tries to take advantage of her complete innocence as regards sexual matters.
At the same time, Gennaro, a village boy, also shows an interest in her. She finds him attractive. They meet in secret and she kisses him without knowing what it means – only that she finds the sensation blissful.
When her mother finds out, she beats Pietra so severely, she passes out. But Don Roccapalumba comes to her rescue...
Excerpt
“Buttana,” Pietra said, softly. Such an ugly word. She looked up. “And the men?” she asked. “What are they called?”
Lucia frowned. “I don’t understand.”
“The men who sleep with women to whom they are not married. What is the insulting name for them?”
“There…there is no such name.”
“I see,” Pietra said, slowly. “So it is bad for a woman to do it, but acceptable for the man.”
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