Che pasta di donne! Maria Orsini Natale

I discuss the role of writer Maria Orsini Natale and what she shares with readers with her vital testimony in her novels, to the 'small things' she holds dear—elements that deserve to be transcribed and preserved in order to safeguard the richness of Campanian cultural heritage. Orsini Natale’s novels are exclusively set in Campania, where the interplay of fiction and reality conveys her sorrow for a land violated and for a mother bereft of her children, many of whom emigrated to distant lands, including America. Yet, her novels also celebrate the enduring pride of a region that boasts a history of royalty, skilled artisans, and gifted artists, as well as a profound appreciation for the natural beauty and cultural treasures with which Campania is so richly endowed—treasures that have illuminated its civilization since pre-pagan times and remain vital to this day. The tradition of craftsmanship was carried out predominantly by women. The novel Francesca e Nunziata celebrates the ingenuity of Campanian women starting the dry pasta business. Through the intertwined archival material and creativity, Orsini Natale produced a novel that has been overlooked by critics