Donna Mancusi-Ungaro Hart
Transcribing words into another language so that others may read them is a mere service. Getting into the author’s head to comprehend the intent and convey the choice of specific words or expressions so that others may truly feel the message is the art of translation.
Translation is my passion.
Please enjoy these stories
which have never been translated into English until now.
Dear Little Huè
About The Book
A young Italian boy writes about the fun and exciting camping trip his second-grade class takes in the Italian mountains. When his family comes to visit along with Huè, their little girl recently adopted from Asia, the adventures begin! From visiting a jam factory and sampling Alpine cheeses to exploring the unknown wonders of the forest and its inhabitants, the book offers a rich tapestry of experiences that will resonate with children who have ventured into the great outdoors.
What sets "Dear Little Huè" apart is its unique perspective on diversity, equity, and inclusion. In a world marked by increasing racial bias for cultural differences, this book emphasizes the unity among all living creatures and illustrates how easily kids of all ages become friends and learn from one another – no matter what language they speak.
The House At The Bottom Of The Sea
About The Book
“The House at the Bottom of the Sea” is the captivating story of Stella, a young “ocean” girl, who straddles two worlds – the magical depths of the sea where she lives with her mom, and the attractions of the land where her father now resides. As she navigates the challenges of family, friendship, and growing up, Stella offers a setting young readers can relate to – especially those dealing with change or family transitions.
The book offers a perfect balance of fantasy and reality, as Stella chats with sea turtles and rides on the back of her dolphin friend who provides reassurance and magic in the midst of a life that is changing for her. Readers are treated to delightful imagery of play and adventure among grottoes and reefs, where fascinating sea creatures – and other ocean kids – await discovery. At the heart of the story is Stella's personal transformation as she learns the importance of making one’s own choices.
About The Author
Lucia Tumiati
Born in Venice in 1926, Lucia Tumiati has dedicated her prolific career to writing and publishing over 60 enchanting books and adventure stories for young readers. Despite her immense popularity in Italy, her works have remained undiscovered by English-speaking audiences until now. Tumiati's tales empower children with important life lessons, weaving imagination and fantasy into captivating narratives that have earned her numerous literary awards in Italy.
Mountains On Fire
About The Book
"Mountains on Fire: Memoir of an Italian Soldier in World War" is a poignant and compelling war diary written by Vincenzo Calzia, a young Italian Alpino (mountain) soldier who fought on the treacherous World War I front between Italy and Austria-Hungary over a century ago. Translated from the Italian by Donna Mancusi-Ungaro Hart and Mary Bertino, the memoir offers an engrossing account that is both an authentic depiction of a brutal war and a vivid portrayal of a truly majestic landscape.
The memoir traces the evolution of a young man who must accept the countless deaths of beloved comrades as well as the loss of his two younger brothers to the flu epidemic which raged near the end of the war. The book includes a wealth of additional material including explanatory historic notes, lists of Italian topographical references, maps of the theatre of battle in Northern Italy and what is now Croatia and Slovenia, and several photographs.
Despite the tragedy of war, "Mountains on Fire" also captures bright and humorous incidents where the young soldiers' light-hearted spirits shine through amid the majestic mountain setting. This authentic translation of this one man’s story provides insight into the history of Italy’s people and an understanding of the ruins and scars of war which its mountain landscape still bears.
About The Author
Vincenzo Calzia
Vincenzo Calzia was born near Genoa in 1896 and became an elementary school teacher at age 18. A year later, Italy entered the First World War, and he was called to arms. After only three months of officer training, he was accepted into the Alpini mountain corps and sent to the Italian front. He survived major battles in the Alps and continued to serve along the Dalmatian coast until the spring of 1920. After returning home, he became Vice Secretary of his Province, married, and had three children. During World War II, he provided support for the anti-Fascist Partisans hiding in the nearby mountains by diverting some provisions meant for the commune to them, and eventually he was taken hostage by the Germans occupying the area. He claimed to have found serenity during captivity by reading the entire Odyssey of Homer. At the end of WWII, Vincenzo returned to his position in Imperia, which he carried out until age 70. During retirement, he discovered the papers and letters he had kept during the Great War and was inspired to write his story. Highly respected for his service and absolute moral integrity, Vincenzo died in 1983 at the age of 87.
About The Translator
Donna Mancusi-Ungaro Hart
Dr. Donna Mancusi-Ungaro Hart went to Vassar College and received her Ph.D. in Romance Languages and Literatures from Harvard University. Her field of interest is Italian Studies and Dante. She taught Italian for several years at Rutgers University and has been a tutor and translator of Italian through the University of Michigan since 2005. In 2023, she was one of the prize winners of the Premio New York di Poesia “Italiani per il futuro” sponsored by the Istituto Italiano di Cultura.
Together with two of her former students of Italian, she has translated other genres. With Mary Bertino, she translated the WWI diary and with Stephen Eric Berry, she has translated numerous poems by contemporary poet Pamela Proietti that have appeared in Columbia Journal , Asymptote, Michigan Quarterly Review, Waxing & Waning, The Los Angeles Review, The Ravens Perch, The Lincoln Review and Hayden’s Ferry Review among others.
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