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| Kensington Publishing (US, Canada) |
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| Lubbe (Germany) |
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| Oceanida (Greece) |
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Synopsis
Genoa, 1910. In the heart of the caruggi, the colorful, narrow streets that border the busy industrial port, is the Luna—the brothel where redheaded Rosa was born and grew up lovingly cared for by Madam C, a surrogate mother, and her girls. Confused about love and relationships, marginalized by the neighborhood children and stigmatized, Rosa becomes a dreamer early in life. The ships coming and going in the port fascinate her, and her biggest desire is to be able to hop on one of them some day and go to America. During one of her outings to the port, Rosa meets Isabel, and old Costa Rican woman who distills oils from flowers in two dark rooms she inhabited for sixty years. The strange smells and smoke that emanate from those rooms have deemed Isabel a witch to the locals, but only Rosa sees a lonely, tender woman with a passion for making beautifully-scented oils. When a quarrel with Madam C forces sixteen-year-old Rosa to leave the Luna, Isabel’s distillery becomes her new home. Enchanted by the intoxicating fragrances around her, Rosa becomes Isabel’s apprentice, learning the art of extracting essences from flowers and that for each person exists one and only one “perfect oil”—a unique mixture of fragrances that matches the qualities of one’s skin and affects people. As she searches for and finds her perfect oil, Rosa falls in love with Renato, the charismatic political leader of the longshoremen. He’s heard ugly rumors about Rosa and her life at the Luna and can’t seem to see past them. Undaunted, Rosa sets out to win Renato with the stratagem of disguise and the power of her perfect oil. She succeeds, but shortly afterwards a twist-of-fate pulls Rosa and Renato apart. As Rosa embarks on a journey to find the seemingly lost Renato, she must come to terms with her childhood dreams, her origins, and Madam C.
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The stories behind the story:
Interview with Lina Simoni
Q: Why did you write "The Scent of Rosa's Oil"?
A: For several reasons. First, I wanted to present to the American public the city of Genoa. Genoa is not on the beaten path of American tourists, and yet has rich and fascinating history and personality, both in the past and today. Second, I am very sensitive to odors. They affect me and my moods. I wanted to write a story in which the characters lives are changed by perfumes. Third, I wanted to have in the story a young girl with seemingly impossible challenges to overcome. Port-side brothels have always been part of Genoa's life. Hence the girl born a raised in a brothel.
Q: Why did you choose 1910?
A: I knew I wanted to write a story set in the past. I began writing it in the thirties, but changed my mind when I realized that I could not possibly write a story set at that time without taking into account the political situation brought about by Mussolini's rise to power. I tried to incorporate some political events, but stopped immediately: the story did not have a clear focus. I realized that didn't want to write a political novel, so I went back in time to a year when no relevant political events took place. I spent many days in the archives of Genoa's newspaper reading the 1910 issues to understand what was going on in the city at that time. It was a memorable experience!
Q: Where did you find the inspiration for your characters?
A: Here and there. Talking to people, reading, and, of course, letting my fantasy go wild. I can tell you that years before I started writing "The Scent of Rosa's Oil" an older woman (now deceased) told me that when she was a little girl she lived in a building across the street from a Chinese brothel. She remembered red lanterns and the coming and going of men of all ages and was intrigued and scared at the same time. I found her story fascinating, and at the time I wondered what influence a childhood like that can have on a girl. When I began searching for a character, I remembered the old lady's story and went from there.
Q: Are any parts of the plot or characters autobiographical?
A: Not really. I write a lot better when I "invent." Except for...sorry, this is my secret.
Q: What about the poetry in the novel? Can we see a translation?
A: I wish I had written an appendix with the translation of the italian poetry that appears in the novel. I didn't because I didn't think many people would be interested. Mistake. Many readers have asked me for the translation. I may post it on this website some day. And if a second edition should be published I'll make sure to have an appendix in it.
Q: Which writer is your "role model"?
A: Gabriel Garcia Marques. I read everything he wrote. I reread him constantly.
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