Summary of The House of Scorta
“The House of Scorta” is a historical novel that follows five generations of the Scorta family — a lineage of outcasts and smugglers — who live in a remote village in Puglia, southeastern Italy, from the 1870s to the 1940s. The novel celebrates the harsh beauty of southern Italy and the quiet dignity of ordinary lives.
Reasons to read The House of Scorta
This compelling historical family saga became a bestseller in France and won the Prix Goncourt in 2004. Laurent Gaudé is a renowned contemporary French author who frequently sets his novels in Italy. Other notable works by Gaudé include “Death of an Ancient King” (winner of the Prix des Libraires in 2003), “Eldorado”, and “Hell’s Gate”.
Setting: Puglia (Italy)
Book set in Italy (Puglia): Montepuccio – a fictional village inspired by Peschici in the Gargano region of Puglia.
Original title: Le soleil des Scorta
Year of publication: 2004
Nr of pages: 289
