Summary of There’s No Turning Back
“There’s No Turning Back” tells the story of eight female university students in Rome between 1934 and 1936. Set within the walls of the Pensione Grimaldi, a convent-run dormitory, the novel follows their lives as they form friendships and begin to shape their futures, making choices and nurturing ambitions for love, independence, and intellectual fulfilment that were unusual—and often daring—for women of their time.
Reasons to read There’s No Turning Back
There’s No Turning Back” became a bestseller in Italy upon its publication, despite attempts by Mussolini’s regime to suppress it. The novel was awarded the 1939 Premio Viareggio, but the Fascist authorities forced the jury to revoke the prize, and further editions of the book were officially banned. Alba de Céspedes was a prominent Italian-Cuban novelist and journalist, active in the anti-fascist resistance during the war. She remains best known for her novels portraying women striving for independence and self-fulfilment. Other notable works by Cespedes include “Forbidden Notebook” and “Her Side of the Story”.
Original title: Nessuno torna indietro
Year of publication: 1938
Nr of pages: 303
