The Triumph of the Lions

A Novel

By: Stefania Auci

Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini, Hollis McCarthy

The basis for the Disney-produced series on Hulu The Lions of Sicily

“A blazing epic of countless twists and turns.”—Le Figaro

"A compelling combination of historical sweep and family drama" –Kirkus Reviews

From the author of the acclaimed The Florios of Sicily, a magnificent novel that explores the origins of one of Italy’s most powerful and notorious families, men and women whose ruthless ambition and caprice would chart the course of modern Italian history—a tale of grand historical dramas, exotic locales, political intrigue, and heartbreaking romance that rivals the bestselling works of Philippa Gregory, Jennifer Chiaverini, and Adriana Trigiani.

Known as the Lions of Sicily, the Florios have officially arrived. Once rich only in ambition, the family has amassed a fortune that includes palaces, factories, ships, silks, and jewels. The city of Sicily admires them, honors them and, above all, fears them.

Ignazio was destined to rule Casa Florio since birth, a fearless drive that pulses through his veins, pushing him to look beyond Sicily towards Rome, Europe and its courts, the naval domination of the Mediterranean, and eventually the purchase of the entire Archipelago of the Egadi to build his dazzling empire. But his heart is black as ice. To seize Casa Florio, he abandoned the love of his life—an act of treachery which still casts a dark shadow.

Barely twenty, his son Ignazziddu stands to inherit all that his father has built. Yet he is nothing like Ignazio. A nervous young man, he does not want to be shackled to his infamous name, to sacrifice himself for the family. Despite his fears, he embraces Ignazio’s legacy, and must face a world that changes too quickly, agitated by new, violent, and uncontrollable forces. Ignazziddu eventually realizes that it’s not enough to have Florio blood to become the imposing force his grandfather and father were. What is it they had that he lacks?

Beside father and son are two extraordinary women: Giovanna, Ignazio’s wife, hard and fragile as crystal, full of passion but hungry for love, and Franca, the wife of Ignazziddu, the most beautiful woman in Europe, whose golden existence is threatened by the blows of a cruel fate. It is these women who unforgettably animate The Triumph of the Lions.

Bringing the Belle Epoque into stunning relief, Auci dives deeper into the exhilarating and terrible, glorious and tragic history of a family that, for decades, sat high above Italian society, and made the heart of an island and city beat.

Translated from the Italian by Katherine Gregor and Howard Curtis

©2023 Stefania Auci (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers

Rich history of a neglected area and people.

Poor narration. Mispronunciation of Italian words, locations, and phrases was extremely disconcerting. Inflection used to make the names “musical”was a novice’s attempt at sounding “Italian”. It was insulting to the author and only helped perpetuate a stereotypical image of what “Italian” should be. Edoardo Ballerini’s narration was, as always, excellent. I look forward to Book 3 that he will narrate. I just saw that the same narrator will be performing Book 3. Unfortunately , I will not purchase it.