This books puts a human face on the courage, hope, and hard work of the region's Italian Americans. Over 100 immigrants and their descendants recall the years of separation, love of the strange new land, hard physical labour, and most of all, the bonds of family that have persisted for decades. Sometimes humorous, sometimes tragic, the stories are ultimately inspiring. Colour maps and organisation profiles further explain the breadth and depth of Italian settlement in the region. Includes an introduction by Nicholas P Ciotola, curator of the Italian American Collection at the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania.