Death in the mountains

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This true story recounts the murder of Artemio Bruni, a peasant farmer in the Casentino mountains of Tuscany, in the winter of 1907. Artemio was the great-grandfather of the author’s husband. Surprisingly, his death went uninvestigated, not reported to the police, and his wife, Bruna, never sought justice. When questioned about this, the author’s mother-in-law explained that life was different in the mountains a century ago; they were poor farmers, and their lives held little value. Australian author and journalist Lisa Clifford, upon moving to Florence with her Italian husband, became captivated by this unsolved murder in his family. Her curiosity led her to delve deeper into the tragic events of the past, revealing not only the mystery of Artemio's death but also the stark reality of his family's existence—one that had remained unchanged since the Middle Ages, lacking the warmth and sophistication of Florentine life. Clifford’s narrative, "Death in the Mountains," brilliantly reconstructs Artemio Bruni's life and death while painting a vivid picture of early 20th-century Tuscan mountain life. It serves as both a compelling murder mystery and a poignant portrayal of a lost Italy.