BITTER SEA: THE SOLITUDE OF THE SEA

PREFACE Antonio Cortes, the eldest son of a family of fishermen from a small seaside village near Pescara, deeply attached to family and values, decides to follow in his father’s footsteps after the loss of his father at sea with his crew. He chooses to continue the hard work not out of passion, as he later reveals to his family, but to symbolically remain close to his prematurely departed parent. Under the guidance of his maternal uncle Vincenzo, a wise, profound, and devout man marked by life’s sorrows and the hardships of the trade, Antonio learns all the secrets of fishing and embraces the intrinsic idea of freedom associated with the sea, his only friend after the death of his wife. The family unit, tested by life’s trials, comes together under one roof. While Vincenzo and Antonio engage in fishing, Antonio’s mother Maria and his sister Andrea, a recent graduate of hotel school, manage a small restaurant on a pier. Having matured too quickly and finding himself thrust into the role of head of the family, Antonio becomes very tough and demanding of himself and of life, which seems to deprive him of the most beautiful things. The teachings and sacrifices endured by his parents lead him to adopt an attitude as strong outwardly as it is fragile inwardly. Similar in character to his father, Antonio often clashes with his sister, rebellious and non-conformist like their mother, who dreams of working abroad as a chef. He will eventually share this desire with Stephanie, an Italo-French friend. For Antonio, the life of a fisherman will be full of renunciations, sacrifices, and almost devoid of gratifications. The only solace will come from the sea, where he will repeatedly drown his dramas and his infinite, lonely sorrows shared with his uncle. Out of pride, he decides to end a long-standing love affair with Federica, a wealthy woman from a rival village, due to constant disagreements with her parents. The disappointment and failure of this significant relationship will deepen his despair, leading him astray from his concept of love and family, and into various passions, wandering between France and Spain, his home country. But in a moment of total resignation, a special woman will enter his life, bringing him happiness. Just as things seem to be looking up, Antonio will have to face dramatic situations, danger, and economic precariousness that will shake him. Yet he will always fight for freedom, for the defense of his family and his sea, setting an example of how staying united and holding onto traditional values, love will be the common denominator and the greatest strength of the family. —- ISBN: 9798325762178