PRIMO magazine

October-November 2007

If a list is ever compiled of the top cities for Italian American history and heritage, Boston will surely be near or at the top.

Although always seen as a city with deep roots in Irish American history, Boston was one of the major centers of Italian immigration and to this day has several neighborhoods still quite homogeneously Italian.

Stephen Puleo has written a superb book that details the rich history of Italians in Boston, from the wave of immigration in the late 1800s to today.

The Boston Italians should be read by any and all Italian Americans, especially those who are from Boston and Massachusetts. The book contains seven sections, made up of a number of chapters, and an epilogue; each describing a part of the history of Italians in Boston.

The book opens dramatically with the rise of Italian immigrants in Boston’s North End. At one time this neighborhood was almost 100 percent Italian. We are introduced to George Scigliano, a neighborhood vigilante who rises to political prominence in the Massachusetts legislature.

As described by Puleo, Scigliano was an impressive figure, in some ways ahead of his time, exceptionally brave and forthright. He was an extraordinary leader in the North End, fighting those who persecuted Italian immigrants such as the padroni labor bosses and the banks. Scigliano’s death touched off a battle between Italian immigrants and the native Boston population. The Italians wanted to name North Square Scigliano Square in honor of their engaging leader. The city council eventually defeated the name change, but throughout the debate, the rivalry between the Italian and Irish populations was set for future disputes.

Here, we see the strength of Puleo’s research; rich with facts and anecdotes taken from a variety of credible sources including past articles from the many newspapers that served Boston. Puleo is also a wonderful writer and has written a book that moves along like a fast-paced novel.

Most interesting is Puleo’s recounting of the history of anarchism in Boston. The similarities between the Italian anarchists and today’s Muslim terrorists are quite chilling. The headquarters of Italian anarchists at one time was in the North End. The author reminds us of their mission and tactics. He writes about their indiscriminate bombings and violent acts. It is amazing that there existed a group of violent radicals during a time and place that is often described as quaint and innocent. Puleo shows us that the “good ole days” were as complex and dangerous as are current times. Besides Sacco and Vanzetti, Puleo also mentions other anarchists such as Alphonsus Fargotti and Luigi Galleani. The story of the anarchists of the North End is rich and suspenseful, all the more fascinating in that the story was real.