This is the story of Lucio Beltrame, a young colonial pioneer with a lot of talent and big dreams. He left his country (Italy) as a newly graduated engineer to help build another country(Libya) at a time when Europe was going through two world wars. Libya had been under Turkish domination for centuries and was still mired in nomadic lifestyle when Italy made it a colony. In the process of building new cities and towns throughout the country, Lucio experienced career ups and downs that took him to positions of power as a highly respected builder in Tripoli and a member of a select group of Mussolini's advisers.
But it didn't last. His success nosedived as World War II gave birth to an independent Libya and to a dictatorship that took a toll on all Italian colonialists.
This story is a work of fiction, but it reflects closely and accurately the evolution of Libya from 1911 to 1970.
But it didn't last. His success nosedived as World War II gave birth to an independent Libya and to a dictatorship that took a toll on all Italian colonialists.
This story is a work of fiction, but it reflects closely and accurately the evolution of Libya from 1911 to 1970.
