Christ in Concrete (Masterplots II: Short Story Series, Revised Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Pietro Di Donato
- First Published: 1937
- Type of Plot: Social realism
- Time of Work: The 1920's
- Setting: New York City
- Principal Characters: Geremio, Annunziata, Murdin, Nine Italian American immigrant workers
- Genres: Short fiction
- Subjects: New York, North America or North Americans, United States or Americans, Twentieth century, New York City, Social issues, 1920’s, American Dream, Immigration or emigration, Accidents, Death or dying, Working class, Faith, Bricks or bricklaying, Construction or construction workers
- Locales: New York, NY
The Story
First published as a short story, “Christ in Concrete” was the basis for the first two chapters of the novel by the same name published in 1939. The story is autobiographical, based on the death of the author's father in a construction accident in 1923. Paul, the oldest son of Geremio and Annunziata who is mentioned only briefly in the short story, becomes the protagonist in the novel. Paul represents Di Donato himself, who at the age of twelve, as the oldest son, was forced to go to work as a bricklayer to support the family after his father died.
The...
[The entire page is 1406 words long]
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