Sicilští lvi - Sága rodu Floriů 1 – Auci Stefania (2020)

The international bestseller follows the rise of the famous Italian dynasty of the Florios from humble beginnings to the peak of the strict hierarchy of closed Sicilian society. From the early 19th century to the mid-20th century, the Florio family practically took control of Sicily. The Florios were determined, ambitious, and resolute in their quest to become wealthier and more powerful than anyone else. Paolo and Ignazio Florio leave the earthquake-ravaged Bagnara for Palermo with the intention of realizing their dream of a better life, opening a shop selling spices and colonial goods in the Sicilian city. After Paolo's untimely death, Ignazio takes over leadership. Within ten years, he manages to triple the value of the business while educating Paolo's son Vincenzo in the matters of trade and entrepreneurship. And when Vincenzo becomes the sole heir to the family business at the age of thirty, he decides to expand further. Vincenzo sacrifices his personal life, family, and relationships for higher goals and successfully transforms the colonial shop into a business empire. He buys vineyards and tobacco plantations, ventures into fishing and canning, sulfur mining, and banking, establishes trading companies, builds connections in Great Britain and the United States, and even becomes an Italian senator. The name Florio soon commands respect across...