The Soul of an Immigrant


Read by Sue Anderson

(4.9 stars; 10 reviews)

Constantine Panunzio (1884-1964) begins his autobiography by describing his childhood in Molfetta, Italy. At age 13, he left home as a sailor, landing in Boston in 1902. His trials finding work, learning English, and securing an education in the U.S. were many, but eventually, he became administrator of a social service agency in Boston. During WWI, he served as head of the YMCA on the Italian front. Concerned throughout his career with the treatment and assimilation of immigrants, Panuncio criticized the post world War I hysteria about alien radicals in his book The Deportation Cases of 1919-1920.
- Summary by Sue Anderson (8 hr 47 min)

Chapters

Dedication and Foreword 11:10 Read by Sue Anderson
A Native of Ancient Apulia 50:13 Read by Sue Anderson
The Call of the Sea 35:42 Read by Sue Anderson
America 24:51 Read by Sue Anderson
In the American Storm 59:28 Read by Sue Anderson
I go to Jail 29:02 Read by Sue Anderson
I am Caught Again 17:56 Read by Sue Anderson
A Mysterious Event 6:33 Read by Sue Anderson
First Glimpses of the Real America 13:44 Read by Sue Anderson
"You Ought to go to School" 12:01 Read by Sue Anderson
My American Education and its Meaning 37:45 Read by Sue Anderson
I Suffer Serious Losses 11:34 Read by Sue Anderson
I Become Naturalized 14:58 Read by Sue Anderson
Stumbling Blocks to Assimilation 20:28 Read by Sue Anderson
My American "Big Brother" 14:40 Read by Sue Anderson
In An Immigrant Community 34:50 Read by Sue Anderson
Still More Obstacles to Assimilation 17:56 Read by Sue Anderson
I Go To Jail Once More 23:13 Read by Sue Anderson
My American Philosophy of Life 38:57 Read by Sue Anderson
Home! 24:41 Read by Sue Anderson
My Final Choice 27:30 Read by Sue Anderson

Reviews

Fascinating!


(5 stars)

This autobiography reads like an adventure novel. Keeps you on your toes and thinking how hard life used to be, how easy most Americans have it now. Details of how an immigrant who doesn’t speak English or have any skills, survives by his wits, is eye opening. Reader does a good job unfolding this harrowing story, even does a bit of singing! I give 5 stars to author and reader because I never got tired of listening all the way to the end.


(5 stars)

Excellent story and a fascinating glimpse of the challenges faced by the author and other immigrants in the early 20th century. My own great grandfather arrived here from Taranto only 5 years after Mr. Panunzio, so the subject is of particular interest to me. Well read by the LibriVox volunteers.


(5 stars)

Great... such a relative novel for 2019 and our immigration scene today

Awsome!


(5 stars)

Great story!!! There is nothing like good non-fiction book.

the soul of an immigrant. enjoyed very much


(5 stars)