In A Pig's Eye

About the Book

IN A PIG’S EYE (an expression of disdain and distrust) The story begins with the immigration from the Italian Alps of an illiterate youth who comes to the “New World” in 1913 with the hope of escaping the poverty and loneliness of his orphaned origin. His name is Gio and his sole asset is a honing stone. Surviving his early tenure in New York by sharpening knives, axes, cleavers et al, he is nonetheless displeased by city life and decides to go west and seek out other mountains. Finding work in a northern California lumber camp, Gio remains there for several years accumulating capital before moving to San Francisco. Arriving on the date of World War I armistice (November 11, 1918), he meets another Italian immigrant who induces him to consider the potential profits of a business arrangement to violate the 18th Amendment, soon labeled “Prohibition”. Not yet convinced of the merits of that activity, Gio explores more of California, finds torrid romance with a friendly waitress in Salinas, enjoys winter warmth in San Diego and subsequently goes east into the nearby mountains to discover a Mexican village adjacent to the border fence. This event launches his bawdy adventures with a “Madam”, her friendly young staff, a garrulous cowboy, a philosophical veteran of La Revolucion and an acid tongued matriarch. They, and others to follow, will ultimately contribute to his education and financial success in the ‘bootlegging’ activities of his investment. The story continues through the repeal of Prohibition, the events of World War II and into the era of a “New Society”. Contraband activities do not cease while the second generation characters become more prominent to provide a combination of irony, humor, romance and agony. Attitudes and life style are modernized and revised somewhat, but the need for unfettered personal liberty remains a constant theme in the words and behavior of the characters who believe the essence of human spirit cannot survive without it. It permeates all activity: the passion of lovers, the cynicism of bribery, even in the hilarious method of transporting the bulky components of a still. In summary, it’s discovered that those of an earlier era also suffered social foibles similar to those we now endure. The search for personal freedom from dogma will forever continue

About the Author

Mario Trenti is the son of Italian immigrants to Mexico in the 1920’s. The genesis for “In a Pig’s Eye” was his youthful fascination with the bawdy reminiscing of family elders and friends about the Prohibition era. The characters and events of the story are fictional, but the mood and attitude of the times are as accurate as his memory allows. Despite having been a professional writer of technical and promotional text for firms involved with space and defense projects for thirty-five years, Mario had written no fiction since college. For a few months he wrote a regular column and feature articles published by a local independent newspaper. But his success was in the technical field. Some products for which he wrote proposals are on the moon, and likely to remain there. His hope is that this novel does not remain on shelves. Ever eclectic, Mario is also a pilot who regularly flies the airplane he built; has been a rancher, a Mensa member, heavy equipment operator, homebuilder, bartender and more. Now retired, he lives in a San Diego area rural community with a nearby airport.