From the bestselling author of The Shoemaker's Wife, a Richard and Judy book club pick, comes an exhilarating story of friendship, family, love and loyalty, told against a backdrop of Shakespeare's greatest comedies.

In 1949, South Philadelphia is bursting with possibility. When an urgent telegram from Italy upends the ordinary life of Nicky Castone, he begins to wonder whether there's more to life than a steady job in the family business and a sweet-natured fiancee.

Discovering in secret the draw of the local Shakespeare theatre company, Nicky quickly becomes enchanted by the stage, its colourful players and the feisty Calla Borelli, who runs the show. But before long, Nicky finds himself on the horns of a dilemma. Will he return to his conventional life and family, or does he have what it takes to risk everything and chart a new course?