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There's No Turning Back

A Novel

Read by Aida Reluzco

About The Book

Discover the astonishingly powerful debut novel by the beloved feminist author of the “brilliant” (The Wall Street Journal) Forbidden Notebook and the “courageous” (The Washington Post) Her Side of the Story that was so subversive, it was banned by the Italian Fascist regime when it was first published in 1938.

A coming-of-age novel that is as relevant today as it was nearly ninety years ago, There’s No Turning Back centers on eight women with radically different backgrounds who attend the same college in Rome. Some are there to study, others to escape a scandal, or keep a secret, and during their time there, they experience the challenges of love, work, and emancipation.

Considered experimental and revolutionary at the time, this novel established Alba de Céspedes as a powerful new voice in the 20th century. Translated by Ann Goldstein, There’s No Turning Back demonstrates why de Céspedes deserves “an important place in the canon of women’s literature” (Chicago Review of Books).

About The Author

Photograph © Mondadori Portfolio / Contributor
Alba De Céspedes

Alba de Céspedes (1911–1997) was a bestselling Italian Cuban feminist writer greatly influenced by the cultural developments that lead to and resulted from World War II. Along with being imprisoned for her anti-fascist work, several of her novels were banned in Italy. After the war, she moved to Paris, where she lived until her death in 1997.

About The Reader

Aida Reluzco

Product Details

  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio (February 11, 2025)
  • Runtime: 11 hours and 1 minute
  • ISBN13: 9781668124727

Raves and Reviews

"Aida Reluzco’s narration brings depth to each character in this coming-of-age novel, which follows eight Italian women from vastly different backgrounds as they navigate the complexities of education, independence, and societal expectations. Banned in 1938 by the Fascist government, this story paints a wide picture of Italian womanhood. Some arrive at college eager to learn, while others seek refuge from scandal or the weight of their own secrets. Throughout their time together, they confront love, ambition, and the limits placed upon them. As Reluzco highlights their distinct voices and emotional journeys, her performance captures the tension between tradition and modernity, making the struggles of these women immediate and relevant. She magnifies the themes of resilience and self-discovery presented in these intertwined stories."

AudioFile Magazine

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