A powerful memoir that dives deep into the childhood and psyche of the author, Mea Culpa: A Plea of Innocence chronicles the lifelong struggle of a boy—and later a man—to gain his parents’ approval. Longing particularly to ease his mother’s ever-present pain, he carries a misplaced guilt into every aspect—and relationship—of his life. In a series of vignettes, the reader is transported back in time to a small mountain village in post-war Italy. Amidst ruins and famine, a young family grapples with poverty. Growing up in such dire circumstances, the only coping strategy for the young boy is to imagine himself as a Roman centurion in command of an army. Adding to his stress is a mother who constantly draws him into a relationship that requires blind devotion and cruel sacrifice. Her craftiness and guilt-inducing methods are revealed in detail, making this a suspenseful narrative about survival. Written for readers who seek to understand why they are burdened with shame, Mea Culpa: A Plea of Innocence invites them into the courtroom of the author’s life, where they become judge and jury. Passionate, moving, and thought-provoking, this memoir will hold readers’ attention to the final page.