About the Book

WITTENOOM…A HUMAN DISASTER

MESOTHELIOMA…A TICKING TIME BOMB

This is a compelling, heart-rending Australian tragedy that should never have happened. A powerful, reflective, true story, written from the heart in intricate personal detail. It is a colorful chronicle of Liborio’s life and death.

Set against the 1950’s backdrop of Wittenoom, the story is all encompassing and brings to light the conspiracy and hidden truth behind this human disaster. It captures first hand the essence of the battle against the terrible scourge of asbestos and the devastating impact of corporate greed.

The story reveals how love for his sweetheart Angelina led Liborio to Wittenoom: the place where he was betrayed and unwittingly sacrificed his life.

Charged with emotion, it describes Liborio’s gut-wrenching legal battle for justice when he discovered he was dying, and his triumph when he succeeded in winning a landmark court decision. The story outlines interesting legal and medical aspects of asbestos-related cancer known as mesothelioma and the black dog of depression.

This story is testimony to the resilience and inner fortitude of the human spirit. It paints a vivid portrait of amazing human love at its strongest, courage and acceptance in the face of loss and grief and despair as Liborio lays bare his soul-wrenching emotional journey as he faces his own mortality.

As well as being a very personal story of triumph over adversity, it is also an inspirational story of hope.

It was Liborio’s idea to write a book. In his dying days, he was driven to record his memories so that Angelina could tell his story. Those recordings became the foundation of Liborio: My Great Love.

THIS STORY WILL MAKE YOU CRY;
BUT IT WILL ALSO MAKE YOU SMILE AND REFLECT ON YOUR LIFE.

 

Liborio: My Great Love. Doomed by the Scourge of Asbestos. By Angela Napolitano (Self-published)

We are all familiar now with the ongoing consequences of the terrible tragedy that took place 50 and more years ago at CSR’s asbestos mine at Wittenoom in north-west Australia. As many as 2000 of the men, women and children who lived there were condemned to death or crippling injury because of that company’s callous disregard for their welfare. Those are the statistics. But what Angela Napolitano has done is put a human face on the tragedy – the face of her late husband Liborio. She tells how, migrating to Australia as a young man from Italy’s Abruzzo region, Liborio was one of hundreds of young migrants lured north to Wittenoom by the promise of making his fortune at the mine. Instead the deadly blue dust would kill him in an agonizing manner – mesothelioma, a fast-moving and incurable cancer of the lining of the lung. Angela movingly describes how, almost on his death-bed, her husband mustered the courage to take CSR to court – and win, not only compensation for his cancer, but for the depressive illness it caused, the first such legal victory in Australia. This is a heart-felt book, a personal epitaph to a brave man, and a warning to black-hearted corporations everywhere that workers are human beings, not disposable labour units.

• Ben Hills, author Blue Murder (Sun Books) www.benhills.com

Liborio: My Great Love is a truly compelling book for many reasons. It tells the all-too-familiar story of a young, Italian migrant enticed to work in the asbestos mines of Wittenoom, Western Australia, and of the devastating medical consequences that ensued, with mesothelioma and the fear and depression that accompanies this terrible disease. It captures the personal struggle of one man who suffered so much and yet, through sheer determination and personal strength, triumphed in court, against all the odds. It also portrays a beautiful love between two warm and loving young people and their wonderful family. Their love lives on in this heartbreaking but inspirational book.

It was a privilege to edit Liborio: My Great Love and to work with Angela to bring this project to its fruition. I was only involved in the last eighteen months of this long-term project that Liborio started in his dying months and Angela completed twelve years later. Angela is a remarkable woman, whose love and dedication to Liborio is palpable. I am honoured to have worked with her and to be able to count her as my friend. My only regret is that I didn’t meet Liborio personally, since he had already passed away when I met Angela. But he does live on in this deeply moving and captivating story of life, suffering and great love.

• Rachel Hoare, Accredited Editor (Institute of Professional Editors Australia)

I was encouraged to buy and read this book “Liborio, My Great Love” written by Angela Napolitano. I picked the book up on Sunday afternoon and could not put it down. I am glad I found time to read the book. This book shared an incredible and emotional journey. These type of stories need to be told, one of Liborio’s legal victory so it could be acknowledged and most of all, to make known to the public the conduct and impact of corporates. The book certainly brought home the hidden truth. I believe what it does most is to help open the door and inspire others who have felt betrayed with similar claims to fight with all their might for justice. A must read and a tribute to Angela and her family for sharing their story.

• Trish Rechichi, Author

READERS LETTERS AND COMMENTS
Names have been removed for reasons of privacy.

Dear Angela,
I have just finished reading your book Liborio: My Great Love and was compelled to write to you to congratulate you on such a master piece of work. The story of your journey together with Liborio and your sons was certainly one that needed to be told and put on paper. I was so enthralled with the story I read it within 24 hours of purchasing it. The point that it is all fact makes it even more incredible. The love and the strength that the two of you had along with your boys shines throughout the moving storyline. This makes your book heart-wrenching and heart-warming at the same time. People like yourself and your boys are the true heroes of this country. The courage you have shown with the cards you have been dealt throughout your life truly is inspirational. I wish you all the peace and happiness in the world and thank you for telling your amazing story.

Dear Angela ,
I purchased your book a few weeks ago and found the story so compelling that I could not put the book down. I can really envision this book as a great Australian feature film or even better a mini series. Wittenoom is the biggest industrial disaster and just the very name of the town sends shivers up people’s spines. Australians are now showing a lot of interest in our country’s working history and especially how the migrant people came and built this country. In time of capitalism and greed I think this story going out in a medium such as film would be widely viewed and acclaimed. The subject matter is very sad, but the beautiful love story interwoven through it is just incredible. I thank you for writing it.

Dear Angela,
I just wanted to let you know that this week I finally got around to reading your book Liborio: My Great Love. I had a personal copy signed by you, sitting on the bookshelf in the study for quite some time as I always seemed to be running short of time to read it. Once I did pick it up however, I couldn’t put it down and I read it in two nights. I must commend you for writing such a passionate and compelling story and I (a man) must admit that there were parts that brought tears to my eye. Until reading the book I was never really aware of the trauma suffered by the victims of asbestos disease . As your story portrays, it is testament to Liborio’s strength and resilience. This story has inspired me to reinforce what is important in my own life. Once again I commend you for your efforts and thank you for sharing your story.

Dear Angela,
I have read your book Liborio: My Great Love. I found the story beautiful and sobering. I think your book is a special history of a family which can stand tall. When I reflect on your account of Liborio I see a man who is ten times the man that I am. From his beginnings in Vasto to 1994, he exudes generosity, sensitivity and a gift of being a great father, friend and partner. I think the word great is appropriate, for few attain any of these qualities. Having said that, I always believe it takes two to Tango and without you, the story would have been very different. Sure it doesn’t take away from who Liborio was, but together you were special. You can be really proud of Liborio: My Great Love and your family and what a wonderful love story!. With thanks.

Dear Angela
Just a short note to let you know that I have read your wonderful book from cover to cover. Its such a terribly sad story, but so inspiring and so important to tell. Men like Liborio went there in good faith, motivated by desire to provide themselves and their families with a decent life, only to find later that they were betrayed. Thank you for taking me on your journey.

DearAngela,
Thanks for sharing your family story. It was fantastic meeting you and getting a personal copy signed. . You have done an amazing job with your book, making known the hazards of asbestos. You are a remarkable lady with this achievement and have made Liborio proud.

Dear Angela,
Congratulations on completing your book which I found compelling reading! What an amazing story and what a beautiful looking family. Thank you for making known the impact that corporate greed can have on our community. May God bless you and your family.

Dear Angela
Thank you for taking me on your journey, as a wife, mother and friend it awoke all the emotions to such a height I lived with you in my head for so long after reading your book. Here’s to your courage and achievement.

Dear Angela,
I have read your wonderful book. It is a very special monument to the life of Liborio which will be read by many and also a significant piece of the history of this affliction. The strength of the bond of your marriage shines through the work and is reflected by your success in achieving its publication. With every best wish.

Dear Angela,
Recently on a visit to Perth to see my parents, they passed on to me your book Liborio: My Great Love the sad story of your husband and his long battle with asbestos disease. May I congratulate you on a great book and for allowing me to see the privacy of your family life. I pass on to you my love and best wishes for a better life ahead with your children and grandchildren.

Dear Angela,
I have just finished reading Liborio: My Great Love, a beautiful story, so well written and put together, very sad, but not all gloom and doom. I found it very uplifting and inspiring. You had a lot of courage and Liborio would be very proud of you completing such a huge project. God Bless you and your family.

Dear Angela,
I purchased your book Liborio: My Great Love, just a couple of days ago and could not put it down. I have just finished reading it and feel compelled to write and let you know that I enjoyed the story and found it very moving, a beautiful poignant love story, though sad I found it very uplifting and to be an inspirational story of triumph over adversity. Congratulations on a great achievement and a courageous challenge.

Dear Angie,
I have read your wonderful book and thoroughly enjoyed it. Maybe because I know you so well I found it very moving and poignant. I didn’t want to put it down. I believe that other asbestos sufferers would find it immensely interesting from the court proceedings, outcome point of view. I found that fascinating myself especially the way the lawyers argued so much over what causes anxiety and how that relates to and impacts upon depression. Angie I just loved the book and I am so proud to be your friend and to say to people that you have written such a beautiful book.

Dear Angela,
I feel I must write to say how much I enjoyed reading your very beautiful, but poignant book Liborio: My Great Love . Thank you so much for sharing your past with us the people of W.A. and the world. I have passed the book on to many other readers for I think it is a story that must be read.

Dear Angela,
I finished reading Liborio: My Great Love recently and I was very moved by your story, and very, very impressed by your ablitity to write! I only wish I had a teaspoon of your skills. I also hope someday to find a love of my own that is as strong, enduring and touching as what it is between yourself and Liborio.

Thankyou so very much for having the courage to write your book, I can only begin to imagine the emotions and challenges it would have presented, it is definitely a story that must be told so thank you.