Marzio's Crucifix, and Zoroaster

"Marzio's Crucifix and Zoroaster" by F. Marion Crawford is a tale set at a time long ago, that follows Marzio Pandolfi, a talented artist who makes things out of silver. He is struggling with doing what he thinks is right as an artist while dealing with problems at home, like arguments with his brother, Don Paolo, who is a priest, and his plans for his daughter, Lucia. The story looks at themes of fighting within families, a strong love for art, and judging society, with a strong element of Marzio trying to understand how he feels about the Church and wanting to be free from what people expect of him. The beginning shows Marzio and his helper, Gianbattista Bordogni, working in a messy shop full of examples of religious objects. Their talk shows that Marzio really dislikes priests and the church, even though he puts his heart into making beautiful religious items that he doesn't like making. As the mood in the shop becomes more tense, the story suggests there are bigger problems in Marzio's family, especially when it comes to his daughter's future and the difficult choices he has to make about his job and what he believes in, getting ready for an exciting look at love, going against what's expected, and artistic dreams in a world of societal rules.