On This Page
Description
Reading Giovanni Guareschi's stories about the little world between the Great River and the Mountains, is to travel to the Emilia-Romagna in northern Italy, and to do so in the incomparable company of a cast of characters which testifies to the exquisite humour and humanity of their creator. Place and people are as one: 'The river country of the little world created them;' the author wrote. 'I crossed their path, linked their arms with mine and made them run through the alphabet, from one show more end to another.' The year is 1953. All is peaceful in the village we know so well. The people are cheerful and friendly, and exercise their famous sense of humour. But the national elections hang like a shadow over proceedings. The Soviet Union is the West's No. 1 enemy and the Vatican has issued its famous 'Decree against Communism', which makes voting communist a mortal sin. No.6 in the Don Camillo series provides the sharpest real-life context yet for the often hilarious feud between the battling village priest and the communist Mayor, Peppone. Although, as ever, the author's message as to what truly lies at the heart of being human is for all times and peoples. 'These haunting stories about this haunting place... Somehow Guareschi made people laugh at their own predicament at a time when humour was sorely needed.' BBC Radio 4 show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
Italy after WWII. A small town in the Po valley. The two antagonists: Don Camillo, the priest, and Peppone, the communist mayor, both big and strong, both hot-headed, both concerned to better the welfare of the people in their community but politically on opposing sides fighting each other and clashing but also respecting each other: it seems that one needs the other as opponent they would not be able to do without. The writing hovers between playfulness and seriousness. What fun to read!
Although the names Don Camillo and Peppone were familiar to me - how could that be? I don't remember ever having read any of their stories - I only came across this book recently by chance. The little angel- and devil-drawings by Guareschi visualising show more their conflicts and enliven the book. (XI-25) show less
Although the names Don Camillo and Peppone were familiar to me - how could that be? I don't remember ever having read any of their stories - I only came across this book recently by chance. The little angel- and devil-drawings by Guareschi visualising show more their conflicts and enliven the book. (XI-25) show less
Ratings
Members
- Recently Added By
Published Reviews
ThingScore 100
Don Camillo, the Italian priest plagued with a partially communist parish is back-his practical dilemmas with his godless flock adding a delightful touch of good humor and modern fantasy to the bitter world battle of ideologies.
added by Sylak
Don Camillo, the unpredictable and appealing village priest is back again. As far as I'm concerned, he can go on reappearing indefinitely to my increasing pleasure, entertainment and instruction. And there is no reason why he shouldn't do so.
added by Sylak
Author Information
185+ Works 4,787 Members
Some Editions
Awards and Honors
Distinctions
Series
Work Relationships
Is contained in
Is an abridged version of
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Don Camillo's Dilemma
- Original title
- Don Camillo's Dilemma
- Original publication date
- 1954
- People/Characters
- Don Camillo Tarocci ('Don Camillo'); Giuseppe Bottazzi ('Peppone')
- Epigraph
- [None]
- Dedication
- [None]
- First words
- I am perpetually irritated by the virtue of the punctilious penpushers who have penetrated the most unsuspected places and lie in ambush wherever I go.
Introduction. How Don Camillo and Peppone were born and how th... (show all)ey go on living.
Peppone had hardly gobbled down the last mouthful of his supper when, as usual, he started to jump up from the table and go out for the rest of the evening.
Electioneering in the home. - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)'Under the rope and to victory!' rejoiced Peppone, bringing the jeep to an abrupt stop in front of the church door.
- Original language
- Italian
- Disambiguation notice
- The stories taken from Don Camillo e suo gregge and the magazine Candido
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 263
- Popularity
- 123,651
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (4.06)
- Languages
- English, Norwegian (Bokmål)
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 6
- ASINs
- 24
