Can't Catch Camillo: A South African War Novel

by Felipe Kirsten

Camillo Ricchiardi can’t help treating foreign wars like swashbuckling adventures. If Winston Churchill wasn’t in chains, the young reporter may have penned a scathing article about his captor’s reckless sojourn with the underdog farmer-warriors fighting for their independence on African soil. Instead, the Italian military maverick seems unfettered in his ego-driven journey to become a household name—wreaking havoc behind enemy lines in what’s fast becoming Britain’s most embarrassing conflict of the nineteenth century. But Camillo’s luck can’t last forever. Britain is rewriting the rules of traditional warfare, and the Boers are becoming desperate to maintain their advantage. When tasked to assemble an elite legion of Italians skilled in bridge bombing and guerrilla tactics, Camillo puts his best hand forward. He only serves his bulletin-perusing audience—those seeking the weekly wish fulfilment they won’t forget in three lifetimes. Camillo must quell mutinies, bounty hunts and romantic desires in his thrilling quest to discover his physical and mental limits—at his persistent and ever-nearing peril.

Kindle Edition

First published November 30, 2020

Reviews

[Ayanda Xaba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Camillo is an adventurous war correspondent from Italy. He decides to fight with the Boers against British at the 2nd Anglo-Boer War. His bravery and daring nature sees him being nominated as the captian of the Italian Volunteers. The story follows his adventure in the war where he meets different people, make enemies and allys, and eventually finds love.

An entertaining story with twists and turns that keep you at the edge of your seat. It reads like a film description. No surprise there because the author is a film graduate. I still wonder about his choice of character names, it's so hard to divorce fiction from the real person in this case.

[Grace Monroe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the story line and characters of this novel because they are really close to home. Camilo really reminded me of a few strong willed people that I know, especially with all the trouble he got into. I also think it was nice to see the Italian side of the war because I don’t think that’s been done enough. The only problems I found were that the Italian, Sotho and Afrikaans spoken was not translated all the time and I think it could be tough for someone who doesn’t understand at least one of those like I do. All in all, a great book though.