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DON CAMILLO #2
O regresso de Don Camilo, Volume I
La obra enfrenta de nuevo a los dos protagonistas de la anterior novela del autor; don Camilo, el clerigo pueblerino, y Pepón, el alcalde comunista, recios e inflexibles los dos. Entretiene, regocija y emociona el espectaculo de esta nueva contienda, en la que los do personajes encarnan, por sus tendencias ideológicas, dos posturas irreconciliables ante la vida, pero coinciden alli donde la nobleza de sentimientos auna las manos que momentos antes habian alquirido la ferocidad del puno. La obra es tambien un fervoroso himno a la bondad y a la belleza de la vida: un libro que provoca la risa y a la vez emociona.
347 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1953
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About the author
Giovannino Guareschi
279 books216 followersGiovannino Oliviero Giuseppe Guareschi, also know as Giovanni Guareschi, was a Italian journalist, writer, humorist. Along with Giovanni Mosca and Giaci Mondaini he founded the humorous magazine "Candido". He was well know because of the "Don Camillo" series based on the stories about the two main characters: Don Camillo, the priest and Peppone, the communist Mayor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
June 27, 2021
Ogni volta che leggo qualcosa di Guareschi non mi capacito di come uno scrittore coi controfiocchi come lui sia oggi così poco letto e commentato.
Perciò, per rendergli giustizia, questo po' po' di libro meriterebbe una lunga recensione, schietta, curata, attenta e imparziale, ma di fronte a don Camillo e a Peppone io non riesco ad essere obiettivo, non chiedetemelo.
Perché io, con i film del pretone della Bassa, ci sono cresciuto, e in questi brevi racconti ho ritrovato le medesime atmosfere; certo, le pellicole rinunciano in parte alla violenza ed all'elemento soprannaturale per assecondare il gusto neorealista, ma i contenuti, la ciccia insomma, è la stessa, e si ride tantissimo. Sempre.
Con le storie del suo Mondo Piccolo e dei suoi due protagonisti, eternamente contrapposti, ma sempre uniti e solidali sulle cose che contano davvero, per me Guareschi ci ha regalato uno dei più bei ritratti letterari dell'amicizia, nella sua forma più alta e nobile.
Perciò, per rendergli giustizia, questo po' po' di libro meriterebbe una lunga recensione, schietta, curata, attenta e imparziale, ma di fronte a don Camillo e a Peppone io non riesco ad essere obiettivo, non chiedetemelo.
Perché io, con i film del pretone della Bassa, ci sono cresciuto, e in questi brevi racconti ho ritrovato le medesime atmosfere; certo, le pellicole rinunciano in parte alla violenza ed all'elemento soprannaturale per assecondare il gusto neorealista, ma i contenuti, la ciccia insomma, è la stessa, e si ride tantissimo. Sempre.
Con le storie del suo Mondo Piccolo e dei suoi due protagonisti, eternamente contrapposti, ma sempre uniti e solidali sulle cose che contano davvero, per me Guareschi ci ha regalato uno dei più bei ritratti letterari dell'amicizia, nella sua forma più alta e nobile.
June 18, 2016
Follow-on to The Little World of Don Camillo (my review here https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... ) , a continuation of more of the same. If you liked the first, you will probably like the second. The sense of looking at a lost time and place (some aspects of which are very much better staying lost) is strong and interesting; also of looking at a time and place undergoing change both in its recent past and its unsuspected future, the latter of which angle would not have been available to its original 1950s readers, and which occasionally supplies a slightly creepy frisson. (Communism, gender relations, etc.)
Ta, L.
Ta, L.
September 17, 2021
فکرکنم طنز یه چیزیه (دقیقاً چیز) که موقع تولد تو خون مردم ایتالیا تزریق میشه
البته آمریکا، سوئد و خیلی کشورهای دیگه هم در طنز سبک خودشون رو دارن، اما طنز ادبیات ایتالیا برای من یه چیز دیگهست. شاید به دلیل شباهتهای فرهنگی باشه. اما میتونم با پوست و استخون درکش کنم. شوخیهاش نه خیلی سبکه و نه اونقدر سنگین که هنگام خندیدن یک تکبری از باهوشی درک شوخی توی وجود آدم بیاد. دقیق و درست و برای همه.
گوارسکی حتی در نوشتن زندگینامهش هم با طنز فوقالعادهش آدم رو غافلگیر میکنه، چه برسه به مجموعه کتابهایی با موقعیت و شخصیتهایی انقدر فوقالعاده و با پتانسیل بالا برای خلق یک اثر طنز که آدم رو محکوم میکنن به خندیدن.
سالها پیش کوروش نریمانی هم بر اساس این مجموعه، نمایشی رو در تهران به صحنه برد (شاید هم دو سه بار). که اون هم نمایش جالبی بود.
البته آمریکا، سوئد و خیلی کشورهای دیگه هم در طنز سبک خودشون رو دارن، اما طنز ادبیات ایتالیا برای من یه چیز دیگهست. شاید به دلیل شباهتهای فرهنگی باشه. اما میتونم با پوست و استخون درکش کنم. شوخیهاش نه خیلی سبکه و نه اونقدر سنگین که هنگام خندیدن یک تکبری از باهوشی درک شوخی توی وجود آدم بیاد. دقیق و درست و برای همه.
گوارسکی حتی در نوشتن زندگینامهش هم با طنز فوقالعادهش آدم رو غافلگیر میکنه، چه برسه به مجموعه کتابهایی با موقعیت و شخصیتهایی انقدر فوقالعاده و با پتانسیل بالا برای خلق یک اثر طنز که آدم رو محکوم میکنن به خندیدن.
سالها پیش کوروش نریمانی هم بر اساس این مجموعه، نمایشی رو در تهران به صحنه برد (شاید هم دو سه بار). که اون هم نمایش جالبی بود.
September 28, 2019
La perfezione. È il quarto libro di Guareschi che leggo, il terzo della saga di Don Camillo e Peppone e ancora non ho trovato un difetto.
Recensione quantomeno scarna ma non trovo ci sia molto da aggiungere. Penso sia la mia isola felice; rientra a pieno titolo tra i libri/autori terapeutici, un balsamo per l'umore, un antidepressivo culturale, il bicchiere d'acqua dopo che ti sei mangiata mezzo etto di crudo di Parma (per restare in tema). Tutto questo è Giovannino Guareschi. Autore inspiegabilmente troppo poco conosciuto -ben pochi sanno che i film di Don Camillo e Peppone sono ripresi da libri- ma che ha saputo descrivere con maestria, simpatia e giusto un pizzico di cattiveria l'Italia povera del dopoguerra popolata da gente tenace ed ignorante (assolutamente non da intendersi nel senso dispregiativo del termine) ma estremamente coraggiosa.
I film sono bellissimi, li guardavo e apprezzavo fin dalla tenera età e tuttora lì guardo di tanto in tanto in streaming ma date una possibilità anche ai libri. Non ve ne pentirete e scoprirete tante storie e tanti personaggi che la pellicola ha tralasciato.
Recensione quantomeno scarna ma non trovo ci sia molto da aggiungere. Penso sia la mia isola felice; rientra a pieno titolo tra i libri/autori terapeutici, un balsamo per l'umore, un antidepressivo culturale, il bicchiere d'acqua dopo che ti sei mangiata mezzo etto di crudo di Parma (per restare in tema). Tutto questo è Giovannino Guareschi. Autore inspiegabilmente troppo poco conosciuto -ben pochi sanno che i film di Don Camillo e Peppone sono ripresi da libri- ma che ha saputo descrivere con maestria, simpatia e giusto un pizzico di cattiveria l'Italia povera del dopoguerra popolata da gente tenace ed ignorante (assolutamente non da intendersi nel senso dispregiativo del termine) ma estremamente coraggiosa.
I film sono bellissimi, li guardavo e apprezzavo fin dalla tenera età e tuttora lì guardo di tanto in tanto in streaming ma date una possibilità anche ai libri. Non ve ne pentirete e scoprirete tante storie e tanti personaggi che la pellicola ha tralasciato.
November 27, 2015
تا آنجایی که میتوانستم مجموعهی دن کامیلو را خواندم، همراه با کتاب خندیدم و حالم گرفته شد، دشمنی دن کامیلو و پپونه را از خیلی دوستی ها بیشتر دوست دارم، دن کامیلو خوب مطلق نیست اما سعی میکند خودش را به معیار خوب بودن نزدیک کند . اما همیشه رد پای کمی شیطنت مجاز توی رفتارش هست.
آنجایی که رودخانه طغیان کرده بود را بیشتر از همه دوست داشتم مخصوصا انجایی که پپونه حاضر میشود پیش دن کامیلو روی ضعیفترین نقطهی سد منتظر میمانند تا مردم با اتکا به آنها به کارهای خودشان برسند.
آنجایی که رودخانه طغیان کرده بود را بیشتر از همه دوست داشتم مخصوصا انجایی که پپونه حاضر میشود پیش دن کامیلو روی ضعیفترین نقطهی سد منتظر میمانند تا مردم با اتکا به آنها به کارهای خودشان برسند.
July 17, 2019
مجموعه ي داستان هاي دن كاميلو ماجراهاي يك كشيش و يك شهردار كمونيست است كه طنز سياسي اجتماعي جذابي ساخته. قشنگ ترين بخش كتاب قسمت هايي است كه به خواننده ياداوري ميكند در نهايت انسانيت وراي مكاتب سياسي است و انسان هاي شريف به آن پايبند مي مانند. شوخي ها دلپذير، موقعيت ها جالب و داستان ها پر كشش و سرگرم كننده هستند. شخصيت دن كاميلو و ديالوگ هايش با مجسمه ي مسيح محراب هم براي من جالب بود.
June 29, 2024
Not as good as the first book, but still charming in its kindly and humorous look at a rural Italian community in the immediate post-war period as cold war tensions raged.
March 18, 2022
C'è un discorso che questo libro presenta su un piatto d'argento al lettore/lettrice millenial, un po' alternativo, un po' ateo o quantomeno agnostico, pomposamente "obbiettivo" (secondo se stesso) riguardo le grandi guerre del passato, e il comunismo e il fascismo, un lettore diciamo comodamente seduto sul proprio rigetto del clero e delle nefandezze dell'istituzione cattolica (in Italia e nel mondo) - questo discorso è il rapporto con la religione della propria italianità storica.
Naturalmente descrivo me stessa, e intavolo questo discorso con quello che mi è stato rubato - da un lato e dall'altro - crescendo, questa spiritualità che viene dal basso (dalla Bassa?) dalla terra che fuma la sera sotto il concime sparso, e non imposta dall'alto, dalla domenica mattina in chiesa. Una spiritualità fatta di sfide e di dialoghi interiori non comandati, di vita umana che cede alla poesia anche quando non sa che si chiama così, di atrocità che esplodono come bolle in un mondo piccolo così che però è tutto quello che c'è. Questa spiritualità che è, in fondo, come nella storia di Yann Martel, tra due versioni il racconto che preferiamo ascoltare.
Naturalmente, il racconto di Guareschi non può - per forza di cose - essere lo stesso che vorrei sentire. Peppone e don Camillo li ha scritti un uomo bianco democristiano quasi settant'anni fa. Nella storia che vorrei sentire cambierebbe probabilmente quasi tutto (e Peppone forse le prenderebbe di meno). Ma credo che persino io l'ultima parola la lascerei a quel crocifisso che così spesso chiude questi capitoli. Pure io che Peppone lo vedo un giorno sì e uno no allo specchio.
Un mondo in cui un Cristo così esiste forse non è quello che voglio sentire, ma è quello che preferisco ad uno senza.
Naturalmente descrivo me stessa, e intavolo questo discorso con quello che mi è stato rubato - da un lato e dall'altro - crescendo, questa spiritualità che viene dal basso (dalla Bassa?) dalla terra che fuma la sera sotto il concime sparso, e non imposta dall'alto, dalla domenica mattina in chiesa. Una spiritualità fatta di sfide e di dialoghi interiori non comandati, di vita umana che cede alla poesia anche quando non sa che si chiama così, di atrocità che esplodono come bolle in un mondo piccolo così che però è tutto quello che c'è. Questa spiritualità che è, in fondo, come nella storia di Yann Martel, tra due versioni il racconto che preferiamo ascoltare.
Naturalmente, il racconto di Guareschi non può - per forza di cose - essere lo stesso che vorrei sentire. Peppone e don Camillo li ha scritti un uomo bianco democristiano quasi settant'anni fa. Nella storia che vorrei sentire cambierebbe probabilmente quasi tutto (e Peppone forse le prenderebbe di meno). Ma credo che persino io l'ultima parola la lascerei a quel crocifisso che così spesso chiude questi capitoli. Pure io che Peppone lo vedo un giorno sì e uno no allo specchio.
Un mondo in cui un Cristo così esiste forse non è quello che voglio sentire, ma è quello che preferisco ad uno senza.
January 13, 2012
یه داستان ایتالیایی که وقتی آدما، روابط و حرف هاشون رو می بینی فکر می کنی محل داستان خود خود ایرانه. از قویترین طنزهایی بود که تا حالا خونده بودم
August 5, 2012
وقتی به اندازه ی یک فرهنگ لغت ناسزا توی ذهن آدم باشد، بی فایده است که آدم شروع به گفتن آنها بکند
May 13, 2017
Reading stories of Don Camillo is to travel to the Valley of the River Po, Italy's widest and most fertile plain, with its unique atmosphere, culture and natural history. And to do so in the incomparable company of a cast of characters who testify to the exquisite humor and humanity of their creator.
Giovanni Guareschi, himself a native of the Lower Plain, first drew breath in Fontanelle di Roccabianca on May Day, 1908, returning to buy a house there in Roncole Verdi in 1952, after a decade of getting himself arrested, variously by Mussolini's Fascists, Hitler's Nazis, and Italy's President, Luigi Einaudi.
The Einaudi arrest occurred after Giovanni's satirical magazine, Candido, which had helped engineer the defeat of the 'Fronte Popolare' (the Communists) in '48, depicted Einaudi at the Quirinal Palace, surrounded by a presidential guard of giant bottles of Nebbiolo wine, suggesting perhaps that his love for the wine he produced on his farm near Dogliani might have eclipsed his commitment to the people.
The cartoon was judged a lese-majesty (an offence against the dignity of a reigning sovereign or State). Giovanni received a suspended prison sentence, later imposed after a further bust-up with the authorities, when Prime Minister Acide De Gasperi sued him for libel.
Conflict marked Giovanni's life. The combination of a humorously provocative nature and the creative talents of a cartoonist and writer was always bound to get him noticed, and quite possibly into trouble. That he survived his detractors and became not only bed-time reading for Pope Benedict XVI but also a household name across the world, was down to something else.
The Don Camillo stories reflect Giovanni's life of conflict, but also his search for enlightenment. In episode after episode, the hot-headed Catholic priest, Don Camillo, and the equally pugnacious Communist mayor, Peppone, confront one another, sometimes in a serious and violent manner. But the clever bit is the way Giovanni not only engineers a resolution to this, but transforms the situation to the great benefit of the local community, so that the two men put their political
convictions aside and, however begrudgingly, develop respect for each other.
To enable this, Giovanni created a third main character, his finest creation and the most surprising. Il Cristo presides over proceedings from a crucifix above the altar of the town church and counsels Don Camillo, exposing and undermining the stubborn priest's personal polities and prejudices and, with fascinating insights and gentle humor, suggests paths of action which, with the benefit of hindsight, we come to see make things right.
Giovanni claimed that the voice from the crucifix was merely the voice of his own conscience, but in the stories, it is a living reality which enables solutions so simple that they are beyond the reach of political minds clouded with ideology and the need to win.
Victory, as such, is never sought; the wry wisdom of il Cristo seeks not supremacy but equanimity within the Little World, which is achieved through an understanding and acceptance of what being human means. Giovanni's message is that what works at the micro level of the Little World can be made to work universally, the world over.
Another aspect of the appeal is that the Little World is inspired by the spirit of a real place and its people. The Lower Plain is a region where often 'the passion for polities is so intense that it becomes worrying' as Giovanni once said. But its people 'are pleasant and hospitable and generous, and have a high sense of humor' Creating his fictional world was second nature to him, because he himself was imbued with the spirit of it.
Giovanni Guareschi, himself a native of the Lower Plain, first drew breath in Fontanelle di Roccabianca on May Day, 1908, returning to buy a house there in Roncole Verdi in 1952, after a decade of getting himself arrested, variously by Mussolini's Fascists, Hitler's Nazis, and Italy's President, Luigi Einaudi.
The Einaudi arrest occurred after Giovanni's satirical magazine, Candido, which had helped engineer the defeat of the 'Fronte Popolare' (the Communists) in '48, depicted Einaudi at the Quirinal Palace, surrounded by a presidential guard of giant bottles of Nebbiolo wine, suggesting perhaps that his love for the wine he produced on his farm near Dogliani might have eclipsed his commitment to the people.
The cartoon was judged a lese-majesty (an offence against the dignity of a reigning sovereign or State). Giovanni received a suspended prison sentence, later imposed after a further bust-up with the authorities, when Prime Minister Acide De Gasperi sued him for libel.
Conflict marked Giovanni's life. The combination of a humorously provocative nature and the creative talents of a cartoonist and writer was always bound to get him noticed, and quite possibly into trouble. That he survived his detractors and became not only bed-time reading for Pope Benedict XVI but also a household name across the world, was down to something else.
The Don Camillo stories reflect Giovanni's life of conflict, but also his search for enlightenment. In episode after episode, the hot-headed Catholic priest, Don Camillo, and the equally pugnacious Communist mayor, Peppone, confront one another, sometimes in a serious and violent manner. But the clever bit is the way Giovanni not only engineers a resolution to this, but transforms the situation to the great benefit of the local community, so that the two men put their political
convictions aside and, however begrudgingly, develop respect for each other.
To enable this, Giovanni created a third main character, his finest creation and the most surprising. Il Cristo presides over proceedings from a crucifix above the altar of the town church and counsels Don Camillo, exposing and undermining the stubborn priest's personal polities and prejudices and, with fascinating insights and gentle humor, suggests paths of action which, with the benefit of hindsight, we come to see make things right.
Giovanni claimed that the voice from the crucifix was merely the voice of his own conscience, but in the stories, it is a living reality which enables solutions so simple that they are beyond the reach of political minds clouded with ideology and the need to win.
Victory, as such, is never sought; the wry wisdom of il Cristo seeks not supremacy but equanimity within the Little World, which is achieved through an understanding and acceptance of what being human means. Giovanni's message is that what works at the micro level of the Little World can be made to work universally, the world over.
Another aspect of the appeal is that the Little World is inspired by the spirit of a real place and its people. The Lower Plain is a region where often 'the passion for polities is so intense that it becomes worrying' as Giovanni once said. But its people 'are pleasant and hospitable and generous, and have a high sense of humor' Creating his fictional world was second nature to him, because he himself was imbued with the spirit of it.
January 19, 2020
The hot-headed, broad-shouldered Catholic priest, Don Camillo, shepherd to his flock in a little town in the Po Valley, faces trial after trial. There’s the promising schoolboy who, sent to study in the city, seems to have become surprisingly recalcitrant. There is a beautiful young woman who looks destined to give birth out of wedlock unless her ardently communist lover and her very orthodox father can come to terms with each other. There are floods, local skirmishes and disagreements, and an old and ugly figurine of the Madonna whom Don Camillo would rather not have (dis)gracing his church…
And there is Peppone, the communist mayor of the town, who is not just Don Camillo’s arch enemy but ultimately and unfailingly his best friend too.
Giovanni Guareschi’s Don Camillo books are always a joy to read, and Don Camillo and his Flock is no different. This isn’t a novel, but a series of vignettes, short chapters that are sometimes loosely connected to each other, sometimes not. They bring alive a little town in postwar Italy very vividly, what with tradition battling modernity, rural life aspiring to emulate (and often simultaneously condemning) city life. There is the Marshall Plan, aiming to reconstruct Italy after the war; there are Peppone and his party, opposing the Americans’ largesse for all they’re worth. There are the shared memories, of times when they were all on the same side, fighting for what was right.
As always happens when I read a Don Camillo book, I found myself laughing at times, tearing up at times—and, just as often, nodding in agreement at the simple wisdom and humanity that shines through in this series. There’s something very heartwarming about these stories, where eventually it is humanity and goodness that triumph. Not in a syrupy, preachy way, but in a style that’s often cloaked in humour. Peel away the humour, and there’s a deeper truth that is very touching.
Highly recommended.
And there is Peppone, the communist mayor of the town, who is not just Don Camillo’s arch enemy but ultimately and unfailingly his best friend too.
Giovanni Guareschi’s Don Camillo books are always a joy to read, and Don Camillo and his Flock is no different. This isn’t a novel, but a series of vignettes, short chapters that are sometimes loosely connected to each other, sometimes not. They bring alive a little town in postwar Italy very vividly, what with tradition battling modernity, rural life aspiring to emulate (and often simultaneously condemning) city life. There is the Marshall Plan, aiming to reconstruct Italy after the war; there are Peppone and his party, opposing the Americans’ largesse for all they’re worth. There are the shared memories, of times when they were all on the same side, fighting for what was right.
As always happens when I read a Don Camillo book, I found myself laughing at times, tearing up at times—and, just as often, nodding in agreement at the simple wisdom and humanity that shines through in this series. There’s something very heartwarming about these stories, where eventually it is humanity and goodness that triumph. Not in a syrupy, preachy way, but in a style that’s often cloaked in humour. Peel away the humour, and there’s a deeper truth that is very touching.
Highly recommended.
March 14, 2017
Not sure why I found this a bit disappointing, but it felt a bit flat after having watched throughout my childhood the Don Camillo and Peppone film with the magnificent Fernandel. Also made the mistake of reading the foreword, which explained all about how the stories were sort of meant to be a parody of the Cold War. Until then they were just hilarious Italian stories with quite a lot of wisdom thrown in, even if often it is Jesus himself who makes you or Don Camillo see it.
August 28, 2018
What can I say? Don Camillo is always excellent. I first read of him many years ago and am now enjoying a reread with this new edition, along with some never before translated stories.
April 1, 2019
دن کامیلو، کشیشی است باهوش، رند، ساده، خوشقلب، جوانمرد، خشن، مومن، زورمند، لجوج... روستایی؛ په پونه نیز مردی است زورمند،لجوج، خوشقلب، مهربان، خشن، سادهلوح، جوانمرد، جزماندیش، کم سواد، با روحیهای نامستحکم، مایل به حیلهگری اما ناتوان از آن، روستایی و ... کمونیست. محیط عمل و میدان تعارض این دو شخصیت، قصبهای است در کنار رودخانهای در حاشیه یکی از شهرهای ایتالیایی: دن کامیلو کشیش این قصبه است وبه په پونه شهردار آن، که در عین حال مکانیک قصبه هم هست. و این دو، به لحاظ اختلاف دو ایدئولوژی و بینشی که بدان پایبندند، دائم با هم گلاویز... نیز باید به وجود یک شخصیت سوم هم در این "دنیای کوچک" اشاره کرد. این شخصیت مجسمه عیسی مسیح است که بر فراز محراب کلیسا نصب شده و در جریان وقایع، گاه به دخالتهایی ظریف، ما حاصل را به خیر و عافیت میکشاند و در نتیجه، هر چند ظاهراً در پایان هر ماجرا نوعی تعادل و توازن بین دو عنصر نمادین داستان( کشیش و شهردار مارکسیست ) برقرار میشود، اما حضور و دخالت مجسمه، نیروی کشیش را کمی "مساویتر" میکند.
December 4, 2017
The ultimate in comfort reading for me. Life can be difficult and a struggle but love can triumph...
The Bicycle is possibly my favourite short story of all time. Thank goodness for these wonderful stories. Now I'm hankering for Italy!
The Bicycle is possibly my favourite short story of all time. Thank goodness for these wonderful stories. Now I'm hankering for Italy!
August 30, 2022
La primera mitad del libro tiene historias algo más duras y oscuras, pero a partir de Las Historias del Destierro y del Regreso y hasta el final, vuelven a ser como las historias del primer volumen. Me han gustado la bendición de Pascua, el tanque, la lotería…
June 19, 2020
Don Camillo! Don Camill-lloooooo!!
September 6, 2023
I vaguely think that I read this because Helen Lewis or some other bluestocking recommended it. These are charmingly simple short stories about a mostly-honest priest who always comes out ahead in an ongoing rivalry with his communist frenemy. Everything in the stories are simple and easily resolved in under a thousand words. My main complaint is that the priest *always* wins, and this feels both unlikely and biased. My second complaint is that they are clearly dated. My third is that they lacked all substance. I did not finish this book, but I'm glad I started it.
April 1, 2023
Don Camillo is a cultural Icon, and one very found Childhood Memory of mine.
Written by Giovanni Guareshi, is serves as a political Satire focussing on Themes of religion, patriotism, and politics from a anti Communist right-wing Perspective.
His Storys play around the cold war Ära, and reference the Politics of that Time.
The older I get im more and more in odds whit his Worldview, and want to express this Points, but my respect for Camillo as a cult Figur, and positive Childhood Memory is not gone yet.
Therefore I am under a bit of pressure, to give the Story the Justice it deserves.
Something undeniable no matter which political, and moral Spectrum your on is Guareshis great talent as Storyteller. For him the Region itselfe is the most important Charakter of all, and all Figures in his Books are formed by it. By living, and by growing up in that Envioument.
He knows how to create real, living, breading People, while grabbing your Attention whit his Plots.
As a deeply conservative, and religious Man, daily Prayer, and the Sunday walk to Church is a natural Part of everyones live, and God is in the constant Mind of all Charakters, at all Times.
If someone denys good, its not because they are non Belifers, its an act of defiance.
While he loves, and straight up idealizes his Home, he despises the big City, and everyone who comes from there. There charakterized as loude, unfriendly, decadent, and boastfull.
The Story itselfe plays at the Cold war Ära, in the late years of Stalins Life, and years after his Death.
Im no political Historican, and cant tell you how the political Climate was at the Time, certainly not the Itanian one.
From what I gateered whit a short research, the Country was heavily devided by Communists, and pro Republic right Wingers, and as such the small little Village Brescello serves as Microcosmos of the conflict outside.
Lets talk about the Main Dynamic itselfe.
The Story, and later especially the Movies claim, the two Main Charakters, Don Camillo, and Peppone are very different in there Ideals, but ultimatically want the best for there little Town.
This is somewhat correct, but most of the Time, there more focused in making the other ones Life miserable.
In other Storys, actions from one Side are absolutely correct, and aknowledged as such by the other Side, but the other Side got mearly envious of the attention, and respect, and wants its Part of the Cake.
Its easy to see Don Camillo as just this Bud Spencer light harded Comedy whit all the Violence beeing purely humoristic. Thats certainly the best approach for enjoying the Books.
But as a Political Satire, its more important to look beyond that, and analyze the Intention.
Right wing conservatives have a History of glorifying, or trivializing violence.
In America, Prison Slavery, or solidary Confinement are justified, cause Prisoners souldnt have human rights, and its a Punishment after all.
The German Nazi Jugend, and many Conversion Therapy Camps motivated little Children to go into fights, to taffen up. Making them into Man, or beating the Gay out of them.
Therefore I cant just overlook how the Book Series just pretents there wouldnt be any consequences to violence.
Non expectingly Woman have a pretty big Role in the Franchise, from an old Teacher, multible young Girls who get engaged, a Translator, to the Mayors Wife.
While there having a whide variety of different, and well developed Personalitys, and roles, there still Woman. Besides Political Activists, and a Teacher, there mainly Housewifes, or work towards becomming one.
Significantly worse is the depiction of Minoritys, and Queer People.
Besides the Russians in Comerate Don Camillo, who whit one exception are all confined whithin there own Borders, I cant emember one single example of any Foreigner, or Gay Person in any of the four Storys I read, or the Movies.
(Probably for the Best)
The Communist Party of Peppone is basicly a Tanky Party.
Hes a big Fan of Lenin, and Stalin, but belifes truely in the Communist Dream.
Peppone glorifies Stalin as a strong autoritarian, despite him not reflecting Peppones actual Ideals.
Under Peppone, the KPI supports modern Ideals like Polyamorism, and Atheism, but is depicted as disshonest, and hypocritical.
Non of Peppones Staff is truely an Atheist, and most of them attent the Church each Week, but because of the Vaticans Action to excommunicate all Communist, and because of the lack of any strong opposition-Party in Town, they see the Church as the next biggest Enemy, and try to distance themselfe from God, out of principal as much as possible.
Im not sure how real Communists thought of the Church, nowadays its hard to immagine them going after Religion diectly.
Did the Communists of that Time truely see the katholic Church as an Enemy, and fought them?
Maybe its just the paranoia of a deeply religious Man, spoting People proposing Ideas contradicting religious Norms, and seeing it as an aimed Attack on his Belifes.
I follow religious Debates, and debates whit Appologetics, and as such reconize a few similaritys, but I cant say for sure.
While having some darker Chapters here and there, most Don Camillo Storys are very light hearted.
This makes it just the more confusing how incredible Dark this Book gets.
It feels straight up depressing at Times, and the corruption of certain Charakters isnt played for laughts anymore.
In "the spell of Fear breaks" the murder Case of Pizzi is closed. In a burst of Fear, the Murderer attacked Pizzis House, and tried to murder his Child, the only witness. Gets shot to death in selfe Defense.
Inn"The Ring" an old Major, and his Wife are getting murdered. The Murderer try to replace them, by buying the Support of the Communist Clan. Later get discovered by burrowing out the Ring of the old Madame.
In "The Innocent" a old homeless Man whit his little Pet Bird requests a holy mass for the former King, leading into him beeing beaten up by anti royalist Woman of the Communist Party, his little Birdy gets stepped on, and dies in the Process.
There seemns to be a shift in the writing Style as well. Many of this little Storys seemn to be alegorys.
"Madonna Bruta", and "the Ring" feel less like Events, and more like visualisations of Ideas, or political Events. Sadly I miss the Context to make sense of most of them.
I wonder if Guareshi was in a depressive Phase back then. He once lamented in one of his Books, how more and more of his Friends adapted to the Change in Time, ...and how more and more People got accepting towards Black Folks -.-
In this very specific Case, I decided to copy the main Bulk of the Review, and adjust a few Paragraphs for the respective Book.
Written by Giovanni Guareshi, is serves as a political Satire focussing on Themes of religion, patriotism, and politics from a anti Communist right-wing Perspective.
His Storys play around the cold war Ära, and reference the Politics of that Time.
The older I get im more and more in odds whit his Worldview, and want to express this Points, but my respect for Camillo as a cult Figur, and positive Childhood Memory is not gone yet.
Therefore I am under a bit of pressure, to give the Story the Justice it deserves.
Something undeniable no matter which political, and moral Spectrum your on is Guareshis great talent as Storyteller. For him the Region itselfe is the most important Charakter of all, and all Figures in his Books are formed by it. By living, and by growing up in that Envioument.
He knows how to create real, living, breading People, while grabbing your Attention whit his Plots.
As a deeply conservative, and religious Man, daily Prayer, and the Sunday walk to Church is a natural Part of everyones live, and God is in the constant Mind of all Charakters, at all Times.
If someone denys good, its not because they are non Belifers, its an act of defiance.
While he loves, and straight up idealizes his Home, he despises the big City, and everyone who comes from there. There charakterized as loude, unfriendly, decadent, and boastfull.
The Story itselfe plays at the Cold war Ära, in the late years of Stalins Life, and years after his Death.
Im no political Historican, and cant tell you how the political Climate was at the Time, certainly not the Itanian one.
From what I gateered whit a short research, the Country was heavily devided by Communists, and pro Republic right Wingers, and as such the small little Village Brescello serves as Microcosmos of the conflict outside.
Lets talk about the Main Dynamic itselfe.
The Story, and later especially the Movies claim, the two Main Charakters, Don Camillo, and Peppone are very different in there Ideals, but ultimatically want the best for there little Town.
This is somewhat correct, but most of the Time, there more focused in making the other ones Life miserable.
In other Storys, actions from one Side are absolutely correct, and aknowledged as such by the other Side, but the other Side got mearly envious of the attention, and respect, and wants its Part of the Cake.
Its easy to see Don Camillo as just this Bud Spencer light harded Comedy whit all the Violence beeing purely humoristic. Thats certainly the best approach for enjoying the Books.
But as a Political Satire, its more important to look beyond that, and analyze the Intention.
Right wing conservatives have a History of glorifying, or trivializing violence.
In America, Prison Slavery, or solidary Confinement are justified, cause Prisoners souldnt have human rights, and its a Punishment after all.
The German Nazi Jugend, and many Conversion Therapy Camps motivated little Children to go into fights, to taffen up. Making them into Man, or beating the Gay out of them.
Therefore I cant just overlook how the Book Series just pretents there wouldnt be any consequences to violence.
Non expectingly Woman have a pretty big Role in the Franchise, from an old Teacher, multible young Girls who get engaged, a Translator, to the Mayors Wife.
While there having a whide variety of different, and well developed Personalitys, and roles, there still Woman. Besides Political Activists, and a Teacher, there mainly Housewifes, or work towards becomming one.
Significantly worse is the depiction of Minoritys, and Queer People.
Besides the Russians in Comerate Don Camillo, who whit one exception are all confined whithin there own Borders, I cant emember one single example of any Foreigner, or Gay Person in any of the four Storys I read, or the Movies.
(Probably for the Best)
The Communist Party of Peppone is basicly a Tanky Party.
Hes a big Fan of Lenin, and Stalin, but belifes truely in the Communist Dream.
Peppone glorifies Stalin as a strong autoritarian, despite him not reflecting Peppones actual Ideals.
Under Peppone, the KPI supports modern Ideals like Polyamorism, and Atheism, but is depicted as disshonest, and hypocritical.
Non of Peppones Staff is truely an Atheist, and most of them attent the Church each Week, but because of the Vaticans Action to excommunicate all Communist, and because of the lack of any strong opposition-Party in Town, they see the Church as the next biggest Enemy, and try to distance themselfe from God, out of principal as much as possible.
Im not sure how real Communists thought of the Church, nowadays its hard to immagine them going after Religion diectly.
Did the Communists of that Time truely see the katholic Church as an Enemy, and fought them?
Maybe its just the paranoia of a deeply religious Man, spoting People proposing Ideas contradicting religious Norms, and seeing it as an aimed Attack on his Belifes.
I follow religious Debates, and debates whit Appologetics, and as such reconize a few similaritys, but I cant say for sure.
While having some darker Chapters here and there, most Don Camillo Storys are very light hearted.
This makes it just the more confusing how incredible Dark this Book gets.
It feels straight up depressing at Times, and the corruption of certain Charakters isnt played for laughts anymore.
In "the spell of Fear breaks" the murder Case of Pizzi is closed. In a burst of Fear, the Murderer attacked Pizzis House, and tried to murder his Child, the only witness. Gets shot to death in selfe Defense.
Inn"The Ring" an old Major, and his Wife are getting murdered. The Murderer try to replace them, by buying the Support of the Communist Clan. Later get discovered by burrowing out the Ring of the old Madame.
In "The Innocent" a old homeless Man whit his little Pet Bird requests a holy mass for the former King, leading into him beeing beaten up by anti royalist Woman of the Communist Party, his little Birdy gets stepped on, and dies in the Process.
There seemns to be a shift in the writing Style as well. Many of this little Storys seemn to be alegorys.
"Madonna Bruta", and "the Ring" feel less like Events, and more like visualisations of Ideas, or political Events. Sadly I miss the Context to make sense of most of them.
I wonder if Guareshi was in a depressive Phase back then. He once lamented in one of his Books, how more and more of his Friends adapted to the Change in Time, ...and how more and more People got accepting towards Black Folks -.-
In this very specific Case, I decided to copy the main Bulk of the Review, and adjust a few Paragraphs for the respective Book.
March 19, 2009
این کتاب شامل مجموعه داستان های کوتاه به هم پیوسته ای در باره مردم یک دهکده در ایتالیا بود
دن کامیلو کشیش دهکده هست و در تمامی داستان ها نقش داره
پپونه هم بخشدار کمونیست دهکده است که با وجود تضادهای سیاسی و مذهبیش با دن کامیلو براش احترام زیادی قائل هست و در کنار اذیت هاش کلی هم هواشو داره.
داستان ها به تقابل مذهبی بودن دن کامیلو و کمونیست بودن پپونه می پردازه و نشون میده در آخر جدای این تضادها روح انسانیت این دو آدم اونا رو به هم جذب می کنه
البته انتهای اکثر داستان ها این دن کامیلو هست که پیروز میشد!
ولی می شد به هوش و ذکاوت نویسنده در خلال متن پی برد. طنز خاص نویسنده های ایتالیایی و صحنه های جالبی که ایجاد می کرد برام جالب بود
پنج شنبه 29 اسفند 1387
دن کامیلو کشیش دهکده هست و در تمامی داستان ها نقش داره
پپونه هم بخشدار کمونیست دهکده است که با وجود تضادهای سیاسی و مذهبیش با دن کامیلو براش احترام زیادی قائل هست و در کنار اذیت هاش کلی هم هواشو داره.
داستان ها به تقابل مذهبی بودن دن کامیلو و کمونیست بودن پپونه می پردازه و نشون میده در آخر جدای این تضادها روح انسانیت این دو آدم اونا رو به هم جذب می کنه
البته انتهای اکثر داستان ها این دن کامیلو هست که پیروز میشد!
ولی می شد به هوش و ذکاوت نویسنده در خلال متن پی برد. طنز خاص نویسنده های ایتالیایی و صحنه های جالبی که ایجاد می کرد برام جالب بود
پنج شنبه 29 اسفند 1387
April 11, 2013
با خوندن این کتاب شیرین میشه فهمید که ادیان فرق چندانی باهم ندارن و بنای همهشون بر صداقت و انسان دوستیه. بعضی از داستانهای کتاب خیلی جهانی بودن هرچند توی دهکده کوچیکی اتفاق افتاده بودن. خوندشو توصیه میکنم
March 4, 2016
Ottimo seguito del primo Don Camillo. Pressoché un tutt'uno con il primo romanzo.
La recensione della serie è in calce a Don Camillo Mondo Piccolo.
La recensione della serie è in calce a Don Camillo Mondo Piccolo.
June 8, 2009
کتاب بسيار سرگرم کننده بود و متني روان داشت. تمام کتاب را يک نفس خواندم. طنز زيبا و هوشمندانه اي داشت و کاملا جذاب و زيبا بود.
September 14, 2015
A truly unique view of what Italians did, and what the Marshall plan didn't.
March 27, 2016
ترکیب مسیحیت و کمونیست و یک دهکده کوچیک که لبخند روی لبام آورد
November 24, 2019
گزینه ی جالبی میتونه باشه برا خوندن یکی دوتا از داستانهاش قبل از خواب. نمیدونم فضای فرهنگی متفاوت بوده یا ترجمه, ولی حس. میکنم طنز داستان کامل منتقل نمیشه به خواننده.
June 10, 2025
There is a lot of wisdom in this little book, and a calming sense that things work out and in the end most people have a little bit of decency. Each short chapter is a satisfying story in itself, and the chapters each relate somewhat to the next. There is usually a practical situation that tests the moral values of the characters. Most edifying is the reflective aspect of the frequent conversational prayers between the priest and God.
I like that these books deal with coexistence at the local level in the face of bitter partisan divide in a quaint bygone time and place that we can still find parallels with today. What lessons can we learn and apply? How to stand for what we believe? When to compromise to avoid becoming overzealous? What can we find in common?
One takeaway is that personal relationships maintained over a lifetime are one key to seeing the humanity of the 'other' whose religious beliefs and political commitments differ. Small town life encourages those multifaceted relationships and accountability, but the modern mobile lifestyle and the anonymous Internet do not. How can we recover more of that in the future?
Personal violence is somehow treated with a sense of normalcy and humor that is perhaps misleading and unrealistic, but the message does not seem to be that it is ok but rather that we are imperfect and yet life goes on nevertheless. I don't agree completely with that acceptance but do find the treatment by this author somehow reassuring. Perhaps because the unjust violence that occurs is usually avenged or it is somewhat justified and is recoverable. And any larger scale violence is usually avoided.
In terms of writing, a favorite passage near the middle of the book describes the joys of old bicycles.
At long last I read this book that I had seen on my parents shelves as a kid. The little angel and demon cartoon on the cover always intrigued me. Turns out it was published the year I was born. I wonder if it was my Mom's or my Dad's, or if either one of them actually read it. Will never know.
One could do worse than to pick up another in this series to read from time to time.
I like that these books deal with coexistence at the local level in the face of bitter partisan divide in a quaint bygone time and place that we can still find parallels with today. What lessons can we learn and apply? How to stand for what we believe? When to compromise to avoid becoming overzealous? What can we find in common?
One takeaway is that personal relationships maintained over a lifetime are one key to seeing the humanity of the 'other' whose religious beliefs and political commitments differ. Small town life encourages those multifaceted relationships and accountability, but the modern mobile lifestyle and the anonymous Internet do not. How can we recover more of that in the future?
Personal violence is somehow treated with a sense of normalcy and humor that is perhaps misleading and unrealistic, but the message does not seem to be that it is ok but rather that we are imperfect and yet life goes on nevertheless. I don't agree completely with that acceptance but do find the treatment by this author somehow reassuring. Perhaps because the unjust violence that occurs is usually avenged or it is somewhat justified and is recoverable. And any larger scale violence is usually avoided.
In terms of writing, a favorite passage near the middle of the book describes the joys of old bicycles.
At long last I read this book that I had seen on my parents shelves as a kid. The little angel and demon cartoon on the cover always intrigued me. Turns out it was published the year I was born. I wonder if it was my Mom's or my Dad's, or if either one of them actually read it. Will never know.
One could do worse than to pick up another in this series to read from time to time.
September 29, 2023
It is important to remember the context of any work, especially one like this which is a collection of semi-serial fiction published within a decade of WWII and reflective of the post war recovery in Italy. Anyone even slightly familiar with the period knows of the turmoil in Italian politics, especially the strength of the Communist Party. The Mayor Peppone and Don Camillo represent the duality of the Italian rural population, raised within the Church, witness to the Spanish Civil War, and then basically occupied by the Germans in the Po Valley after the Italian surrender in early September, 1943.
Peppone and Don Camillo's respect for each other was apparantly forged during their time together as members of the resistance to the Germans and that bond is reflected throughout the stories, especially the last one. This respect overcomes obstacles and allows them to settle issues pragmatically, as opposed to their opposition to each other as Communist or Catholic.
Having read the series as a middle school student investigating a possible vocation to the Priesthood, the rereading at age 71 provided a totally different viewpoint, and better understanding of the author's true intent with the stories both politically and as entertainment.
Peppone and Don Camillo's respect for each other was apparantly forged during their time together as members of the resistance to the Germans and that bond is reflected throughout the stories, especially the last one. This respect overcomes obstacles and allows them to settle issues pragmatically, as opposed to their opposition to each other as Communist or Catholic.
Having read the series as a middle school student investigating a possible vocation to the Priesthood, the rereading at age 71 provided a totally different viewpoint, and better understanding of the author's true intent with the stories both politically and as entertainment.
July 7, 2025
Mi sono avvicinata a Guareschi per caso, tanto che per me, fino a qualche tempo fa, esisteva solo la serie televisiva di Don Camillo e Peppone, quella che da piccola, assieme a mio nonno, guardavo in tv ogni volta che veniva trasmessa.
Poi ho scoperto che era tratta da una serie di libri ed ero certa che mi sarebbero piaciuti tanto, ma non penavo così tanto!
Come per il primo libro del filone delle vicissitudini di Don Camillo e Peppone, mi sono trovata catapultata da Guareschi in un mondo d'altri tempi, una realtà meravigliosa e coinvolgente che fa provare emozioni forti, sia positive che negative.
Guareschi è un capolavoro di scrittore, esattamente colui che ti fa desiderare di essere parte del Mondo Piccolo di cui narra tanto meravigliosame!
Poi ho scoperto che era tratta da una serie di libri ed ero certa che mi sarebbero piaciuti tanto, ma non penavo così tanto!
Come per il primo libro del filone delle vicissitudini di Don Camillo e Peppone, mi sono trovata catapultata da Guareschi in un mondo d'altri tempi, una realtà meravigliosa e coinvolgente che fa provare emozioni forti, sia positive che negative.
Guareschi è un capolavoro di scrittore, esattamente colui che ti fa desiderare di essere parte del Mondo Piccolo di cui narra tanto meravigliosame!
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