Why read The Secret of Santa Vittoria?

Book cover of The Secret of Santa Vittoria

Book description

Santa Vittoria is a fictional town, still remote from the rest of war-torn Italy, where the citizens, led by their wine-loving mayor Bombolini, scheme and plot to prevent the Germans from locating and looting the town's only treasure - its fabulous wine cellars.

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Secret of Santa Vittoria as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Andrew R. Novo

Author

Few novels examine the resistance of ordinary, unarmed civilians against occupation. Robert Crichton’s The Secret of Santa Vittoria is one of those books.

After the fall of Mussolini in July 1943, German troops occupy the (fictional) village of Santa Vittoria, distinguished only for its wine. The Germans are there to steal it. In the face of losing their wine, their livelihood, and their dignity, the villagers—usually fractious and commonplace—discover unity and extraordinary courage to resist. Hiding the wine, they confront the Germans with a stalwart moral courage.

Crichton’s novel explores both the humor and horror of life at war…

From Andrew's list on Andrew R. Novo's favorite fictionalized accounts of resistance and occupation in World War II.