A Bell for Adano

A Bell for Adano by John Hersey 288 pages

 

Written in 1944, A Bell for Adano was originally considered a contemporary novel, but now that the years have passed, it is classified as historical fiction. I read somewhere that this novel, winner of the 1945 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, was taught in schools, much like we think of 1984, Catcher in the Rye, Fahrenheit 451 today. I couldn’t find a reason why this gem was pulled from the curriculum, but, in my opinion, it should be added back.

 

In a nutshell, A Bell for Adano tells the story of an Italian-American officer in Sicily during World War II who wins the respect and admiration of the people of the town of Adano by helping them find a replacement for the town bell that the Fascists had melted down for rifle barrels. Set in 1943, the Allies have occupied the fictional coastal town of Adano, based on the real city of Licata, which was the landing site for the Allied invasion of Sicily.

The main protagonist is Major Victor Joppolo, whom the locals refer to as Mister Major. Upon arrival, he asks the people what they need most. The citizens agree that they only want their 700-year-old bell, which had been seized by the fascists then melted down for bullets, returned.

However, food is running low; the fishermen have not been out in months because they refuse to pay extra taxes and fees to the fascists. As Mister Major and his men try to get food into the village, he struggles to understand the wild array of people he encounters that sometimes feel like caricatures of the Italian personality.

At times hilarious, at times bittersweet and at times heartbreaking, I can understand why it won the Pulitzer. It feels like it is a 21^st century-written novel, meaning it doesn’t feel dated. Well, except it takes place in 1943. Therefore, A Bell for Adano receives 6 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.