Giovanni Guareschi's The Little World of Don Camillo.

Translated from the Italian by Una Vincenzo Troubridge.


English version of our previous Italian - language posting a while back!

NOTE: When we compare her translation to the Italian original, my own knee - jerk impression is that Ms. Troubridge (or her editors!) chopped out 30% to 40% of the book.

Now:

Pages 46 - 47.

"THE TREASURE"

"One day Smilzo came to the rectory.

"He was a young ex - partisan who had been Peppone's orderly during the fighting in the mountains and now worked as messenger at the Town Hall.

"He was the bearer of a handsome letter, printed on handmade paper with the [Communist] Party heading in Gothic lettering, which read:

Your honor is invited to grace with his presence a ceremony of a social nature which will take place tomorrow at ten o'clock A.M. in the Plaza of Liberty.

The Secretary of the Section, Comrade Bottazi, Mayor, Guiseppe.

" Don Camillo looked severely at Smilzo. Tell Comrade Peppone Mayor Guiseppe that I have no wish to go and listen to the usual imbecilities against reaction and the capitalists. I already know them by heart.

"Smilzo explained. No, there won't be any political speeches. This is for patriotism and social activities. If you refuse, it means that you don't understand democracy..."