Reading Giovanni Guareschi's stories about the little world between the Great River and the Mountains, is to travel to the Emilia-Romagna in northern Italy, and to do so in the incomparable company of a cast of characters which testifies to the exquisite humour and humanity of their creator.
Place and people are as one: 'The river country of the little world created them;' the author wrote. 'I crossed their path, linked their arms with mine and made them run through the alphabet, from one end to another.'
The year is 1953. All is peaceful in the village we know so well. The people are cheerful and friendly, and exercise their famous sense of humour. But the national elections hang like a shadow over proceedings. The Soviet Union is the West's No. 1 enemy and the Vatican has issued its famous 'Decree against Communism', which makes voting communist a mortal sin.
No.6 in the Don Camillo series provides the sharpest real-life context yet for the often hilarious feud between the battling village priest and the communist Mayor, Peppone. Although, as ever, the author's message as to what truly lies at the heart of being human is for all times and peoples.
'These haunting stories about this haunting place... Somehow Guareschi made people laugh at their own predicament at a time when humour was sorely needed.' BBC Radio 4