Comrade Don Camillo
by Giovanni Guareschi
Overview
FROM THE PUBLISHER
I've yet to find something written by the publisher, so instead I'll include this summary from
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/doncamillo/comrade.htm.
This is the first of the Don Camillo books whose feel approaches that of a novel. Of course, its chapters can, as always, be read as self-contained serial episodes, but together they compose a coherent larger story, complete with climax, denouement, and even a little character development. The story has the further distinction of being the first to take Don Camillo out of his familiar Po Valley setting, for his most audacious adventure yet: an undercover trip to the USSR during the height of the Khrushchev era.
It all comes about under the reluctant offices of Peppone, who is now a Senator and a man of some influence in Rome. That doesn't keep him from being bested by Don Camillo in one of their little battles, however, and the price of defeat this time is high: he must arrange for his friendly enemy to have a place (incognito, of course) on a team of Italian comrades specially invited to study firsthand the glories of Soviet communism. But "Comrade Don Camillo" has his own agenda...
My thoughts
This is the fourth book I've read about an Italian priest, Don Camillo, who has conversations with God about unlikely subjects such as politics. Peppone is the mayor and leader of the local Communist party. The book revolves around those two characters who are always pulling a fast one on the other.
In this book, Don Camillo goes to Russia in the guise of a member of the Communist Party. He travels with delgates led by Senator Peppone. The sparring in this book is even better than in the other books in this series. It's so enjoyable to read -- I literally laugh out loud!
Favorite Passage
Again, with all of the books in this series you really have to know the characters to catch the humor. The scene is the priest, Don Camillo, traveling to Russia under the guise of a Communist, with Peppone, a staunch Communist, main character, and thorn in Don Camillo's side!
Peppone sat down, across from Don Camillo. After the bus had started a second through cross his mind.
"So when we went through customs I was carrying your suitcase," he said.
"Accidentally, you were."
"And accidentally did your suitcase have something contraband in it?"
"Oh, nothing much. A few holy cards, a picture of the Pope and some communion wafers."
Peppone shuddered all over.
