Set in World War II in the village of Amatini, we have two distinct groups. The despised Nazi occupiers and the Italian villagers, seething and backed by their Resistance creating minor pockets of revolt. There is also the personal lives of all, because life does go on despite the harshness and cruelty that abound. The love stories and life stories of the inhabitants form a major part of this book.
Things come to a crux when news reaches the village that a munitions loaded train is going to cross a bridge nearby. This is just what the rebels were waiting for. A chance to disrupt the supply and obtain badly needed ammunition. What they didn’t envisage was a traitor in their midst who fed them false information. The train turned out to be carrying POW and Italians and the carnage was terrible.
Finding out who the traitor was, was equally hard though suspicion had centered on someone. Getting it confirmed was a very bitter pill but punishment had to be meted out. The final scene of getting rid of the man who controlled the Nazi occupation in Amatini was a masterpiece of planning and drama.
The story was a harsh one but a realistic one, brilliantly portrayed by the villagers of this town. Germans and Italians both passionate to their cause with an odd exception of a single German in this story, who was helpless but stood against the brutality of the Nazis.
Sent by Aria & Aries for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.
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