Don Camillo and His Flock (Don Camillo Series)

Shows how political opponents can work together for the good of the community and country. They should try it for the benefit of the USA.

I was all of 14 when I first met Don Camillo. A good friend (and rather devout Catholic) recommended the stories to me. I found a paperback edition of “The Little World of Don Camillo” by Giovanni Guareschi in English translation. It didn’t take long to become a fan of the battling priest in the small village in northern Italy who engaged in a war of words, and sometimes fists, with the village’s communist mayor Peppone.The stories were hilarious. Both Don Camillo and Peppone continually get themselves in issues, problems, and impending disasters. And while sometimes it’s the priest who triumphs, and sometimes it’s the mayor, neither one is down for long.As it turns out, that English language edition was first published in the United States, and then used for the British edition. What few knew at the time was that the American publisher had left out some 19 stories deemed unsuitable for American readers (likely because many of them showed a communist mayor who also had a heart). Many of those stories are included in “Don Camillo and His Flock,” published in 2015 and based on the Italian edition published in 1952.The stories are still hilarious. This edition includes a total of 27 of them and a map of the fictional town. In some, Don Camillo and Peppone are dealing with the aftermath of World War II. Others concern basic human relationships. All contain at least a hint of the famous rivalry between the two, and the occasional times they’re forced to cooperate and work together.And there’s a story about a hunting dog named Thunder, and one about the ugly Madonna, that are priceless.What these stories reminded me of was the third main character – and that is the figure of Christ. Don Camillo often has an extended discussion with the figure of Christ on the cross that hangs above the church’s altar. And the figure tries to keep Don Camillo to the straight and narrow, but he also knows his priest well.Guareschi (1908-1968) was an Italian journalist who joined the Italian army in 1943, just in time for Mussolini’s government to be overthrown, the German army to invade and take over, and himself to be arrested and sent to a prison camp in Poland. Guareschi returned to Italy at war’s end and helped start a pro-monarchist newspaper.The character of Don Camillo was based on a real person and priest, Don Camillo Valota (1912-1998), who was a partisan fighting the Germans and sent to the Dachau and Mauthausen concentration camps. And the political battles involving the monarchists (and later the Christian Democrats) and the communists were very real in postwar Italy. The stories were first published in Guafreschi’s newspapers.“Don Camillo and His Flock” is funny and moving, and has some rather subtle suggestions for the kind of divided times we live in today.

I remember this from my childhood, having them in a reprint is great. Like revisiting old friend.

I read these books as a teenager in the early 60's, but didn't really appreciate how wonderful they were, until I re-read them as I approach 70. If there were more than 5 stars, I would give them the highest number possible. There is a wealth of philosophy of life in these books, from the perspectives of all THREE main characters, Don Camillo, Peppone, and, yes, the Christ.

I would recommend this book to everybody in quarantine. It has wonderful characters and lively sense of humor. Really lifts the spirit!

Don Camillo and Peppone have been among my favourite fictional characters for half a century. Together with 'The House that Nino built', I have read and reread them several times. The wit of Giovanni Guareschi, in dealing with the political situation of the times, is do refreshing.

Great

I have loved the Don Camillo books since I was in grade school. Was so very happy to finally have them available as e-books and even better, that these e-books include stories not found in the old original English version print books!!!

Read these stories years ago in.paperback. I note some changes to The translation e.g. Don Camillo calls Christ Jesus, whereas in the older version, he called him Lord. A minor niggle, but because I remember stories, calling him Jesus "feels" a little odd. Despite that, the stories remain powerful and poignant even today. I wonder how a priest like Don Camillo would be received today 🙂

great book easy reading

Good

I have always enjoyed the Don Camillo books. They give an insight to the split between religion and the comunists in Italy. There is always humour and a comradship between the two factions. A very good read.

Wow! Giovanni Guareschi is one of my favourite authors. I've read every one of his Don Camillo stories that was available in English. I even bought the complete set in Italian, even though I don't speak much Italian. Why? Because there were only around half of the stories available in English. (The stories were originally published in the US by a Catholic publisher at the height of McCarthyism, so it wasn't just necessary to show the Catholic church in a good light, but also to show the communists in a bad light. Everything else was suppressed. I'm pleased I live in a free society).But not any more.When Guareschi's family found out a few years ago what had happened, they agreed to these new translations. Unfortunately Guareschi died in 1968, just after I was born (these two events are not linked) and suddenly I have twice as many stories to read! What an amazing gift! Wow!