You may think it takes a very determined addict to see the Don Camillo books as crime fiction!
But they were certainly among the reading I did in my formative years. And some of them were big on mystery, and there were even crimes, and murders.
Courtesy of Wikipedia:
In the United Kingdom, the United States of America and possibly other English-speaking territories, the books were translated and published by Victor Gollancz Ltd as the following:
- The Little World of Don Camillo (published 1950; translated by Vincenzo Troubridge)
- Don Camillo and the Prodigal Son (published 1952; translated by Frances Frenaye)
- Don Camillo's Dilemma (published 1954; translated by Frances Frenaye)
- Don Camillo and the Devil (published 1957; the only book not translated but written in English by Guareschi himself)
- Comrade Don Camillo (published 1964; translated by Frances Frenaye)
- Don Camillo Meets Hell's Angels (published 1969)
The books were the basis of a series of black and white films 1952-1965, and then a BBC television series in 1980, in which Brian Blessed played Peppone.
In my research I found a delightful site, that lists the short stories in the first collection (with a little description). It also gave me the following publication details which attest to the popularity of this book.
The Little World of Don Camillo, by Giovanni Guareschi. Copyright © Giovanni Guareschi, 1950. Translated by Una Vincenzo Troubridge. NEW YORK: Pellegrini and Cudahy, 1950.
Published simultaneously in Canada by George J. MacLeod, Ltd., Toronto.
First published in Great Britain by Victor Gollancz, Ltd.; 1951.
Published (UK) by Penguin Books, 1962.
Reprinted (UK) 1963, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977.
2 comments:
Very Informative, Kerrie and new to me.
Once upon a time I had all the Don Camillo books - really humourous especially his chats with Christ on the cross.
Post a Comment