THE SECRET OF SANTA VITTORIA

by Robert Crichton ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 29, 1966

This well-written novel about a dozen Nazis who occupy a small Italian village that produces Cinzano vermouth succeeds on many levels both humorous and serious. The story opens with the murder of Il Duce; many Santa Vittorians have never even heard of him-- the village is that ingrown. Still, the Cinzano people have a major winery there with 1,000,000 bottles of vermouth in storage, which the Germans plan to steal and ship to Germany. Meanwhile the village clown, Bombolini, is appointed mayor. Amazingly he is revealed as a Machiavellian scholar (he's read The Discourses 43 times) and he becomes the best mayor in village history. Under his direction they secrete one million bottles in an underground wine depot built by Julius Caesar. The author's skill as a writer comes through strongly in a long torture scene of impressive comic seriousness when two expert SS torturers try and fail to wrest the secret of the wine from five natives. The story is borrowed from a true incident and it has been handled now with bona fide excitement. Crichton, it will be remembered, wrote The Great Impostor.

Pub Date: Aug. 29, 1966

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1966

Categories: FICTION