The Wedding Officer

Начало книги

“I am concerned at the increasing number of applications by officers or other ranks to marry Italians. COs must realize that everything possible will be done to discourage such marriages.”

Bulletin issued by the General Officer Commanding, No. 3 District, Naples, 5 September 1944

Part One

1

THE DAY Livia Pertini fell in love for the first time was the day the beauty contest was won by her favorite cow, Pupetta.

For as long as anyone in Fiscino could remember, the annual Feast of the Apricots had incorporated not only a competition to find the most perfect specimen of fruit from among the hundreds of tiny orchards that lined the sides of Monte Vesuvio, but also a contest to determine the loveliest young woman of the region. The former was always presided over by Livia’s father, Nino, since it was generally accepted that as the owner of the village osteria he had a more subtle palate than most, while the latter was judged by Don Bernardo, the priest, since it was thought that as a celibate he would bring a certain objectivity to the proceedings.

Читать дальше →