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John Hersey
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A Bell for Adano Kindle Edition

by John Hersey (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 381 ratings
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This classic novel and winner of the Pulitzer Prize tells the story of an Italian-American major in World War II who wins the love and admiration of the local townspeople when he searches for a replacement for the 700-year-old town bell that had been melted down for bullets by the fascists. Although stituated during one of the most devastating experiences in human history, John Hersey's story speaks with unflinching patriotism and humanity.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    278 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Vintage
  5. Publication date
    June 26, 2019
  6. File size
    1448 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Novel by John Hersey, published in 1944 and awarded a Pulitzer Prize in 1945. The novel's action takes place during World War II after the occupation of Sicily by Allied forces. Major Victor Joppolo, an American army officer of Italian descent, is part of the Allied military government ruling the town of Adano. In his attempts to reform the town and bring democracy to the people by treating them with respect and decency, Joppolo comes into conflict with his commanding officer, a hard-nosed general who eventually has Joppolo transferred because of his refusal to follow orders. Joppolo's concern for the town is epitomized by his efforts to replace a bell that the fascists had melted down to use for ammunition. -- The Merriam-Webster Encyclopedia of Literature --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

From the Back Cover

Presiding over the small Sicilian village of Adano during World War II, an Italian-American major wins the love and admiration of the natives when he searches for a replacement for the 700-year-old town bell that had been melted down for bullets by the Fascists. Although situated during one of the most devastating experiences in human history, John Hersey's story speaks with unflinching patriotism and humanity. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07RFTSLWJ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vintage (June 26, 2019)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 26, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1448 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 278 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 381 ratings

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John Hersey

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
381 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

RaDadIndy
5.0 out of 5 stars Softly fantastic
Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2011
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This a truly outstanding story. It can be enjoyed on many levels. Most obviously, it is wonderfully refreshing in showing American soldiers at their jobs -- winning a war and improving the lives of their former adversaries. It is also a poignantly understated love story. It is also a humorous and brilliant study in how organizations work, including the countless ways that underlings attempt to undermine "orders" from the top. It is also a true-to-life tale about the many ways an American occupation of a foreign country can go disastrously wrong, though in Adano disaster is narrowly averted over and again. The writing style is beautiful and spare.

Adult themes are treated with good taste. This treatment makes them all the more powerful in the story.

Not so long ago, Adano was a common fixture on school reading lists. The general lack of comments from students here on Amazon confirms my impression that schools are not teaching Adano much these days. That's a shame. Adano is a vastly better work than the politically correct tripe that so many schools dish out (a very partial list: My Brother Sam is Dead; Farewell to Manzanar; The House on Mango Street; The Bomb; The Slave Dancer). If you are home schooling, note that Adano won the Pulitzer Prize and is a proper substitute for almost any book that appears on current "recommended" lists.
26 people found this helpful
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Helene Slansky
5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful read
Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2023
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This is a heartwarming story of good things happening in wartime. I recommend it as a pleasant read. Enjoy it.
One person found this helpful
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Josh Hurst
4.0 out of 5 stars Uncomplicated Patriotism
Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2023
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A story of uncomplicated patriotism, about a good and decent American major who’s tasked with managing a small Italian town following its occupation in WWII. It’s a pleasure to spend time in the company of a genuinely virtuous hero, even if his pro-democracy, pro-America speechifying can be a little simplistic. (I kept waiting for an Italian to ask him about Jim Crow.) If this book captures your complete sentiment toward the US then I’d say you probably have made an idol of nationalism, but as a counterpoint to the many more cynical novels about the American Dream out there, this has merit. And it’s certainly a breezy, pleasant read.
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Book Buyer in Boston
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting look into another time
Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2023
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I really liked this book. I never read it in high school (I am 50 now). I found it so interesting to get a glimpse into another time, especially with an Italian American protagonist.
One person found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars very pleased
Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2023
Verified Purchase
Delivery was quick. Book was used and in very good condition. Price was fair. Glad I tried this company
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D. Sullivan
5.0 out of 5 stars A TREASURE
Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2022
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Beautifully written with so much feeling. A joy to read. I want to read it again! I want to go to Adono!
One person found this helpful
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Vazhaspa Spitman
3.0 out of 5 stars No wonder it won Pulitzer Prize as a humorous short novel
Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2024
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(Based on Kindle edition of A BELL FOR ADANO)
I was taken aback when I first read certain One-Star reviews of this short novel. Then I began reading the book and I cracked laughing outload-- It was as if all those reviews were quite out of touch with the theme and the genre of this novel to the extent that I wondered if we have lost all our sense of humor in our bitter era!
Dealing with the downfall of fascism in Italy, after the invasion of allies, this novel is in fact quite hilarious from the very first page. Nonetheless, even though John Hersey’s Pulitzer Prize winning A Bell for Adano, is comical but at the same time close to the bitter reality (taken from the author's direct experience of the time he was in Sicily). Thus, following his style of reportage, here the history is turned into a light-hearted story.
Of course many characters have been turned into caricature in order to fit the humorous style of the book.
Written in 1944, the book is still has a whiff of fresh air like any work of real literature. It is of course an easy read, without any sign of post-modern snobbism.
If we are to point out the shortcomings of this short novel, the most obvious one is when the story violates its light and comic genre by approaching the bitter reality of war whether it is the shooting of a mule or the dramatic description of mobs attacking an Italian sergeant. Also, every now and then the storyline loses its unity by scattered chapters that if you eliminate no harm is done. But I think this is the price the author and the reader have to pay for the sense of reality of everyday life.
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Rowland Scherman
4.0 out of 5 stars A book from my past
Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2023
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Now I have a copy. Love it.
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Top reviews from other countries

Reviewer
5.0 out of 5 stars Humorous and heartwarming
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 27, 2020
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I really enjoyed this book, at times I literally found myself laughing out loud.

I purchased A Bell for Adano almost by accident. Why had I never heard more about this classic?!

The book reflects the ideals of the good hearted American Major Joppolo, who is appointed to take care of the town of Adano.

The story highlights the American occupation experience in Italy during WWII. I am gad that I read it, and readers who enjoy WWII novels would appreciate this short novel clearly written by a journalist who had a sharp eye for character and details.

It is a heart wrenching and surprisingly uplifting story, the ending left me a little nostalgic to know more, but content that a light for the right has shone brightly.
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dina
4.0 out of 5 stars Good read.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 15, 2016
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Book in decent condition . Good read.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars CREDIBLE !
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 17, 2020
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A beautiful and rather sad story; the characters are very well portrayed, both Italians and Americans, making the story believable and poignant.
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E
2.0 out of 5 stars The actual story is Great, however the book size is like an 8 x 11 notebook
Reviewed in Germany on October 4, 2016
Verified Purchase
I checked out the book from the local library and really enjoyed it, so decided that I wanted a copy for my own personal library. The problem was that I did not see that the size of the book is big and then upon inspecting it, it has the quality of a slick magazine.......As for the story - one of the best and highly recommend the book, not just the size of this particular book edition.
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Vanessa Graham
5.0 out of 5 stars Wartime empathy
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 6, 2016
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Wonderful story of American occupation in wartime; great character portrayals of both people and a small Sicilian village and the subtle importance of the presence of a church bell in their daily life.
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