Other editions of book A Bell for Adano

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.

John Hersey grew up in China, studied at Yale and Cambridge, worked as a journalist, and astonished the nation when he won the Pulitzer Prize in 1945 for A Bell for Adano. His first novel, its offbeat blend of patriotism and warm humor immediately captured readers’ hearts. In 1943, the American Major Victor Joppolo finds himself the civil affairs officer - the mayor - of a small town in Sicily. Equipped with the rulebook, How to Bring American Democracy to Liberated Territories he sets about bringing choices to a people whose every recent activity had been dictated. Asking them what the town needs most, he is answered: give the town back its spirit - a bell to replace the 700-year-old one that was melted down for bullets. The major soon discovers that he may not be able to guarantee democracy for the ancient town, but he can do something about the bell. His story is one of humanity in the midst of war’s cruelty, and conviction in a maze of military bureaucracy.

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.

Franklin Center, PA: The Franklin Library, 1978. Signed, limited edition. Signed by Hersey on the third free endpaper, with tissue guard. Accompanied by the quite scarce accompanying twenty-two page "Notes From the Editors" commentary, laid in. Illustrations by Mitchell Hooks. Octavo, 291 pp. As New; immaculate and pristine. See scans. Franklin's lavish leather binding of the Signed, Limited Edition of Hersey's 1945 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the bonding of an American officer and the townspeople of Adano, in Italy, during World War II. Artist Mitchell Hooki echoes the mood in nice detail. Rich Forest topgrain leather binding, gilt decorated and imprinted, spine panels rib divided, All Edges Gilt, Old Gold moire endpapers, and a matching satin page-marker ribbon. The gilt is 22 karat; the paper is 60-pound Franklin Library Eggshell Wove; text set in 11-point Goudy Olde Style typeface. The Franklin Library, doing what they did best. As New; pristine and flawless, and protectively archived since arrival; page-marker has in fact never been moved. With the author's newly-contibuted "A Special Message to Subscribers from John Hersey" prefacing the novel, and the seldom-retained "Notes from the Editors" which arrived with original shipments of the piece. Please see all scans. Show this one off on the cocktail table; get a market copy to read. l-frnkln2

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 situated during one of the most devastating experiences in human history, John Hersey's story speaks with unflinching patriotism and humanity.