Perhaps the first of what I call “the Marshall Plan” genre – warm comedies about occupying Americans and their interaction with wacky locals, in this case Italians. (Other examples include Teahouse of the August Moon and Don't Go Near the Water) The kindly American military governor – the sort played by Glenn Ford in movies, by Arthur Kennedy here - wants to make a difference, but comes up against distrustful locals, damaged by fascism – and also his own superiors. This was enormously popular at the time, readers enjoying the positive depiction of American liberators.
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