Trapped in Tuscany: Liberated by the Buffalo Soldiers [Paperback]

Tullio Bruno Bertini (Author), Adolph Caso (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1998

This is a true account of the events that occurred in Tullio Bruno Bertini's life between 1939 and 1946. Tullio was born in Boston in 1930. He arrived in Italy with his mother and father on August 1, 1939 after completing the third grade. As a nine year old boy Tullio was in a different culture and found himself trapped in Italy. Even though he was forced to live under Fascist nazi rule, he managed to attend an Italian school, become involved in village life and even learn a new language. In September 1944, he and his family were liberated by the 92nd Infantry Division of the U.S. Fifth Army which was comprised entirely of black soldiers.

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About the Author

Tullio Bruno Bertini

Product Details

• Paperback: 296 pages
• Publisher: Branden Books (May 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0937832359
• ISBN-13: 978-0937832356
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,205,620 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Signor Tornatore, this would make a great movie script, August 18, 2001

By 

Joseph A. Giordano "A.B., J.D. Stanford" (Hillsborough, CA.) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Trapped in Tuscany: Liberated by the Buffalo Soldiers (Paperback)

A retired lawyer and former intelligence officer. This personal memoir describes the six years that an American teenage boy spent with his Italian American parents caught by the outbreak of World War II in their native town in Tuscany. It is an indispensible contribution to the grass-roots, social history of wartime Fascist Italy. It's filled with the amazing details and realities of daily life, reflecting an intimate insight into the social life and customs of a small Tuscan town north of Florence. The story starts prosaically with an explanation of why the family has returned to Italy. It becomes an absorbing story building to a dramatic climax. The German Army attempts to "relocate" the villagers acting in preparation of the German defensive Gothic Line north of the Arno. The villagers escape by walking all night on trails through mountainous terrain to reach an Apennine valley probed by advancing American forces. Those forces are the all-black American "Buffalo Soldiers" of the famous 92nd Division. These dramatic events are told in a straightforward narrative style reminiscent of Hemmingway. The account is informed by the seemingly photographic memory of the man the boy grew to be. The maps and background presentation reflect the training of author Bertini's adult interlude in American Army Intelligence. It is a must read for those who want to know what is was like to be caught in the harsh realities of a war zone, and for Italian-Americans and others would enjoy a first-hand social history of survival in the Italy of World War II. I think Sophia Loren, remembering her childhood wartime experiences, would empathize and recommend this book. It is well organized with an index, a bibliographic reference and 26 pertinent photo illustrations. /s/ J. A. Giordano, Stanford AB, JD, '56.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful peek into the Italian Heritage!, November 25, 1998

By 

Ann (Reading, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Trapped in Tuscany: Liberated by the Buffalo Soldiers (Paperback)

It was wonderful to read about all the Italian customs and all the normal, everyday routines and activities in an Italian village so many years ago from the eyes of a child. Children catch all the important details that escape us as adults when we are so preoccupied with work, etc. Lots of Tulio's stories were familiar to me, as similar stories have been told to me by my mother who grew up in Italy although she was fortunate enough to be in America during the war. Tulio's experiences during the German occupation and liberation were incredible and are an important part of the history of Italy during that time period. Anyone interested in Italian heritage and in the activities of WWII would find this book to be of great interest.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful tale well told, August 14, 2003

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This review is from: Trapped in Tuscany: Liberated by the Buffalo Soldiers (Paperback)

I have been reading up on the war in Italy, and this story was a refreshing change from the narratives of battles big and small. I recently visited Diecimo on my way past Lucca, saw the house of Tullio, and spoke with a local who was also a boy during the war. This story helped me understand from another perspective the incredible damage done to the Italian people by the Nazi forces and to the infrastructure by both Germans and Allies.