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War in Val D'Orcia: An Italian War Diary, 1943-1944 Paperback – February 1, 1984

by Iris Origo (Author)

115 ratings

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Depicts the impact of the turmoil of World War II on the daily life of the peasants in a small village in Italy.

Print length

239 pages
Language

English
Publisher

David R. Godine, Publisher
Publication date

February 1, 1984
Dimensions

5.42 x 0.66 x 7.98 inches
ISBN-10

0879234768
ISBN-13

978-0879234768
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Beyond doubt a minor masterpiece. --The Washington Post

A welcome rediscovery, evoking a unique, strange moment in civilian/soldier wartime-history with spare, vital immediacy. --Kirkus

Even the most casual acquaintance with Iris Origo cannot fail to produce the impression of a remarkable woman. --The New York Times Book Review

A welcome rediscovery, evoking a unique, strange moment in civilian/soldier wartime-history with spare, vital immediacy. --Kirkus

Even the most casual acquaintance with Iris Origo cannot fail to produce the impression of a remarkable woman. --The New York Times Book Review

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ David R. Godine, Publisher; Reissue edition (February 1, 1984)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 239 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0879234768
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0879234768
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.42 x 0.66 x 7.98 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #154,617 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,133 in World War II History (Books)
- #1,746 in Women's Biographies
- #5,909 in Memoirs (Books)

Customer Reviews:
115 ratings

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Iris Origo

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5

115 global ratings

5 star		72%
4 star		22%
3 star		3%
2 star		2%
1 star		2%

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Top reviews from the United States

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The mother superior related some very interesting stories of her contact with ...

Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2014

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On our very first Italian vacation in 1978 we stayed in a convent that rented rooms to tourists. The mother superior related some very interesting stories of her contact with the German commanding general of the Florence military area who happened to be Catholic and a respecter of art who refused Hitler's order to destroy Florence and it's treasures. With that in mind and having also vacationed in Val D'Orcia in subsequent years I was very open to hear the history of the occupation and war from a resident land owner.
I thoroughly enjoyed the both the stories and the perspective in which they were presented. Although the author was a Brit she was a long time resident of Italy and that combination shone through nicely.
She blended the reported Italian national and BBC news, her own daily experiences and the "neighborhood" news into a very interesting picture of the daily tribulations experienced locally and even though I knew that the Allies had severely bombed Italian cities and towns it was still a shock to read of that brutality and how many civilians were targeted.
I found it interesting that many of the local German military did not follow Hitler's orders and were somewhat relaxed and allowed the Local Italians to navigate their daily lives safely while aiding the Allied prisoners to subsist and eventually escape.
The book was both enjoyable and a learning experience

5 people found this helpful

a fabulous read

Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2008

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This is an exceptional book which bears precious witness to the way WWII brought out both the good and bad--but mostly good--in people living or passing through a region of Tuscany. The author's factual, restrained account of the extraordinary events of the time and her part in them is beautiful and effective. Highly recommended. Here is an excerpt to whet your appetite:

"The rounding-up of the Jews appears now to be completed--though no doubt many unfortunate women and children are still hidden. The Archbishop of Florence, Cardinal della Costa, has taken a courageous stand. When some of his nuns were arrested in consequence of having given shelter to some Jewish women in their convent, the Cardinal, putting on his full panoply, went straight to the German Command. 'I have come to you,' he said, 'because I believe you, as soldiers, to be people who recognize authority and hierarchy--and who do not make subordinates responsible for merely carrying out orders. The order to give shelter to those unfortunate Jewish women was given by me: therefore I request you to free the nuns, who have merely carried out orders, and to arrest me in their stead.'

The German immediately gave orders for the nuns to be freed, but permitted himself to state his surprise that a man like the Cardinal should take under his protection such people as the Jews, the scum of Europe, responsible for all the evils of the present day. The Cardinal did not enter upon the controversy. 'I look upon them,' he said, 'merely as persecuted human beings; as such it is my Christian duty to help and defend them. One day,' he gave himself the pleasure of adding, 'perhaps not far off, *you* will be persecuted: and then I shall defend you!'"

6 people found this helpful

Thomas B. Gross

A different view of Tuscany

Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2006

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"War in Val D'Orcia" is a rather terse diary of events throughout Italy in 1943-1944 written by the English-born wife of a wealthy landowner in Tuscany. As an account of life under Nazi rule it's not nearly as profound or fascinating as Victor Klemperer's "I Will Bear Witness" but after the first 100 pages (or so) which are somewhat strangely detached and impersonal ("In Rome to have the baby"), and mostly an account of Italian national politics at that time, I literally couldn't put it down.

Until I read this book I had often wondered why there are so many abandoned farm buildings in Tuscany: I now understand that until relatively recently there was a feudal system in place, where farmers did not actually own their land but instead worked it for the landowner in exchange for half of their production. "War in Val D'Orcia" exposed me to aspects of Italian culture that I had never even really thought about before. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the history and culture of Italy and Tuscany in particular.

This is the first book by or about Iris Origo that I have read but it won't be the last.

16 people found this helpful

virginia Fairweather

An Extraordinary War Heroine

Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2014

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I cannot praise this book enough. The author wrote a "War Diary" for a year during World War II while she and her Italian husband ran a large farm near Siena, Italy. They had 57 tenant farmers and using a democratic method centuries old, the owners financed the tenants for their agricultural costs and at harvest time, everyone shared the profits. The Origos took in war refugees (23 children) and built a school and a small hospital for the children and also fed and clothed them. More important, they harbored many other war refugees: anti-Nazis, POWs, members of the Allied forces, and others who needed assistance. The Irigos risked their live in doing so, as did may of the farmer/tenants. Iris was a hugely wealthy Irish American who lived a very luxurious life before she married Antonio Origo, who was ten years older than she. He was the illegitimate son of a marchese, so she became a marchesa. Iris was a well educated scholar who wrote many books in addition to this diary, which was published about 5 years before her death. She was named a Dame of the British Empire for this diary.
Her matter of fact recounting of the Origo's efforts is extraordinary.

3 people found this helpful

Top reviews from other countries

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this an unembellished diary of her life at the farm ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 23, 2015

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this an unembellished diary of her life at the farm in Umbria and day to day events during the year of the most ferocious fighting in Italy in the second world war.
It is told in terse language with little comment or judgement, but reading between the lines one gets a picture of a heroic young woman caught up in momentous times.

Darlene Broomfield

Original story

Reviewed in Canada on April 11, 2014

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I enjoyed the account of the war for this lady. Every day life in Italy during the war, very day to day rendition.

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