Naples '44

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From the acclaimed author Graham Greene, known as "one of our best writers," comes a poignant exploration of a war-torn city under occupation. As a young intelligence officer in Naples after its liberation from Nazi forces, Norman Lewis chronicles the lives of resilient citizens navigating survival through prostitution, theft, and a fervent hope for miracles. This widely celebrated work stands as a landmark poetic study of the trials of wartime occupation, revealing the duality of human nature in times of crisis. In a blend of heart-wrenching and comedic prose, Lewis captures an era marked by disillusionment and hysteria, where Allied occupiers dispense justice unevenly and neglect the basic needs of the local population. Amidst accusations of espionage, women barter their bodies with the same soldiers whose supplies they pilfer for the black market, while discontented youth form militias against the "temporary" foreign rule. Yet, amid the chaos, Lewis highlights the dignity of the Neapolitan people, showcasing their enduring traditions of civility, courage, and generosity. This essential World War II narrative remains a timely and powerful read, affirming Lewis's status as one of the greatest British writers of the twentieth century.