Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

It Happened in a Charming Little Italian Town by Carlo Artemi is a fascinating historical novel based on true events. While we all know of the horrors perpetrated against the Jews and others in Nazi Germany, not all realize that many of these same indignities were visited upon Jews elsewhere in Europe, especially in Axis countries such as Italy. Strict anti-Jewish legislation, similar to that of Germany, was also applied in Italy by Mussolini. Among other barbarities, Jewish children were not allowed to attend school. In the beautiful little village of San Michele, in Teverina, these sanctions threatened a thirteen-year-old orphan Jewess named Rebecca. Carlo, a small-town physics teacher, a non-Jew, who knew and respected Rebecca’s parents hatches a plan to adopt Rebecca and pretend she is his long-lost daughter from a one-night-stand, thus protecting her from the draconian laws being implemented all across Italy. This is the beginning of a story that will span eight decades and two continents as Rebecca and Carlo navigate a scheme to trick the authorities and protect their freedom.

It Happened in a Charming Little Italian Town is a powerful story of love, determination, and longevity that Rebecca relates as she looks back over her long and productive life. Author Carlo Artemi has beautifully brought to life the loveliness and simplicity of the little village of San Michele and its people, as well as the destruction of the fabric of society by the rise of fascism and Mussolini in pre-war Italy. What I particularly appreciated was the immense risks and dangers Carlo’s actions exposed him to and yet, this humble, self-effacing man was determined to ensure that Rebecca was able to excel and achieve everything in life. The novel's overarching theme is that family is not just blood but is a collection of people who love and protect you, regardless of the circumstances thrown against them. The emotional pain that the people of San Michele experienced both before and during the war was wonderfully espoused in this work, as was the often casual heroism of the ordinary folk of the village. This is a story about family, love, and dedication that reminds us all of the bonds that tie us together. Not just the familial bonds but also the societal ones and that is why this story will remain in my mind for some time after having finished it. This wonderful story was a privilege to read and I can highly recommend it.