FROM EXILE TO EDEN

di Jadwiga Szelazek Morrison

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Meanwhile, Tadeusz and his company were stationed in Italy where they encountered German resistance in places like Capracotta, San Pietro, Faenza, Senigallia, Loreto, Osimo, Ancona, Bryzgiella, Canossa, Taranto, Apenina, Adriatic, Pescara, Rimini, Pesaro, and Bologna. The horrors of war stood in stark contrast to the beautiful landscape of this country. Everywhere he looked, war was destroying irreplaceable buildings, works of art, and, most importantly, lives. War was all senseless brutality... brutality that was sometimes mirrored in some of the soldiers' acts. Ignorant, uneducated soldiers practiced shooting at targets using priceless marble statuary, or they ransacked villas with irreplaceable artwork. This handful of misguided individuals justified everything they did by saying that they were only punishing the Fascists. Tadeusz tried to reason with them whenever he witnessed these rampages, but to his disgust, that rarely listened. Stronger disciplinary actions by concerned officers eventually curbed these atrocities.

Tadeusz's intelligence, abilities, and outrageous humor were soon recognized by those around him. Soldiers flocked to his side for advice, friendship, and entertainment. People loved to socialize with him. He would often have high-ranking officers step into his tent for a chat or a drink after duty. Among his guests Wladyslaw Anders, the commander of the Polish forces - the same General for whom Roman, Tadeusz's brother, had worked as personal secretary.

• J. Szelazek Morrison, From Exile to Eden. A Family Journal, Turning Stone, San Francisco 2012, p. 155.

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Note:

• Parte di questo romanzo è stato tradotto in italiano nel secondo volume della "Guida alla letteratura capracottese".

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