Small towns can be wonderful places to live, but they can be brutally cruel. Especially during trying times, people can become vindictive, paranoid and engage in hurtful behavior that would otherwise be unthinkable. In a northern Italian village before and during world war two, Rene, a cobbler who lost three fingers to a machine when he was young has for years lived with the sobriquet “Settibello” meaning “seven fingers” eliciting bullying and derision from friend and enemy alike. He is reclusive and only interacts with his community for means of commerce, repairing shoes for everyone but emotionally connecting only with his neighbor for whom he harbors an unspoken love. Early in the war, the neighbor’s son is executed by the Nazis for joining the resistance, rendering her crippled in soul and seeking vengeance. She disappears into the back country and Rene is recruited as eyes and ears in the village for the outlaw fighters.

In the meantime, the church has rented out the Bishop’s villa as a detention center for Jews and others accused of disloyalty or failure to cooperate. Rene is brought the worn and broken boots from this garrison for repair and a line of communication is established with the prisoners. This will eventually result in rebellion against the German interlopers who have never been loved or even respected by the populace in general despite the cooperation given by the church.

A story of struggle, suffering both mental and physical and ultimate redemption is intimate and heartbreaking. Courage and cowardice, fidelity and betrayal, love and hate all play parts in this powerful tale rooted in history. The fragile collaboration between the Italians and the Germans, increasingly fraught as the Allies claim victory in the south of Italy and begin moving north propels this narrative. The tight prose and vivid descriptions and the blending of fact and fiction works a grim magic to bring the tale to life.