Don Camillo's Dilemma, by Giovanni Guareschi. Copyright © Giovanni Guareschi, 1954. Translated by Frances Frenaye. NEW YORK: Farrar, Strauss, and Young, Inc.; 1954.
Library of Congress catalog card number 54-9353.
Published simultaneously in Canada by Ambassador Books, Ltd., Toronto
First published in Great Britain by Victor Gollancz, Ltd.; 1954
Published (UK) by Penguin Books, 1962
Reprinted (UK) 1964, 1966, 1968.
_____

Good news: things seem to be much as ever in this third collection of stories about the Little World of Don Camillo. Which means that our favorite hot-tempered priest's problem is, as always, to defeat Communism without hurting the communists whom he sees as part of his flock. Or perhaps one could say that the challenge is to fight the dirty battle against Communism without resorting to fighting dirty himself--though if this is his goal, Don Camillo still has a long way to go to reach it. But when he's not asking forgiveness for his methods, he can be found diligently attending to the needs of his parishioners, from absolving a little ball thief to assisting a test-taking mayor.

Notes: This one is the first of two Don Camillo books in English which had no Italian counterpart. Both were published here during the 10-year gap between the release of the second and third Italian Don Camillo books (known in English as Don Camillo and His Flock and Comrade Don Camillo). Why such a gap existed, I don't know, since during that time the individual stories continued to be a popular feature in Guareschi's weekly paper Candido... but at least the English-speaking world was spared the wait. The title "Don Camillo's Dilemma" was chosen by publisher Farrar, Strauss, says Alberto Guareschi, and there's no particular dilemma (other than Don Camillo's usual one) being referred to.
_____

Introduction-- how Don Camillo and Peppone were born and how they go on living
Electioneering in the Home-- the national elections are here, and Peppone's wife needs advice on how to vote
Back to 1922-- a Fascist returns to town, and Peppone is eager to avenge a 30-year-old insult
A Soul for Sale-- Communist Neri sells to old capitalist Molotti the soul he doesn't believe he has... a good deal?
Beauty and the Beast-- Marco and Giulietta are "just comrades," until she enters a Party-sponsored beauty contest
A Country Priest's Diary-- Don Camillo unearths 300-year-old parish records with implications for the town's honor
Revenge is Sweet-- Don Camillo's soccer team shows up Peppone's; then the chickens for the victory party disappear...
The Man without a Head-- everyone in the village fears a 200-year-old headless ghost-- all except Don Camillo, that is
The Stranger-- Peppone has a chance to even an old score when an adversary from his past turns up at his garage needing car repairs
The Gold Rush-- "Pepito Sbezzeguti" has won the National Lottery, and now the whole town knows what an "anagram" is
The Whistle-- the young son of Don Camillo's hunter friend Cino dei Bassi seems destined to follow in the tragic family footsteps
The Excommunicated Madonna-- a visiting artist chooses an unconventional model for his painting of the Madonna
The Procession-- Don Camillo refuses to hire a band that had played the Communist anthem "Internationale" at one of Peppone's rallies
Holiday Joys-- the Reds have tried to cancel Christmas, but Peppone finds it's not that simple
A Lesson in Tactics-- a rich American stranger will help the village poor, provided that the mayor's not a Communist
Peppone has a Diplomatic Illness-- Peppone's personal fortunes fall, and soon he's nowhere to be found
A Ball Bounces Back-- little trouble-maker Magrino discovers his conscience and teaches Don Camillo a lesson
The Card Sharpers-- Peppone organizes a poker tournament, and Don Camillo just can't stay away
Hunger Strike-- Smilzo's mother won't eat until her new grandson is properly baptized
Peppone Goes back to School-- the Mayor decides to try to pass the eighth grade, but he'll need help
A Baby Conquers-- Peppone opens his home to a child left on the doorstep of the People's Palace
The Elephant Never Forgets-- one of Peppone's henchmen loses his vote in a card game and becomes desperate to recover it
The Best Medicine-- Don Camillo collapses and ends up in the hospital; can Peppone help him recover?
One Meeting After Another-- the Little World's various partisans seem equally adept at spoiling one another's public rallies
Hammering It In-- Don Camillo loses his temper and sends a hammer flying...
Don Camillo Returns-- he's in exile, but Don Camillo's parishioners won't die, be married, or have babies without him