Leading Marines.com: A Bell for Adano

A Bell for Adano

Written in 1944 by John Hersey, A Bell for Adano is on the Marine Corps Reading List for Staff Sergeants.

Hersey won the Pulitzer Prize in 1945. A Bell for Adano was extremely popular and became widely recognized as a classic study in leadership.

During WW II Hersey was a war correspondent who covered fighting in Europe and Asia. He wrote for both Time and Life magazines. He was with U.S. Army troops during the invasion of Sicily.

The main character, Major Joppolo, is the temporary administrator of the town and must balance the requirements of the Army with the immediate needs of the people in Adano. He introduces democracy as well as other changes to the town, but the Major must find a way to earn the people's respect and trust. He determines that the most important thing he can do is find a replacement for the town bell that the Fascists had taken and melted for ammunition.