The Secret of Santa Vittoria: A Novel

In the final days of World War II, German forces occupy the Italian hill town of Santa Vittoria with orders to seize its most valuable asset: one million bottles of Santa Vittoria wine. As the town's mayor confronts the German captain, the community—including aristocrats, peasants, former enemies, and young lovers—works together to hide the wine and protect it from occupation. When the wine disappears, its location becomes Santa Vittoria's most closely guarded secret. Robert Crichton's 1966 novel combines wit, heart, and suspense in telling this story of a town's unified resistance. The book spent fifty weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, including eighteen weeks at number one, and achieved international bestseller status.