In small town post-World-War-2 Italy, Elsa tells about various people in the town--focused largely on Balotta's family, the local factory owners. The book discusses the family and children, their friends, pastimes, and important employees. The real story, though never discusses as such, is what was lost and changed because of the war. Politics (black shirts, socialists, communists, partisans) disrupted families and friendships. Men left to fight and largely came back--one was killed right in town. Marriages didn't happen or unlikely marriages did happen. The war might have ended, but the effects of the war are still there. ( )