The story of the Brunis, a family of farmers from the Italian Padan plain who have worked the land since time immemorial, and the homeless multitudes, travelers, and tinkers roaming Europe during the hardscrabble nineteen twenties and thirties.

In 1940s Italy, teenager Pino Lella joins an underground railroad helping Jews escape over the Alps, falls for a beautiful widow, and becomes the personal driver of one of the Third Reich's most powerful commanders.

"Florence, Italy, 1944: The city is under heavy Nazi occupation, but for thirteen-year-old Paolo, war is a long and boring wait. Too young to fight for the resistance, yet desperate for action and adventure, he sneaks out each night to ride his bicycle along the darkened city streets. For Paolo, the risk is thrilling. But when he is accosted by Partisans--covert members of the anti-Nazi movement--thrilling quickly becomes dangerous as Paolo and his...