{"product_id":"the-watch-a-novel","title":"The Watch: A Novel","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Watch  first published in 1950  is a portrait of Rome and Italy in the dopoguerra - the period after the war - when the heroism and sacrifice of the partisan war against the Germans ran head-on into a rockwall of conservative reaction. The year is 1948  the main character works for a newspaper in Rome  his friends and family and partisan comrades are all trying to get by and make do. The watch of the title was given to the hero by his father; its broken  he thinks of fixing it  then wonders if it would be cheaper to buy a new  modern watch. Around him people are forever talking  looking for jobs  wasting time in cafes  grumbling about big business  the church  conservative politicians. The hero is summoned to Naples to visit the sickbed of a favorite uncle. The trip south is dangerous and difficult  along ruined roads through country infested by bandits. The passengers are crowded  they complain and tell stories  all have suffered  none has given up hope. The Watch is a brilliant and unusual tale of life and its torments  and it ends on a note as sweet as it is bitter.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44967244955701,"sku":"ByrdShop_1883642817","price":91.43,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9781883642815.jpg?v=1770641310","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-watch-a-novel","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}