The Brewer of Preston - Andrea Camilleri

Set in 1875, The Brewer of Preston departs from Camilleri’s beloved Montalbano series to explore the rich and absurd history of Vigàta, his fictional Sicilian town. The new Prefect, hailing from northern Italy, insists on staging the opera The Brewer of Preston—a decision that sends the town into a frenzy.

Through shifting perspectives, nonlinear narrative, and theatrical flourishes, Camilleri crafts a literary pastiche filled with anarchic humor, political mischief, and cultural clashes. As the townspeople plot sabotage and the cast and crew descend into chaos, the opera becomes a metaphor for the broader disorder of post-unification Italy.

Main Themes of the Book

• Satire of Bureaucracy: Camilleri ridicules the inefficiency, stubbornness, and cultural imposition of northern authorities on southern Italy.
• Historical Rebellion: The novel is rooted in real tensions during Italy’s unification, highlighting social and political unrest.
• The Absurd and the Surreal: Events unfold with comic exaggeration, echoing the spirit of Fellini and Calvino.
• Cultural Identity: The opera becomes a symbol of imposed culture, while local traditions and resistance emerge as acts of defiance.
• Narrative Playfulness: Told out of chronological order and from various viewpoints, the structure mirrors the confusion of the events it portrays.

Why you should read this book

• A brilliant departure from the detective genre, showcasing Camilleri’s literary versatility.
• Perfect for fans of absurdist, postmodern, and satirical fiction.
• Offers a vivid picture of Sicilian life and resistance in the late 19th century.
• The humor is biting, bold, and distinctly Italian.
• An inventive, fast-paced novel that breaks narrative conventions.

The Brewer of Preston is Andrea Camilleri at his most experimental and exuberant. A laugh-out-loud tale of cultural clash and civic rebellion, it captures the confusion and comedy of history as only Camilleri can. For readers ready to see Vigàta through a different lens—less mystery, more mayhem—this novel is a must.