Rumbling Wine Barrels - Hardcover

Buti, Bruno

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0964896001 ISBN 13: 9780964896000

Publisher: Buti Publications, 1996

Synopsis

Action! Drama! Comedy! A lusty, fast paced, chaotic but comical tale about Italians hijacking wine in defiance of Prohibition.

The unsung heroes that led to the repeal of prohibition. The Robin Hoods of the Roaring Twenties!

Early childhood experiences and recalling of the many family stories told by the old folks, their friends and colleagues enabled the author, Bruno Buti to gather enough material and factual documentation to tell this tale of prohibition in the San Francisco Bay Area during the exciting Twenties.

The author recalls the many stories and anecdotes passed down by the old folks, their friends and colleagues. In his first book, Rumbling Wine Barrels, he unveils fond memories by taking us back to a time when a group of Italian immigrants engaged in a fast paced, chaotic but comical, hell bent for destruction wine hijacking escapade centered in San Francisco. He tells how, during prohibition, these cunning rascals outwitted federal agents linked to East Coast syndicates, and how old world vendettas were settled in the traditional Italian manner associated with this lucrative but risky business. Truths and half-truths, having been skillfully dramatized, reflect a time in San Francisco's history that spawned these would-be unsung heroes of prohibition, "The Robin Hoods of the Roaring Twenties." The front cover scene depicts a chaotic wine hijacking in progress. We see Primo Novelli, behind the wheel of the Mack truck as it comes roaring out of the warehouse with Al Giovanetti, hanging on, wielding a skullcrushing tire iron. In an attempt to thwart their escape, the gangster, Lungo, gun drawn, faces up to both man and machine. Primo, urged by Al, makes a split-second decision. With accelerator to the floorboard, the huge Mack bears down on the gunman. Obscured in the background street scene, as all hell breaks loose, is Primo's buddy, Puccinelli (Pucci) the San Francisco Fire Inspector, with a company of loyal firefighters running interference for the hijackers. However, they were forced to take cover as the big Mack came rumbling by, leaving crushed and gyrating fire hoses in its wake.

About this title

About the Author

Bruno O. Buti, (pronounced "booty") born to immigrant Italian parents May 23, 1922, in San Bruno, California, the youngest of three children. Nursed to an age he can still remember, then weaned on wine for lack of a cow, he was raised in an era when milk pails runneth over with fresh made alcohol. Its purpose, both good and bad, he learned at an early age. Growing up underfoot of tough bootleggers, he spent his childhood experiencing unpleasant run-ins between them and crooked lawmen. The lesson put doubt in his mind: "Which was the lesser of the two evils?" Haunted by memories of the involvement that his father, relatives and colleagues had in bucking prohibition, their ups and downs in the struggle to make it in a society hostile to immigrant minorities, the author finally dares to unload the burden he carried for so long. Therefore his tale, Rumbling Wine Barrels, and its sequel, Jackass Brandy (soon to follow), attempt to bring out the characteristics and qualities of this particular group of, people, by depicting them the way they were during those fabulous Twenties. He wrote his 90,000 word manuscript in long hand, on yellow pads, using the hood of his Jeep as a desk in his prune orchard in Cloverdale, California. Once his book was completed, the reality of publishing a book became clear. "Nobody would even look at my manuscript," Buti said. One editor told him "We don't publish novels, we publish authors." Bruno decided to take matters in his own hands and in September, he had 2500 copies printed at his own expense. By December he had them sold, and is now in his third printing. He sells his novel of prohibition in San Francisco, in local wineries, and is working on a sequel, Jackass Brandy.

Edition details

• Publisher: Buti Publications
• Publication date: 1996
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0964896001
• ISBN 13: 9780964896000
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 355