Rumbling Wine Barrels

Blurb

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.