The Tuscan Child

by Rhys Bowen

“The Society of Saint George,” she said. “A devotional society of the men of this town. It is an honour to be invited to join.” I noticed then that their white tunics had a star on the breast. A many-pointed star.

This society is half true and half invented. There were secret societies during WWII, sometimes dedicated to a saint or with a religious connotation and their sworn mission was to drive out the Germans. But such religious secret societies are very much part of Italian life today. If you go to a medieval procession or feast day you will see people wearing a certain scarf or badge, or even hooded robes.