The novel is set during the 1943 Allied occupation of the fictional Italian coastal town of Adano (based on the real city of Licata).

Joppolo is an idealistic Italian-American who wants to bring justice and compassion to Adano, which has been hardened by the authoritarian Fascist regime of Benito Mussolini.

In addition to finding the bell, Joppolo spends time trying to supply the town with food and other necessities.

When he speaks to Tomasino, the leader of the fishermen, Joppolo finds out that this is because the fisherman were forced to pay 'protection' money to the corrupt Fascist government simply to go out fishing.

It takes extensive persuading to convince Tomasino that Joppolo's intentions are good and that his only want is for the people of Adano to have fish.

Immediately, he calls for a meeting with all the officials of the town and tells them of the new order, but also that he is prepared to find a solution.

Major Victor Joppolo: The protagonist of the story, is the interim mayor of the Italian coastal town of Adano.

Stripped of its humor, it is the story of a battle for democracy, no less real for being fought without arms, more important than the military engagement that preceded it.

"[3] Kenneth Dave Schadt of the Vancouver Public Library later noted, "The novel achieved huge popularity and was hailed as a classic war novel.

Another possible reason it was so well received was that the novel portrays the American army in a positive light and shows how democracy is inherently superior to Fascism.

[6] Major Joppolo is based on the American military governor of Licata named Frank E. Toscani.

John Hersey visited Toscani for four or five days during the war and created Victor Joppolo from him, noting that he held a job as a civilian clerk in the New York City Sanitation Department.

[3] The novel was the basis of Paul Osborn's 1944 Broadway play A Bell for Adano, starring Fredric March.

[9] On June 2, 1956, CBS Television broadcast a version of Hersey's story, starring Barry Sullivan and Anna Maria Alberghetti and directed by Paul Nickell.

On November 15, 1967, Hallmark Hall of Fame broadcast a version starring John Forsythe and Murray Hamilton and directed by Mel Ferrer.