Diary of a Tufarolo is the story of a poor orphan from the town of Tufo in Abruzzo, Italy by the name of Emilo di Giuseppe. He endures many hardships as a young boy and is never allowed to attend school. IIiterate, he is drafted into the Italian Army at the start of World War II. While in the army, he is able to teach himself to read and write. This enables him to write his diary in Italian at the conclusion of the war as well as to write letters back home to Tufo. It is a vivid description of the war in North Africa between the Italians and the Allied Forces. Ultimately, his army surrenders and he is transported to England to serve two years as a prisoner of war. Returning to Tufo, he meets and marries Angelina. Together they have 3 children, the oldest is Bruna. In 1964, the family emigrates to Canada for a better life. Just before his death, Emilio hands the diary over to Bruna which he had kept secret for so many years. Bruna promises her Father to take care of the diary and several years later, she takes on the arduous and passionate task of translating his writings into Italian and English.