Crucifixes – that is, wayside crosses, field crosses, or crosses depicting the crucified Christ – can be found not only in villages and towns or in nature, but also in literature. Perhaps the most famous crucifix of this type can be found in the work of Giovanni Guareschi (1908 to 1968). He is the spiritual father of the humorous stories about the two protagonists 'Don Camillo' and 'Peppone'. Guareschi incorporated another main character into his stories – known and popular far beyond Italy's borders –: the crucified Christ, who speaks to Don Camillo from the crucifix on the high altar. The author himself makes the following comment:
"So one must explain: If the priests feel offended by Don Camillo, they can smash a candlestick on my skull for all I care; if the communists feel offended by Peppone, they can break a club on my back; but if someone feels offended by Christ's speeches, there's nothing one can do. Whoever speaks in my stories... is my Christ, that is, the voice of my conscience. My personal business, my cause. And therefore: each for himself, and God for all." (G. Guareschi)