Crucifixes – that is, wayside / field / field crosses or summit crosses with a depiction of the crucified Christ – can be found not only on the way through villages and towns or in nature, but also in literature. The probably most famous crucifix of this type can be found in the work of the author Giovanni Guareschi (1908 to 1968). He is the spiritual father of the humorous stories about the two protagonists 'Don Camillo' and 'Peppone'. Guareschi has built another main character into his stories – which are well-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 on this:
“So you have to explain: If the priests feel insulted by Don Camillo, they can smash a candlestick on my skull for all I care; if the communists are insulted by Peppone, they can break a club in two on my back; but if someone feels offended by Christ's words, there is nothing that can be done. Whoever speaks in my stories ... is my Christ, that is, the voice of my conscience. My personal matter, my affair. And therefore: each for himself and God for all." (G. Guareschi)