I've enjoyed Joseph O'Connors work whenever I've read it over the years, starting all the way back with 'Cowboy and Indians’ and 'Desparadoes' back in the early nineties. 'Ghostlight' and 'Star of the sea' were also recent favourites, so I was keen to read 'My father's house' when it was released. And as it’s Reading Ireland month hosted by Cathy at 746books, it seemed as good as time as any to get stuck in.

Vatican City

'My father's house' is set in wartime Rome, occupied by the Nazis and lead by Gestapo commander Paul Hauptmann, who takes a hands on approach to his work. But there’s one place he can’t reach - Vatican City.

The Vatican City is an independent country within Rome. And Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty, along with an unlikely group of friends called ’the choir’, continue to provide refuge to those who can reach them. It’s an incredibly dangerous but tightly-run clandestine operation, and O’Flaherty remains frustratingly out of Hauptmann's grasp.

He's already on Hauptmann's deadly hitlist after he visits a POW camp and, horrified by the conditions of the prisoners, insists on giving them treats and water. This annoys not only the nazis but also incurs the wrath of the Vatican, worried about their neutral status.

True Story

‘My father’s house’ is a literary thriller, based loosely on a true story, and knowing this makes me want to investigate further. It was based on what was known as the 'Rome escape line,' where people risked their lives to save thousands. It's incredible how they helped so many escaped prisoners and Jews, with money, medicine, papers, clothes - whatever they needed, also hiding them using every bit of available space.

The choir is made up of colorful characters, from the newspaper seller Enzo Angelucci, Delia Kiernan, wife of the senior Irish diplomat to the Vatican, and the Contessa Giovanna Landini . The timelines building up to the escape are told through their viewpoints, some of them interviews after the event, which adds to the feel of authenticity. It’s one of the best ww2 historical fiction books I’ve read in a while.

I also enjoyed the dialogue in the book, wjhich often has an natural, snappy quality, and O'Connor has a great turn of phrase ('If I backed the tide it wouldn't come in, ‘if he was a banana he'd peel himself’). Hugh O'Flaherty is such a terrific character, full of humanity and incredible courage. I'm not sure how I've not previously heard of him.

Rendimento

The story in ‘My father’s house’ is always building to Christmas Eve, 1943, when a mission (code name Rendimento) takes place. The final chase scene has a cinematic quality with high stakes and increasing tension and reminded me of Donald Sutherland in ‘don’t look now,’ with the dark alleys, water and piazzas at night. It's another part of the book where O'Connor excels, such is his attention to detail of the buildings in the basilica. It’s wonderfully atmospheric and builds to a superb climax.

Certainly would make a great movie, and it becomes natural to draw comparisons with Oscar Schindler. It's thought that through O'Flaherty, with the help of his choir and surrounding network, over 6,000 people were saved.

I went to hear Joseph speak at the John Hewitt literary festival in Armagh this year where he spoke at length about his research on O’Flaherty. And it was as he was talking about some of his other books that I realised just how long I’ve been reading him. From ‘Cowboys and Indians’ and ‘Desperadoes’ back in my early university days, to ‘Star of the sea’ which he still gets letters about every week, to ‘Ghost light’ ‘Redemption falls’ - so many cracking reads over the years.

I found this a strong work of historical fiction, strengthened by the fact that it was based on a true story, and is very much about compassion, love, faith, and resilience during the most extreme of circumstances. This is book one of the Rome escape line trilogy, so I'll be looking forward to the next two release from Joseph O’Connor.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK for the Advanced Reader Copy.

Book review - Joseph O’Connor - My Father’s House

Published January 23, 2023

440 Pages

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