My Father’s House
ABOUT
THE BOOK
September 1943: German forces occupy Rome. SS officer Paul Hauptmann rules with terror. An Irish priest, Hugh O’Flaherty, dedicates himself to helping those escaping from the Nazis. His home is Vatican City, the world’s smallest state, a neutral country within Rome where the occupiers hold no sway. Here Hugh brings together an unlikely band of friends to hide the vulnerable under the noses of the enemy. But Hauptmann’s net begins closing in on the Escape Line and the need for a terrifyingly audacious mission grows critical. Based on an extraordinary true story, My Father’s House is a powerful literary thriller from a master of historical fiction.
NOMINATING LIBRARY COMMENTS
This beautifully written historical novel chronicles the true story of Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty in the form of a fictional account. This Irish Catholic priest who was based in Rome risked his life during the Second World War to help the Jews to escape from the Nazi occupancy. It is very atmospheric and gripping from the first page and takes the reader through the streets of Rome, from Vatican City, a neutral, independent country and safe haven, through the city’s other landmarks. It really demonstrates the horror of the era. Joseph O’Connor gives a good depiction of Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty, a remarkable human being who is the epitome of absolute bravery and selflessness.