THE ITALIAN CHAPEL
by Philip Paris
Publication date: 23 September 2009
 

A Highland writer’s quest to tell the untold story of the creation of one of Scotland’s best known icons "the Italian Chapel on Orkney" has uncovered the secret love between an Italian prisoner of war and a local Orkney woman. 

Philip Paris, whose debut historical fiction The Italian Chapel will be published in September by Black and White Publishing, has spent more than three years tracking down ex POWs and descendents of the key players in Camp 60. He has delved into the Chapel’s fascinating history and used a number of sources such as the Italian Chapel Preservation Committee and relatives of the POWs to uncover his story.
The Italian Chapel is Orkney’s most popular tourist attraction. Around 90,000 people a year visit the building, which consists of two Nissen huts placed end to end and converted with enormous skill and dedication.

A story of forbidden love, lifelong friendships torn apart, despair and hope, The Italian Chapel is set against the backdrop of the creation of a symbol that is known around the world. Amidst strikes, conflicts and untold hardships, the Italian prisoners of war sent to a tiny Orkney island during WW2 create a monument to the human spirit’s ability to lift itself above great adversity. 

Philip discovered many fascinating hidden stories about the Chapel. One came from correspondence he had with a relative of one of the POWs. He explained, "The Italian blacksmith who built the rood screen died in 1980. I had been corresponding for months with his grandson, Giuseppe Palumbi. One day I received an email from Giuseppe to say that he had just heard the story about his grandfather meeting and falling in love with a local woman while he had been a POW. I think Giuseppe was even more surprised than I was to learn of this news! He then revealed that his cousin, who was born 25 years after his grandfather returned to Italy, is named after the woman on Orkney."

Philip continued, "It quickly became apparent that the story of the Chapel had never been told in any depth. Finding out what actually happened all those years ago became rather a passion, but I never imagined for a moment just what extraordinary secrets would be revealed."

The Italian Chapel will be published in September, the 65th anniversary of the Italians leaving Camp 60.
REVIEW COPIES ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

For further information, photographs or an interview request, please contact:
Katy Gilzean at Black & White Publishing
Phone:0131 625 4507
Phone: 0131 625 4500
Fax: 0131 625 4501
Email: katy@blackandwhitepublishing.com
Website: http://www.blackandwhitepublishing.com

http://www.allmediascotland.com/media_releases/5416/
highland_author_uncovers_secret_love_behind_orkneys_italian_chapel

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