The books goes beyond diplomatic relations to explore how hundreds of Irish citizens living in Italy experienced the momentous events of 1939–1945. It relies for the most part on primary material sourced in the archives of the main Irish religious orders in Rome (Dominicans, Augustinians, Christian Brothers) and elsewhere (the Blue Nuns in Fiesole and the Rosminians in Northern Italy). The experiences of a number of lay people are also detailed, including revelations about Charles Bewley, Donal Hales (brother of assassinated TD Seán Hales from Bandon), Stanislaus Joyce (brother of James), Darina Laracy and others.
Ryan also presents new angles on the activities of Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty and shines a light on some of Italian fascism’s main cheerleaders in Ireland, as well as the activities of Italian fascists in Dublin.
Isadore Ryan is a financial journalist and editor, and holds a master's degree in war studies from King's College London. Resident outside Ireland for the past thirty years, he has written two previous books, Irish Paris: Stories of Famous and Infamous Irish People in Paris Through the Centuries and No Way Out: The Irish in Wartime France, 1939-–1945.
