The Italian Chapel - Philip Paris
Join us at Night Owl Books on Monday, 23rd November at 8pm, when Philip Paris, author of The Last Witch of Scotland, will be speaking to us about his novel The Italian Chapel, and the inspiration behind his work.
Purchase a copy of one of the author's recent publications via this page to receive a free ticket to our event - while spaces last!
Select 'local collection' to pick up your copy from Night Owl. Alternatively please select a Royal Mail option, and I'll arrange for a copy to be shipped straight to you.
About The Italian Chapel:
Orkney 1942. Forbidden lovers, divided by war, united by a secret act. Amid the turmoil of the Second World War, a group of Italian prisoners is sent to the remote Orkney island of Lamb Holm.
In the freezing conditions, hunger and untold hardships of Camp 60, this ragtag band must work together to survive. Domenico, a talented artist, is among them. He inspires his comrades to create a symbol of peace during these dark days of war, and out of driftwood and scrap they build the Italian chapel: a beacon of hope and beauty in a world ravaged by war.
The chapel soon becomes a place of love, too. When Giuseppe, another POW, falls for local woman Fiona, he decides to hide a token of his love there...the secret of which is unveiled for the first time in The Italian Chapel. Based on an incredible true story, this heartbreaking and inspiring tale tells of forbidden passion, lifelong friendships and the triumph of the human spirit.
Paperback, 320 pages, this edition published April 2026.
About Philip Paris:
Since then Philip has become an award-winning novelist. His work is extremely varied, ranging from Men Cry Alone which broke new ground in the subject of domestic abuse against men when it was published in 2012, to Casting Off, an hilarious story of residents in a Highland care home.
Philip’s historical fiction The Last Witch of Scotland tells the story of the last person in Britain to be executed for witchcraft, and was Waterstones ‘Scottish Book of the Year’ in 2024. His latest historical fiction, A Fire in Their Hearts, explores the extraordinary yet little known story of the 17 th century Scottish Covenanters and the civil war that existed in Scotland for decades. Even less well known is that captured Covenanters were often banished to the plantations in America or the West Indies … a fate that befalls the novel’s protagonist, Violet, who ends up on a sugar plantation in Barbados in 1680.
A Fire in Their Hearts has recently been Longlisted for The Saltire Awards 2026
Fiction Book of the Year.
Event times:
Event: 20:00 - 21:00, followed by signing
Doors: 19:50
Venue information:
Night Owl Books, 1 Bridge Street, East Linton, EH40 3AG.
FAQs
- Will I be sent an e-ticket before the event?
Please note that we will have a guest list on the door on the night of the event, and you will not be sent an e-ticket for it - simply let us know your name/the name of the person who booked your ticket when you arrive, and we'll check you in!
A note on Covid precautions: if you feel unwell on the day, please err on the side of caution, and please take a lateral flow test before attending, if you can.