{"product_id":"the-italian-chapel-philip-paris","title":"The Italian Chapel - Philip Paris","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJoin us at Night Owl Books on Monday, 23rd November at 8pm, when Philip Paris, author of \u003cem\u003eThe Last Witch of Scotland\u003c\/em\u003e, will be speaking to us about his novel \u003cem\u003eThe Italian Chapel\u003c\/em\u003e, and the inspiration behind his work.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePurchase a copy of one of the author's recent publications via this page to receive a free ticket to our event - while spaces last! \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSelect '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. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout \u003cem\u003eThe Italian Chapel\u003c\/em\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrkney 1942\u003c\/strong\u003e. 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe 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...\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ethe secret of which is unveiled for the first time in \u003cem\u003eThe Italian Chapel\u003c\/em\u003e. Based on an incredible true story, this heartbreaking and inspiring tale tells of forbidden passion, lifelong friendships and the triumph of the human spirit.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaperback, 320 pages, this edition published April 2026.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout Philip Paris:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eA visit to the Italian chapel while on honeymoon in Orkney set Philip Paris on a quest to find out as much as possible about the men who built the iconic WW2 building. In a journey of research and writing that lasted for years Philip unearthed some amazing secrets and wrote what became his debut novel, \u003cem\u003eThe Italian Chapel\u003c\/em\u003e, published in 2009. His non-fiction book, \u003cem\u003eOrkney’s Italian Chapel: The True Story of an Icon\u003c\/em\u003e, is recognised as the leading authoritative work on the building’s history and the artists involved.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003eSince then Philip has become an award-winning novelist. His work is extremely varied, ranging from \u003cem\u003eMen Cry Alone\u003c\/em\u003e 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.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003ePhilip’s historical fiction \u003cem\u003eThe Last Witch of Scotland\u003c\/em\u003e 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,\u003cem\u003e A Fire in Their Hearts\u003c\/em\u003e, 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.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eA Fire in Their Hearts\u003c\/em\u003e has recently been Longlisted for The Saltire Awards 2026\u003cbr\u003eFiction Book of the Year.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEvent times:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvent: 20:00 - 21:00, followed by signing\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDoors: 19:50\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVenue information:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNight Owl Books, 1 Bridge Street, East Linton, EH40 3AG.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFAQs\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e- Will I be sent an e-ticket before the event?\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlease 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! \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA 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.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Night Owl Books","offers":[{"title":"The Italian Chapel","offer_id":57345625391482,"sku":null,"price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"A Fire in their Hearts","offer_id":57345625424250,"sku":null,"price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"The Last Witch of Scotland","offer_id":57345625457018,"sku":null,"price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0614\/2178\/1163\/files\/PhilipPariseventNightOwlBooks.png?v=1791122985","url":"https:\/\/nightowlbooks.co.uk\/products\/the-italian-chapel-philip-paris","provider":"Night Owl Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}