![Beneath a Scarlet Sky: A Novel by [Mark Sullivan]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51pcmD+vWhL._SY346_.jpg)
And still amazing, but hitherto untold, stories of heroism and daring emerge from the horrors of WWII. This is the story of Pino Lella, an Italian teenager who, during the German occupation of Italy, found himself, through unforeseen circumstances, chauffeur to General Hans Leyers, Hitler's top man and the Third Reich's most powerful Nazi in Italy. Taking one enormous risk to his life after another, Pino was able to pass on valuable secret enemy information to the Allies. In doing so he displayed almost unbelievable courage, fortitude, persistence and commitment and, despite all the dangers and risks to his life, survived the war and materially helped the Allies' cause.
.Before the telling of Pino's story in "Beneath a Scarlet Sky", only snippets of it were generally known. This was because Pino did not talk about it - he found the memory of it too painful and gut wrenching. The author, however, over many hours, gradually gained the aged Pino's confidence and was able, together with meticulous research, to piece together the amazing story.
For any prospective readers I would make a comment on the author's description of his book as a "novel". Personally, I think this was an over cautious description The story he tells is fundamentally true but, as he explains in his preface, in making the story flow and not read like a straight-out history book he, of necessity, needed to put his wording into people's mouths where no record of the actual original words exist, and describe scenes as seen in his own mind from descriptions by Pino and others where no actual photos still exist. All this he did in a way that was, to the best of his knowledge and judgement, consistent with the facts. So, if you like reading true stories from WWII, don't be put off by the author's own description of his book as a "novel". This is an amazing story and a a page-turner to the very last page.
What makes a hero? If you are Pino Lella, the protagonist in Mark Sullivan’s riveting Second World War thriller, you risk everything to save as many souls as you can by sneaking them over the Swiss Alps to safety. You put yourself in harm’s way, enlisting as a German soldier and becoming an Allied spy inside the German High Command. And you forgo the life you thought you’d have to do whatever you can to stop the madness.
It’s not often I get to publish true stories, especially ones that have been crafted into page-turning fiction. But after I picked up Beneath a Scarlet Sky and read into the wee hours, I was absorbed and amazed by the story of Italy’s Pino Lella, an unsung hero of the Second World War, and felt compelled to publish this one. The tale of a man pushed headlong into the horrors of war at the tender age of seventeen is timeless and inspiring.
I’m not sure I would ever be as brave as Pino, and I’m so honoured to share his story with you. But ultimately my feelings are superseded by my hope that Beneath a Scarlet Sky will be a ‘stay up all night to read’ book that you will not soon forget.
It’s not often I get to publish true stories, especially ones that have been crafted into page-turning fiction. But after I picked up Beneath a Scarlet Sky and read into the wee hours, I was absorbed and amazed by the story of Italy’s Pino Lella, an unsung hero of the Second World War, and felt compelled to publish this one. The tale of a man pushed headlong into the horrors of war at the tender age of seventeen is timeless and inspiring.
I’m not sure I would ever be as brave as Pino, and I’m so honoured to share his story with you. But ultimately my feelings are superseded by my hope that Beneath a Scarlet Sky will be a ‘stay up all night to read’ book that you will not soon forget.
- Danielle Marshall, Editor
