LAST TRAIN FROM LIGURIA

In 1933 Bella Stuart leaves her quiet London life to move to Italy to tutor the child of a beautiful Jewish heiress and an elderly Italian aristocrat. Living at the family's summer home, Bella's reserve softens as she comes to love her young charge, and find friendship with Maestro Edward, his enigmatic music teacher. But as the decade draws to an end and Fascism tightens its grip on Europe, the fact that Alec is Jewish places his life in grave danger. Bella and Edward take the boy on a terrifying train journey out of Italy, one they have no reason to believe that any of them will survive. You can feel the light and heat of Italy as you read this complex tale of courage and resilience. 392pp in paperback.