Beneath a Scarlet Sky: A Novel

This story is , yes, amazing, even unbelievable, except it is true. The story is fictionalized - I would say a bit romanticized - and there were times when I thought "Really?" But then you are forced to hear " Yes, really". My marker is The Narrow Road to the Deep North ,which is the best in its class, and this runs it very close. Well written, very well written, you are taken on a journey where you feel excitement, fear,the full joy of love and the deep horror of war. There are two moments when this Englishman rebelled in the use of music ( Nessun Dorma and Pagliacci ) as being over romantic - but this is Italy - it's in their souls ,and I quibble with such a wonderful book. This is truly a book you won't put down. Best of the year so far. Note to the author - 'crescendo' means the build up to a climax not the climax itself. A common mistake.

In 2006, the author Mark Sullivan was at a particularly low ebb. His younger brother and best friend had drunk himself to death; his last novel had gone down like a lead balloon; and he was staring bankruptcy in the face. He began to have suicidal thoughts, realizing that with his insurance policy in place, he was worth more to his family dead than alive. Then, by chance, he was introduced to an old man named Pino Lella. The two men had some kind of affinity, and the older man confided in Sullivan and eventually revealed his extraordinary story from the closing years of the war in Italy. It was by Sullivan's own admission a story that made his own circumstances look incredibly tame by comparison. Here was a story he could lose himself in. A story that would literally save him. And what an incredible story it is. In 1943, Pino Lella was a seventeen-year-old teenager with nothing more than music, food and girls on his mind. But his life is suddenly thrown into turmoil when the family home in Miln is destroyed by Allied bombing. As a result, Pino is sent by his father to stay with the priest Father Re in the Alps and out of harm's way. And it is here that the boy is trained to climb mountain passes and to familiarise himself with the terrain. The priest is running an underground escape route for Jews to escape the Nazis by taking a treacherous expedition across the Alps and into Switzerland. Pino will become one of the route's invaluable guides. As Pino nears the age of eighteen, his parents have a terrifying choice. Should their son join the Italian army only to be butchered on the Russian front; join the resistance where his plight looked every bit as precarious; or alternatively join the German army? In an attempt to protect him, they insist that he enlists as a German soldier. Pino protests bitterly, but finally and begrudgingly joins up, and is soon injured and sent to recuperate. By some miraculous stroke of luck, he helps to fix one of the German staff cars and is noticed by the car's passenger, General Hans Leyer - Adolf Hitler's left-hand man in Italy and one of the Third Reich's most powerful commanders. Leyer immediately fires his driver and appoints Pino as his replacement on the spot. From this moment onwards Pino is ideally placed to seek retribution on the forces of evil that have wreaked havoc on his homeland. He has a unique opportunity to spy on the Nazi's plans for Italy. He also encounters Anna, the maid to Leyer's mistress, and for the first time in his life, falls hopelessly in love. 'Beneath a Scarlet Sky' is a powerful and emotive saga of love and loss set against one of the darkest episodes of human history. It's a haunting and beautifully penned narrative that will stay with you long after turning the last page. Alex Pearl is author of 'Sleeping with the Blackbirds' and 'The Chair Man'.

This is an incredible story which certainly deserved to be told, and must admit I know a lot more now about the traumas that Italy went through during WW2 than I ever knew before. I'm taking it on trust that the basic story is absolutely true, but I did wonder as I read through it to what extent it might have been 'tweaked' a bit here and there, how many of the finer details were added to make it a more exciting or fulfilling read? I also felt it was a bit slow to start, and even when it finally got going, and Pino is sent up into the mountains to stay with the priest, he's almost immediately sent out by the priest to climb the surrounding mountains virtually every day, for up to 5 hours a day, and neither Pino nor the readers are told why. Pino apparently does it unquestioningly, which I found a bit hard to believe, and I kept wanting to yell out loud, 'For pity's sake put us all out of our misery and TELL us why he's having to do this!' We, and Pino, are told eventually. There was one other niggle, which was that I felt that it was written in an 'American accent', and throughout the characters are using what to me sounded like modern-day American words and/or expressions. This grated a bit, when people in Italy in 1943/44 are saying 'have a nice day', or, in the narrative, the word 'gotten' cropped up quite frequently, or 'he gunned the car', and various other examples that I can't recall now. But it did grate a bit, although maybe that's just me, and perhaps it wouldn't bother other readers. But overall I enjoyed it and think it's worth a read.

This novel is the first I’ve read by Mark Sullivan, and I’m impressed. Historical fiction presented as a wartime thriller – so compelling I couldn’t put it down. Set in northern Italy during WW2, the hero is almost too good to be true. Except Pino Lella is a real person, whose activities inspired this novel – the teenage son of a wealthy family, young, courageous, talented and good-looking. A skier and climber, he helped smuggle Jews across the Alps, and later acted as driver for an eminent Nazi general as the Allied forces advanced. A collaborator? No – a spy who met Mussolini and his mistress, and witnessed their gory end. There’s a love story too, beautifully conveyed, and heartbreaking events as anarchy follows the defeat of Fascism. Pino’s shock and trauma almost leap off the page, leaving the reader understanding entirely why he didn’t talk about it afterwards – and why Italy as a whole preferred to forget this period in its history. Mark Sullivan’s passion for this story shines through. He has my admiration, not least for his relating of the aftermath, in which we learn of the characters’ later lives. From priests and cardinals to world-class racing drivers – and General Leyers himself – it illustrates that fact really is stranger than fiction.

Several people recommended this biography of a young Italian’s experiences during WWII and I’m so glad I took their advice as it was wonderful. It’s said fact can be stranger than fiction and that’s definitely true of Pino’s life. Add the exceptional quality of the writing and the marvellously researched foreword and afterword making this is a 5 star novel. It’s amazing.

I downloaded this book because I thought my husband would like it - he did - and although not my usual genre, so did I. It was fascinating reading, a roller-coaster of emotions, from happiness to anguish, from love to hate and more. The research the author did was simply amazing, the style of writing brilliant. This was a true story with actual real characters whom the writer managed to interview long, long after the events. The story was about Italy during World War 2 and the people involved, particularly "Pino" Lella who was a typical teenager when it started but ended up being a hero, although he didn't seem to think he was. The trials and tribulations were many and varied. I even read "The Aftermath", the Acknowledgements and Notes on the Author. I didn't want to miss a single word. I would most definitely recommend this book to anyone. I wish I coul give it more stars than five.

This is an incredible story and if every word is based in reality and truth, it reads like a boy's own adventure with heart. What a wonderful individual Pino Lella is, how deep and daring and heroic he comes across as too does his brother Mimmo. Apparently, soon to be made into a major film starring Tom Holland, I can imagine every scene, but the book will surely be better although scarcely believable Pink lived through and did so much at such a young age and in such a short space of time, running from one intense moment to another seemingly at break neck speed. It's a gallop through Italian World War two history and the tragedies heaped on that country. I also learned some things I didn't know. Particularly about the Catholic underground railroad and the priests and cardinals who fought to save Jews. Ignorantly, I had always believed the priesthood worked with Hitler and I'm glad to learn this is not true. The research breadth and depth and scope of this book is numbing and humbling..... "Of the roughly forty-nine thousand Jews in Italy at the time of the Nazi invasion, some forty-one thousand evaded arrest or survived the concentration camps.". Some 6 0,000 allied soldiers died fighting to free Italy. In so many key moments, like the end of Mussolini which I had seen in old newsreel footage, Pino was there as witness to all the horror band mayhem at great personal cost. It's a very long book but held me transfixed all the way through. The writer has done an amazing job and tribute to an outstanding personality. Quite a rollercoaster saga to say the least. A remarkable story that deserves to be told and is well told with great respect for the subject and the times he lived through.

I’ve always taken an interest in the Italian campaign of WW2, as my Dad fought there. However, it’s generally been from an allied perspective with some insight into the Axis forces movements. I’m sorry to say that my knowledge of the privations suffered by the Italian civilian population was pretty scant. I also carried some pre conceived prejudices about the state of mind of the Italian people and their support for Mussolini. This book is an eye opener. It has given me a clearer perspective of just what the nation had to suffer as a result of their lunatic leader’s deluded policies, and the autocratic manner in which Italy was controlled, not only from a military point of view but also from an ‘ordinary person in the streets’ point of view. Pino’s Story is inspirational from start to finish. A true story given literary clarity by Mark Sullivan’s excellent descriptive narrative. This is an exciting, interesting and inspiring book, I was moved by the emotional ups and downs of Pino’s life, and by those with whom he had contact, friends, family, clergy and even enemies. Thanks for writing this book. I would highly recommend the audible narration that goes with the book, it’s a great in car journey companion.

A Kindle First selection that is masterfully written with complex characters and heart-pounding scenes. It takes place in Italy -'the forgotten front'- during WW II and the reader is drawn into a web of intrigue. Pino Lello, 17 years of age, is wise beyond his years and intelligent, as well. It is a gripping story of resilience, the indomitable spirit of a young man that knew no boundaries and courage that sustained him during dark hours. When reading the first portion, I was wondering if (and how) this intense pace would continue. The climbing scenes through the mountains gave me a real shot of adrenaline. I felt as though I was one of the climbers and not a reader. This is also when the echoes of 'Nessun Dorma' were played with such passion. For me, this is one of the underlying themes in the story - 'none shall sleep'. And, Pino Lello has taken that to heart for the remainder of this story. The action intensified throughout the remainder of the book, and one is allowed a rare glimpse into the mind of Il Duce - Benito Mussolini - plus the inner workings of the German High Command. Becoming a driver for Major General Hans Leyer allows Pino access to a man that is two steps from the Fuhrer. Pino Lello witnesses atrocities he wishes he could forget but keeps soldiering on...wisely... Just a gripping and harrowing Kindle First selection which I feel is the best one I have read. Full of action and suspense which will keep you on the edge of your seat for the duration. Most highly recommended. Please note that this is my Kindle First selection for April 2017.

This is an amazing true story of courage and passion. Pino Lella was a remarkable young man and this book tells of his traumatic war experiences in a very compelling and empathic way. Nothing is dressed up or glamourised. You could be listening to a tale unfold just as Pino told it. Stories like this should never be forgotten nor the truth hidden. I would recommend this book.

A true story!! I was impressed with this 17 year old young man, Pino who rescued many Jewish people during WWII and also acted as a spy. However what is even more remarkable lies in the fact that he got involved in rescuing and spying without deciding to do so in the first place. Chance did! First, he was sent 9 months in the Alps with his brother and children to escape Milan bombing. He lived there with a priest who trained his physical condition in order to be able to cross the Alps. He did not know then that the ultimate aim was to get refugees over to Switzerland! But he did it willingly and for months, winter included, not only did Pino have to overcome the dangers of the Alps themselves, but also the threat of being discovered by the Germans. At 18, called back to Milan by his father, Pino had to enlist and became a General's driver totally by chance! Pushed by his uncle to spy on the General, he did it as a matter of fact!!! The author met Pino(as well as other witnesses) who told him his story. This makes the events told here very reliable. A great read!

A good and fast reading to a well paced history. I fully recommend this book for a good read. I'm not sure if it's an historical acuarate book but surely it's a good tale.

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.