book daughter of genoa

daughter of genoa book by kat devereaux

dive into the compelling narrative of daughter of genoa, a captivating historical novel by kat devereaux that transports readers to the heart of world war ii italy. this richly imagined story, inspired by true events, explores themes of courage, love, and the extraordinary resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity. prepare to be drawn into a world of secret operations and personal sacrifices, where ordinary individuals rise to extraordinary acts of bravery.

daughter of genoa summary

set in the tumultuous period of april to july 1944 in genoa, italy, daughter of genoa tells the inspiring story of anna pastorino. after her family fled the fascist regime years ago, anna remained behind and now lives in hiding, terrified of discovery. her life takes a drastic turn when an raf bomb destroys her home. fortunately, she encounters father vittorio, a jesuit priest who guides her to a safe haven with bernardo and silvia, a kind older couple. anna soon discovers that her hosts are part of a secret network, aided by father vittorio, dedicated to smuggling jewish citizens out of italy. drawing on her pre-war skills in ledgers and forgery, anna becomes an essential asset to the resistance movement, all while concealing her own past. in this clandestine operation, she meets a wealthy aviator known only as mr. x., whom she recognizes as massimo teglio. despite the constant threat of imprisonment, torture, and death, anna finds herself falling in love, a dangerous risk in a time of war. the novel beautifully captures the bravery and sacrifice of those who risked everything to create a better world, based on the true story of delasem, the organization that tirelessly saved innocent lives from concentration camps.

1. book name : daughter of genoa
2. author name : kat devereaux
3. genre : historical fiction, romance, world war ii
4. pages : 272
5. isbn : 9780063389984
6. asin : not explicitly mentioned in search results, but typically associated with amazon kindle editions.
7. edition language : english
8. date of publication : december 9, 2025

about the author kat devereaux

kat devereaux, a historian by training and an enthusiast by nature, brings a wealth of international experience and a deep passion for history to her writing. born near edinburgh, she has lived across the united states, russia, france, chile, germany, and italy, before settling in prague. her extensive travels and academic background, including studies in modern and medieval languages and history at cambridge, and theology and religion at oxford, deeply influence her fictional narratives, especially her focus on italian literature and historical events.

daughter of genoa faq

1. what is daughter of genoa about?

   daughter of genoa is a historical novel set in genoa, italy, during world war ii. it follows anna pastorino, a young woman who becomes involved in a secret resistance network helping to smuggle jewish citizens to safety amidst nazi occupation. the story explores themes of bravery, sacrifice, and burgeoning romance in a time of great danger.

2. is daughter of genoa based on a true story?

   yes, the novel is inspired by the true story of delasem (the delegation for the assistance of jewish emigrants), an organization that played a vital role in saving jewish lives during the holocaust in italy. while the protagonist anna is a fictional character, some principal figures like the genoese jewish aviator massimo teglio and cardinal pietro boetto sj are based on historical individuals.

3. what are the main themes in daughter of genoa?

   the primary themes in daughter of genoa include courage in the face of oppression, the power of human connection and resistance, sacrifice for a greater good, and the complexities of love amidst war. it highlights the quiet heroism of ordinary people during extraordinary times.

4. what is the genre of daughter of genoa?

   daughter of genoa is primarily classified as historical fiction, with strong elements of romance and world war ii historical settings. it delves into the specific historical context of italy during the nazi occupation.

5. when was daughter of genoa published?

   daughter of genoa by kat devereaux was published on december 9, 2025.