Rome Escape Line by Joseph O'Connor 2 Books Collection Set - Fiction - Paperback
Free 48-Hour Delivery
On orders over £35
Fast UK Dispatch
Orders shipped within 24 hours
Easy 30-Day Returns
Hassle-free returns on eligible items
Secure Checkout
Safe & encrypted payment options
Titles in This Set:
My Father's House
The Ghosts Of Rome
Condition: BRAND NEW
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9789124020705
Overview:
Step into the Rome Escape Line with Joseph O'Connor's WWII historical thrillers, presented here as a two-book collection. The first two novels in the Rome Escape Line trilogy—My Father's House and The Ghosts Of Rome—are anchored in real events and the courageous people who moved through Vatican City and the streets of Rome to defy Nazi oppression. My Father's House follows Irish priest Hugh O'Flaherty as he quietly builds a rescue network within a neutral sanctuary, risking everything as Hauptmann closes in. The Ghosts Of Rome shifts the action to the city itself, where a covert group known as the Choir smuggles Allied soldiers amid air raids and suspicion, until a parachutist's arrival tests loyalties and imperils the entire operation. With meticulous historical detail, lean, propulsive plotting, and deeply human moments, this set is ideal for fans of early WWII fiction, espionage thrillers, and character-driven narratives. A powerful, cinematic introduction to a trilogy acclaimed for its emotional truth and historical texture.
What Makes This Collection Special:
Two novels, one breathtaking wartime arc. O'Connor pairs the intimate, moral courage of a priest-led Escape Line with the wide-spread tension of Rome under occupation, delivering a cohesive reading experience that's greater than the sum of its parts. The collection invites readers to track a single network from its most intimate sacristy scenes to the danger-filled streets outside, revealing how ordinary people become extraordinary when faced with life-or-death decisions. The Escape Line narrative thread offers a satisfying binge-read, while the authentic period atmosphere—air raids, church bells, cobbled lanes, whispered alliances—provides a vivid sense of place. The Ghosts Of Rome has earned critical acclaim, including recognition as Irish Book of the Year in 2025, underscoring the series' enduring appeal for readers of historical fiction and literary thrillers alike. This pairing also makes a thoughtful gift for history lovers, book clubs, and collectors seeking a compact, immersive wartime reading experience.
Books Included in This Collection:
My Father's House
Based on the true story of Fr Hugh O'Flaherty, My Father's House follows an Irish priest who uses Vatican City's neutrality to shelter fugitives and orchestrate daring escapes from Nazi-occupied Rome. O'Connor crafts tense cat-and-mouse sequences as the Gestapo closes in and every decision carries life-or-death weight. The narrative fuses faith, courage, and camaraderie with vivid, lived-in locations—the quiet sacristy, hidden safe houses, and the perilous roads toward liberty. A lean, humane thriller that rewards patient readers with a deeply moving meditation on what it means to resist oppression with compassion.
The Ghosts Of Rome
Continuing the Rome Escape Line through the city itself, The Ghosts Of Rome centers on a perilous mission led by a group known as the Choir, smuggling Allied soldiers under Hauptmann's watchful eye. A parachutist lands during a ferocious morning air raid, testing loyalties and threatening to unravel the operation. O'Connor's prose captures wartime Rome's texture—the cobbles, the smoke, the echo of church bells—while probing the moral costs of rescue and the meaning of courage when every choice could endanger lives. This second novel deepens the series with brisk plotting and emotionally resonant storytelling that lingers long after the final page.
Who This Set Is Perfect For:
History enthusiasts who love fiction grounded in real events, fans of literary thrillers, and readers seeking immersive wartime narratives with strong moral centers. Ideal for book clubs exploring ethical dilemmas and courage under pressure, gift buyers hunting for gripping historical fiction, and collectors building a complete set of Joseph O'Connor's Rome Escape Line novels. Whether you’re new to the series or renewing your connection to O'Connor's distinctive voice, this two-book collection delivers a compact, high-impact reading experience—perfect for weekend reading, commutes, or a focused dive into a vivid, meticulously researched era.
Key Benefits:
- Two interconnected novels that form a cohesive, binge-ready wartime reading journey
- Authentic historical fiction rooted in real people and events from WWII Rome
- Twinned perspectives of courage, faith, and ethical decisions under pressure
- Vivid, cinematic atmosphere—from Vatican City to the bomb-swept streets of Rome
- Compact paperback format makes a stylish gift or shelf display
- Perfect entry point into the Rome Escape Line trilogy for new readers
- Written by the acclaimed Joseph O'Connor, widely translated and celebrated
About the Author:
Joseph O'Connor is an acclaimed Irish novelist whose work has been translated into dozens of languages. His Rome Escape Line novels—starting with My Father's House (the trilogy’s opening title) and The Ghosts Of Rome—have drawn wide critical praise for their brisk plotting, moral depth, and historical texture. My Father's House became a bestseller upon release, and The Ghosts Of Rome has received significant acclaim, including recognition as the An Post Irish Book of the Year in 2025. Film rights for the series have been optioned by a Hollywood company, with the screenplay being developed by Paul Attanasio, underscoring the dramatic appeal and cinematic potential of O'Connor's historical storytelling.
Why You’ll Love This Set:
This two-book collection offers a complete, high-impact doorway into the Rome Escape Line trilogy. Fans will appreciate the consistent voice, richly drawn settings, and moral intensity that tie the stories together, while new readers get a powerful, self-contained introduction to O'Connor's approach to history—the blend of precise research, page-turning suspense, and human warmth. The set also makes a thoughtful gift for history buffs, book clubs, or anyone who loves immersive, character-driven thrillers rooted in real events.
Please Note: The individual books included in this listing will be dispatched as per the original UK ISBN and UK edition cover image shown in the image.
