Apparently, in 1915 Great Britain, Ireland, the French Republic, and the Russian Empire had signed a secret pact with the Kingdom of Italy to gain the latter's alliance against its former allies, including the German Empire and Austria-Hungary. The lure was the promise that Italy would receive large swaths of Austria-Hungary to the north of Italy and to the east across the Adriatic. After the war, Britain and France refused to fulfill the pact, which played one of the critical roles in igniting Italian nationalism and the rise of fascism.

Disillusioned with Mussolini's dictatorship, Arturo pens many passionate articles and op-eds pieces in various newspapers criticizing the fascists. Incidentally, these articles, as well as the fact that Arturo became a columnist under the pen name Belisario in the Italian language newspaper Il Progresso Italo-Americano published in New York and distributed in America, were unknown to his family until after his death.

While living in Italy, Arturo's writings were not unnoticed by Blackshirts' members, who were the armed squads of Italian Fascists under Mussolini. In truth, anyone criticizing Mussolini placed themselves, as well as their family, in danger of receiving punishment and even death at the hands of these butchers.

When Arturo learns about the danger he is in owing to his political writings castigating the regime, he desperately resolves to escape from Italy. With the help of a family friend, who was the owner and captain of a fishing vessel, Arturo and his family manage to escape to Casablanca, Morocco, where they take up residence for several years. `

In Morocco Arturo, with the assistance of his twenty-year-old son Nino, embark on the running of a small metal fabrication and machine shop- a business and trade they had experience with back in Italy. Unfortunately, the family once again faces danger when Casablanca falls under the control of the French Vichy and masses of people, including Nino, are rounded up and imprisoned in forced labor camps. Employing his creative and cunning skills, Nino was able to cut short his stay in the concentration camp and return to living a semi-normal life.

Before his incarceration, Nino meets his future wife in Casablanca, and the couple eventually marry. Within a few years, their family is expanded with the arrival of two sons. Unluckily, one of their sons, Victor, experiences a terrible accident during a visit to his grandparents' home. Due to the accident, Victor requires eye surgery that could only be performed in the USA. Realizing what is best for their son, Nino and his wife Tina decide to move to New Jersey where Nino's brother John resides.

The author brings the DiMartino story to believable life that is carefully crafted with affecting characterizations while incorporating accurately rendered little known details of Italian history.

The power of the story lies in the endurance and motivation to succeed not only as concerns Arturo but also his son, Nino. It also lies in the strong ties to family, which is very often associated with Italian families and communities.

In addition, using the historical backdrop of the 1930's and 1940's, he touches on various themes as the trauma families experience when separated, horrors of war, disobedience to authorities, and a powerful message about the spirit that can survive not merely with resignation, but with fervent hope.

The novel is not without its flaws. I would have liked to have seen better content editing that would have eliminated repetition and scenes that do very little to move the story along.
Also, some essential plot strands are left loose that could have been better developed. Nevertheless, if you are looking for an absorbing fast read with some interesting historical facts thrown in, you won't go wrong with Escapes.

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