Highland-based author Philip Paris is best known for his books about Orkney's famous WW2 Italian chapel, the historical fiction The Italian Chapel and the non-fiction Orkney's Italian Chapel: The True Story of an Icon. His varied work includes Men Cry Alone, a contemporary novel that broke new ground in raising the profile of domestic abuse against men and which won the 2019 Scottish Association of Writers' Barbara Hammond trophy. Casting Off, a hilarious novel about residents in a Highland care home, was based on his sell-out stage play of the same name.
"""Compelling, evocative, heart-wrenching. This beautifully written novel, populated by a vivid cast of characters, kept me gripped from start to finish. Highly recommended."" --Fiona Valpy, author, The Dressmaker's Gift ""In Aila, Philip Paris has created a character of such defiance and vulnerability that any reader will be bewitched by her story."" ― Elizabeth Lee, author of Cunning Women ""The story is told in a way that pulls the reader along and keeps you gripped - and sometimes appalled - as it builds towards its conclusion. This is a book we'd highly recommend to anyone with an interest in Scottish history."" ―Undiscovered Scotland-"