From Paradise To Hell – And Back

About the Book

Simon’s life doesn’t start brilliantly, with bombers flying low over the family farm in Italy and his father’s belated homecoming after the ill-fated Greek campaign. Then there is the roachridden fl at in war-fl attened Bologna and a thankless job turning our widgets on a lathe. But a trip to England opens new horizons for Simon. He discovers the wonders of the English language and the marvels of young women. Alice is an Irish nurse working in London, where Simon is a hospital orderly. They meet – and his life takes a big turn for the better. Marriage and children follow, and Simon’s natural Italian charm, plus Alice’s easy vivacity, creates success for him as an international salesman, with business trips to Japan and China and a family holiday in America via the QE2. Then disaster strikes. Who can look at a deadly disease – no, three lifethreatening conditions – and remain calm? Simon’s journey is indeed one from paradise to hell. But his survival, in this fascinating biography, is a tribute to his inner strength and a reflective yet optimistic approach to the life he loves.

About the Author