Joseph Aizenberg escapes with only minutes to spare. As his homeland erupts into civil war and tens of thousands of his countrymen are butchered, Joseph evades Government troops to begin a new life in exile. Separated from his family with no money or possessions, he is forced to confront his past and make decisions that culminate in the slaughter of so many dear to him. Half a century later, Ellen, Joseph''s granddaughter travels with her family to Italy only to find herself caught up in the brutality of Mussolini''s Fascist Rule. Unbeknown to her, because of the choices made by her Grandfather so many years earlier, she is condemned to years of violence, uncertainty and desolation as she struggles to overcome her obsession to see the guilty pay. The realism is frightening...tender, harrowing, optimistic, depressing, yet full of hope... the journey shreds your emotional well being... from calm waters via ultimate desolation to a brilliantly constructed conclusion... my life was taken over by this book... E.W.D. The Betrayal of Innocence is engaging from start to finish, with twists and turns on every page, as we, the reader, explore the depth of human emotion... brilliantly researched and plotted - M.W. A heart rending, gripping read - F.A.P. History revealed in a harrowing yet compelling story... a fascinating read - J.W.