Note sull'episodio
In this episode of History Through Fiction: The Podcast, Colin Mustful speaks with Joe Paone, author of The Baron’s Daughter, about forbidden love, family duty, and the human cost of war in southern Italy on the eve of World War I. Listeners are invited into a conversation that moves from the olive groves of Calabria to the trenches of the Isonzo, revealing how historical fiction can bring emotional truth to moments of political upheaval.
Together, they explore Angelina and Paolo’s cross-class love story, Italy’s uncertain path into war, and the tension between personal loyalty and larger ideological forces. Joe reflects on writing characters who felt deeply real to him, balancing historical research with emotional intimacy, and shaping a novel where romance, resistance, and questions of class all collide.
Joe Paone is a history and government teacher in the Philadelphia suburbs and the author of The Baron’s Daughter and Michael and the Magic Christmas Mirror. Drawing on his Italian-American heritage, years of teaching, and a long fascination with World War I, he brings both personal connection and historical depth to a story rooted in love, loyalty, and survival.
History Through Fiction is a home for readers, writers, and history lovers who believe the past comes alive through story. Explore more historical novels, discover workshops and events, and join the wider community at https://www.historythroughfiction.com.