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Paperback copy of The Stowaway in First Class, featuring a close up image of a large maroon and tan ship with two gold award badges

A family’s legacy is forever changed in this true story of ransom notes, stowaways, and mobsters.

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Headshot of author Anthony DeSantis

Anthony DeSantis is a retired pilot and financial advisor—and Gaetano’s son.

Reviews for The Stowaway in First Class

  • “It reads like a thriller. The author’s riveting storytelling makes the book hard to put down.”

    Ciro DeFalco, chairman, Casa Italiana Sociocultural Center, Inc./ Italian American Museum of Washington DC

  • “The Stowaway in First Class is more than a family heirloom. It is a fist raised to the sky—a testament to the millions whose sweat and silence built this nation. In Guy’s odyssey, we see our own ancestors: the ones who climbed, scraped, and bargained with fate. Anthony DeSantis has not merely written a book; he has forged a monument. Let it stand beside the works of Upton Sinclair and Pietro di Donato—a raw, radiant ode to the price of a dream.”

    Nonfiction Book Awards GOLD Winner

  • “A daring stowaway adventure that opens the possibility to live the American dream.”

    Christina Holloway, award-winning author of Whispers Across a Sea: A Novel of Victorian Ireland

  • “The harrowing story of Guy DeSantis as told by his son, is evidence that one decision can change your entire life. Worth the read.”

    Mindi Wroblewski, author of The Paris Room and Your True Origin Story

  • “[A] lovingly told account of an Italian father’s 1929 immigration and American life.”

    BookLife Reviews

  • “A wonderful story of challenge and triumph, beautifully told with love and reverence for the perseverance and values that a father had, which Tony obviously inherited.”

    Harvey Elman, chairman, Landmark Properties Inc., Montreal, Canada

  • “A story about the strength of the family fabric in Italian culture. Thank you for the voyage.”

    Soren Peter Dam, retired president, Colgate-Palmolive, Brazil

  • “Anthony DeSantis gives us a first-class ticket into a world of intrigue and human resilience. He is able to weave suspense with heart. Don't miss his captivating debut as an author—it’s bound to be one of the year’s best.”

    Robert A. Urciuoli, retired president and CEO, Roger Williams Medical Center, Providence, Rhode Island

  • “Very fascinating and exciting. It’s even more effective with the beautiful vintage photos that illustrate it.”

    Umberto Mosco, Harold J. Gay professor of mathematical sciences, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; fellow, American Mathematical Society

  • “A compelling read. The chapters about the ransom and the ‘black hand’ were so well written that I was spellbound wondering what would happen.”

    Al Robinson, English teacher

  • “The story is both inspiring and timely, given our nation’s recent immigration crisis.”

    C. Anders Holmer, superior court judge (ret.), Nevada County, California