Born to an American mother and Italian father, Chris grows up in America, but spends summers with his wealthy and fascist father in Italy. He has a wonderful relationship with his father until as a young adult, he refuses to become a part of the family business and opts instead for journalism school at Columbia University. At this point, he is disowned by his father. Chris accepts a position with the Swiss News Agency and begins to cover Europe during the 1930's, specifically the Spanish Civil War, during which time he comes to abhor the fascist Franco for the wholesale torture and murder of his opponents. Disillusioned by the world's lack of response to his reporting, Chris eventually takes an assignment in Warsaw.