'Victoria Hislop's view of history in her novels is, like the writer herself, a compassionate and generous one' Scotsman __The gripping new novel by Sunday Times Number One bestseller Victoria Hislop is set against the backdrop of the German occupation of Greece, the subsequent civil war and a military dictatorship, all of which left deep scars.
Athens 1941. After decades of political uncertainty, Greece is polarised between Right- and Left-wing views when the Germans invade.
Fifteen-year-old Themis comes from a family divided by these political differences. The Nazi occupation deepens the fault-lines between those she loves just as it reduces Greece to destitution. She watches friends die in the ensuing famine and is moved to commit acts of resistance.
In the civil war that follows the end of the occupation, Themis joins the Communist army, where she experiences the extremes of love and hatred and the paradoxes presented by a war in which Greek fights Greek. Eventually imprisoned on the infamous islands of exile, Makronisos and then Trikeri, Themis encounters another prisoner whose life will entwine with her own in ways neither can foresee. And finds she must weigh her principles against her desire to escape and live.
As she looks back on her life, Themis realises how tightly the personal and political can become entangled. While some wounds heal, others deepen.
This powerful new novel from Number One bestseller Victoria Hislop sheds light on the complexity and trauma of Greece's past and weaves it into the epic tale of an ordinary woman compelled to live an extraordinary life. Victoria Hislop.
Discover for yourself why 10 million readers worldwide love her books. 'Hislop's passionate love of the country breathes from every page' Daily Mail on Cartes Postales from Greece
'Fascinating and moving . . . Hislop writes unforgettably about Cyprus and its people' The Times on The Sunrise
'Sweeping, magnificently detailed and ambitious' The Sunday Times on The Thread
'Meticulously researched historical narrative and imaginative storytelling' Telegraph on The Return
Review
A beautiful tale of love, struggle and redemption - Prima on Cartes Postales from Greece Hislop brings history to life in this compelling tale - Tatler on The Sunrise Fast-paced narrative and utterly convincing sense of placec - Guardian on The Thread Like a literary Nigella, [Victoria Hislop] whips up a cracking historical romance with a dash of family secrets and a splash of female self-discovery - Time Out on The Return Wonderful descriptions, strong characters and an intimate portrait of island existence - Woman & Home on The Island
Book Description
The captivating new novel from the multi-million-copy bestselling author of The Island and Cartes Postales from Greece , Victoria Hislop.