Victoria Hislop Knihy

V zlomovom okamihu života zatúži Alexis Fieldingová spoznať minulosť svojej matky Sofie. Tá o nej nikdy nerozprávala, prezradila iba to, že skôr, ako sa presťahovala do Londýna, vyrastala v malej krétskej dedinke. Keď sa Alexis rozhodne navštíviť Krétu, matka jej dá list pre svoju priateľku s prísľubom, že od nej sa dozvie viac. Po príchode do Plaky Alexis zisťuje, že mestečko leží neďaleko opusteného ostrova Spinalonga - niekdajšej gréckej kolónie malomocných. A keď vyhľadá maminu priateľku Fotini, vypočuje si príbeh, ktorý Sofia celý život tajila: príbeh jej prastarej mamy Eleni, jej dcér a rodiny, ktorú rozdelili tragédie, vojna a vášne. Alexis si vtedy uvedomí, ako veľmi dôverne je spojená s ostrovom, jeho smutnou históriou a ako ich všetkých držia tajomstvá minulosti v mocnom zovretí…

An atmospheric, vibrant and moving tale of pain and passion at the heart of war-torn Spain, from the million-copy bestselling author of The Island and The Thread.

A dramatic and moving story set in the same world as the international bestseller The Island from the celebrated novelist Victoria Hislop. The absorbing story of the Cretan village of Plaka and the tiny, deserted island of Spinalonga - Greece's former leper colony - is told to us by Maria Petrakis, one of the children in the original version of The Island. She tells us of the ancient and misunderstood disease of leprosy, exploring the themes of stigma, shame and the treatment of those who are different, which are as relevant for children as adults. Gill Smith's rich, full-colour illustrations will transport the reader to the timeless and beautiful Greek landscape and Mediterranean seascape.

Athens, 1941. As Nazi forces occupy Greece, the nation descends into chaos. This gripping narrative explores the darker days of Greek history through the eyes of Themis, a courageous fifteen-year-old caught in a family divided by political ideologies. The German invasion exacerbates existing tensions, leading to widespread famine and the loss of friends, which compels Themis to engage in acts of resistance. Following the occupation, she joins the Communist army during the civil war, confronting the extremes of love and hatred as Greeks fight against one another. Imprisoned on the notorious islands of Makronisos and Trikeri, she meets another prisoner, and their lives become intertwined in unforeseen ways. Themis grapples with her principles and her yearning for freedom. Reflecting on her life, she discovers the intricate connections between personal and political struggles. While some wounds may heal, others deepen, revealing the complexity of her experiences. This narrative sheds light on Greece's traumatic past and tells the epic story of an ordinary woman navigating an extraordinary life amidst turmoil.

Four novels selected and condensed by Reader's Digest.

In her irresistible new novel, Sunday Times No 1 bestselling author Victoria Hislop shines a light on the questionable acquisition of cultural treasures and the price people - and countries - will pay to cling on to them.Of all the ancient art that captures the imagination, none is more appealing than the Cycladic figurine. An air of mystery swirls around these statuettes from the Bronze Age and they are highly sought after by collectors - and looters - alike.When Helena inherits her grandparents' apartment in Athens, she is overwhelmed with memories of the summers she spent there as a child, when Greece was under a brutal military dictatorship. Her remote, cruel grandfather was one of the regime's generals and as she sifts through the dusty rooms, Helena discovers an array of valuable objects and antiquities. How did her grandfather amass such a trove? What human price was paid for them?Helena's desire to find answers about her heritage dovetails with a growing curiosity for archaeology, ignited by a summer spent with volunteers on a dig on an Aegean island. Their finds fuel her determination to protect the precious fragments recovered from the baked earth - and to understand the origins of her grandfather's collection.Helena's attempt to make amends for some of her grandfather's actions sees her wrestle with the meaning of 'home', both in relation to looted objects of antiquity ... and herself.

Thessaloniki, 1917. As Dimitri Komninos is born, a devastating fire sweeps through the thriving Greek city where Christians, Jews and Muslims live side by side. Five years later, Katerina Sarafoglou's home in Asia Minor is destroyed by the Turkish army. Losing her mother in the chaos, she flees across the sea to an unknown destination in Greece. Soon her life will become entwined with Dimitri's, and with the story of the city itself, as war, fear and persecution begin to divide its people. Thessaloniki, 2007. A young Anglo-Greek hears his grandparents' life story for the first time and realises he has a decision to make. For many decades, they have looked after the memories and treasures of the people who were forced to leave. Should he become their next custodian and make this city his home?

The NEW Sunday Times Number One bestseller from Victoria Hislop, author of multi-million-copy bestsellers, including The Island, The Sunrise and Cartes Postales from Greece.