November 2011 Book of the Month.

This is the enthralling new novel from the million-copy bestselling author of The Island and The Return. Victoria Hislop is brilliant at setting the scene so you, the reader, really believe you're right there amongst the characters in a place so vividly imagined.  It's a story both about war and politics and about love and loyalties which will sweep you along and keep you gripped to the page.

Comparison: Christy Lefteri, Michelle Paver, Tracy Chevalier
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Synopsis

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?

Reviews

'At last - a beach book with heart'
Observer

'Powerful stuff'
Daily Mail

About the Author

Victoria Hislop was our Guest Editor in November 2011 - click here - to see the books that inspired her writing.   Victoria Hislop read English at Oxford, and worked in publishing, PR and as a journalist before becoming a novelist. She is married with two children. Her first novel, The Island, held the Number One slot in the Sunday Times paperback chart for eight consecutive weeks and has sold over two million copies worldwide. Victoria acted as script consultant on a 26-part TV adaptation in Greece, which achieved record ratings for Greek television. Victoria was the Newcomer of the Year at the Galaxy British Book Awards 2007, and her second novel, The Return, was also a Number One bestseller. The Thread spent nine weeks in the Sunday Times hardback chart, and was widely acclaimed. Her books have been translated into more than 25 languages. Victoria also writes short stories and her first collection, One Cretan Evening, is available as an ebook.   Author photo © Angus Muir More books by this author Author 'Like for Like' recommendation