- Hardcover: 496 pages
- Publisher: Headline Review (30 May 2019)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1472223241
- ISBN-13: 978-1472223241
Synopsis
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.
Review
I have been fan of Victoria Hislop from the publication of her first book The Island,; the only book I haven’t read is Sunrise which is still on my shelf. Those Who Are Loved is her seventh novel, and like the previous books is about the history of Greece, from the 1930’s to present day. Themis was one of four very different children who were brought up by her grandmother. Whilst growing up there were always arguments about politics, especially during the horrors of World War II. After the war Themis is angry and decides to fight for the communists, seeing and doing some awful things she ends up in prison and having to decide wether she wants to live or die. Through Themis we see the political turmoil in Greece that continued for decades after the war and tore families apart.
Victoria Hislop is a beautiful writer and is able to engage the reader from the first page and keep your attention until the last sentence of the last page. I always like to learn something when reading historical fiction and I found this book fascinating. I had no idea of the political turmoil that engulfed Greece and Victoria Hislop has the ability to write this detailed history and make it enjoyable to read. I think this is made easier by having a central character that you come to know and take to your heart and care about; in this case Themis.
As a character Themis saw some terriblest things as a child that influences her join the communists and fight for her beliefs. She may have taken part in some terrible acts but I still felt empathy for her and admired her strength of character for standing up for what she believed in and and for what she endured. I also admired her sense of forgiveness and understanding and being able to reconcile with her family and find a common ground so they can live together. Even after the civil war she has difficulties to face with family and is able to face those with great love, understanding and not being judgemental. Thanasis, her older brother has the opposite views to Themis and her brother Panos and in their political debates the reader is given both sides of the political divide that consumed Greece over the years; it also shows the atrocities committed by both sides.
Those Who Are Loved is a detailed, compelling, intelligent and stunning read. Themis is such an engaging and personable character that I really cared about and wanted to survive her ordeals, that didn’t stop after the war. This book further puts Victoria Hislop at the top of the list as a masterful storyteller with her historical detail that brings Greek history to life, the good and the bad. I absolutely loved this book so please go and get a copy, you will not be disappointed.
I would like to thank Headline Review and Anne Cater of Random Things Through My Letter Box for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.
Thank you for taking the time to read my review, I hope that you will be able to like and share across social media to help me grow my blog.
